For the first time since September 2005, the Broncos have three kicking specialists on the 53-man roster.
Joining Jason Elam and Paul Ernster for practice on Wednesday morning was Central Florida alumnus Matt Prater, who was signed off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.
Prater kicked for the Atlanta Falcons in Weeks 1 and 2, and while his leg was strong, he struggled with accuracy. Three of his four kickoffs went for touchbacks and he averaged 71.3 yards per kickoff, but he was 1-of-4 on his field-goal attempts, making one from 45 yards away but missing from 26, 43 and 44 yards before being released.
Prater joined Miami’s practice squad last month.
Prater is the third member of a growing UCF alumni society on the Broncos’ roster, joining Brandon Marshall and Paul Carrington. All were seniors on the 2005 team that turned a winless finish the year before into a Hawaii Bowl bid.
Denver still has one vacancy on its practice squad after its decision to promote Roderick Rogers to the 53-man roster Tuesday.
Tags: Jason Elam, Matt Prater, Paul Ernster, Special Teams
thats good because paul ernster is not the answer his leg isnt that strong and we need someone who can consistently kick touchbacks especially when we are at home. Special teams has been killing us and it didnt help in the last game that steroid sauberaun was kicking the ball to houstons ten yard line
Mason…..Im a fan of Elam, to me this hole year something has been off. Is he still suffering from his injury when we played Seatle last year? It seems anytime we are in 50+ range we go for it and sometime leave points on the field by not trusting Elams leg. What ever is best for the team is just fine with me though.
Off with elam? What would our record be this year without him. He saved the proverbial “Bacon” a few times this year. Alot can go into the decisions to go on 4th down, like game conditions, weather conditions, elams leg not being 100% at the time etc. Still about as consistent as they come, and like top notch players at any position, you cant just stop by the mini mart on the way home and pick up a new one. Playoff disapointment aside, Lets kick some charger but and help make up for it!!!
emmmmm….. BACON
Nice, they’re starting the off-season early.
Good luck and welcome to Broncos Country. Bring the thunder!
I watched Elam kick before the Bears game and he couldn’t hit anything farther than the 35 yard line. Broncos went on fourth down several times when at the 40 because they knew he couldn’t make it. Elam will be in the Ring of Fame, but I don’t see him on the roster next year.
Oh and bring back the Orange, the blue on blue is awful!
This is the best special team move of the year, If your cover team can’t tackle thne put in the ball in end zone. I use to think it was a waste of a player however if he can put over 90% of his kick off at mile high in the end zone we don’t need a lot of player who can tackle.
I agree bring back the oragne it can’t hurt
I also don’t see Elam with the team in the near future, he has been one of the greatest kickers of all time. I still remember that 63 yarder! BAM!! Let’s embarass the Chargers on thier home field on national TV, and show everyone what next years team is capable of. Brandon, Cutler and Javon better have huge days. Air it out, and Javon show us you are a dam great WR. I have an authentic Walker jersey that i want to keep!
I also agree, bring back the orange, and #56
what!!!!!! getting rid of Elam would be a terible decision!!!!! kicking from the 35 isnt that a 52 yarder???? and thats damn good in chicago….but idk any other kicker that i’d trust with the game on the line i do realize that he is getting older and prolly wont ever be able to make it from 55+ anymore but if he can still hit the 52′s and 53′s with consistancy i wouldnt cut him. but it is a good decision that they finnally got some1 to kickoff todd sucked @ doing that this year we might hav 1 that bears game if we had some1 who could get it in the endzone for a TB. i dont see Prater beating Elam since he’s ,Prater, has acuracy problems.
bring back the orange that we played the raiders in,back in 04. Or you could bring back the original but leave the helmets
Although I am a huge Jason Elam fan, I’m THRILLED to see the addition of Prater to the Broncos……mostly because he came from UCF (I live in the Orlando area, and we’re VERY proud of our Knights!)!!!!!! My only hope is that in the 2009 draft, we can somehow add running back Kevin Smith from UCF to join Marshall, Carrington & Prater!
I’m a big fan of Elam. But the past two years it has seemed to me that he has lost a little off that kicking power. I’m not talking about the 35 to 40 its the 40 to 50 range. I think he has never recoverd from that hamstring injury. a few years ago. I Know he has been big for us this year in alot of ways but he has also missed some field goals this year. I’m not saying get rid of the Guy but its always good to have some option. Because our special team needs the help
I Can’t see how everyone turns on ELAM who saved 2 games this year!!I also remember the KICK GREAT + WON the game..how easy they forget.I would rather have it in the bank at 35 than a gamble from just anyone look what the chargers kicker done a couple of yrs. ago…CHOKED in PLAYOFF’S.Long kick’s on special team’s that we need oh dont kick to Hester twice,and tell him it’s coming!!!
i dont understand what happened to just punting the ball out of pounds. That would of won us alot of field position battles this year. Elam is getting older and has lost his leg strength and anybody who cant kick a touchback at invesco field doesnt need to be kicking off. Look what green bays kicker did when they played us
Wow… Elam has lost his edge? I suppose going for yet ANOTHER 100 point season (15 straight, record right there, as the Anderson’s are still @14 seasons over 100). Has only missed 4 FG’s so far this season and also has a 85.7% in completed FG’s. Oh yeah, and he has also been knocking them down in the 40′s, still!
Whenever the day we lose Elam, will be a sad day in Broncos history. IMO
I feel it’s more of a replacement for Elam, when Elam retires. I think it’s great, get a kid in here who has a hell of a leg, and let him practice, train, and learn from the best… If Elam stays another 3 years, ausome, just means his replacement has been training and learning under him for that amount of time.
Of course this would mean that we keep his replacement and he wants to stay.
you guys are reading into this to much. I think he is simply brought in as a KOS. i dont think they have an intent for him to replace elam.
i wonder if they are bringing in this kid as a project for when elam decides to hang it up? he has leg strength but lacks accuracy. let him kick off , elam can handle the field goals and ernster can punt, works for me. maybe in a few years he will be accurate enough to be the field goal kicker, just when we need him. it’s tough to find a dependable kicker like elam , i don’t think he’ll be going anywhere till he wants to but you never know.
hey
Great move, KOS’s are the most underrated players in sports. They help your defense by giving the other team long fields, which will in turn help your offense have a short field. A strong leg on kickoff’s can be the difference in a game. (*Cough* Chicago game this year *cough*) Prater could be our X-factor for years to come if he pans out with that strong leg. I love the Kevin Smith comment, although he will be too high of a prospect for us to take him when he should be. We need to focus on Defense this draft.
remember we drafted earnster…he is good…what he was 3rd in the league in touch backs the year he started for us…i mean he is young..so was mcbriar when we cut him and now look at him dominate for dallas