Without punting a single ball in the NFL, Britton Colquitt has already recognized the cache of the opportunity standing before him.
“It’s definitely a dream come true for that to be your job, to play football,” he said. “But at the same time, it really puts a bigger importance on what you are doing and why you are doing it.”
How did Colquitt recognize the importance of the pro jump so quickly? Punting happens to be his family’s business.
When Colquitt signed with the Broncos as a college free agent in April, he became the fourth member of his family to land on an NFL roster – as a punter. His cousin, Jimmy, had a brief run with the Seattle Seahawks in 1985 – one season after his father, Craig, finished a six-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with two Super Bowl rings in his possession.
His brother Dustin is the third link in the family chain, holding a 38.3-yard net punting average in four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. That tally ranks fourth best among all NFL players since the AFL-NFL merger.
Dustin’s success over the past three seasons came under current Broncos special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. Now, Britton has the chance to work with Priefer in Denver, and he’s aware of the tools the coach can teach him.
“Dustin has gone from being decent to great,” Britton said. “Just hopefully getting a little bit of knowledge here, whether it is for a few years or whether it is just this summer in training camp. I feel like I’ve already gained some knowledge and can definitely get a lot better just from him alone.”
As a punter, that bank of knowledge has to be rich in several areas. Handling punts and kickoffs in college, Colquitt was working exclusively with his legs, and had minimal experience as a holder.
With the Broncos, his arm and hands are already coming into play. When Colquitt arrived for minicamps, Priefer and special teams assistant Keith Burns quickly added new threads to his routine, with at least 60 hold drills per day. Colquitt was not opposed to the extra practice, envisioning what a game situation might require.
“Going from nothing to 60 is amazing because it is not just the punting job,” Colquitt said. “I’ve got to be trustworthy that I could be the quarterback of the field goal team and I’ve got to have Matt Prater able to trust me to put the ball down.”
In expanding his range of skills, Colquitt has simultaneously improved his punting fundamentals, from his drop to his leg swing. He said he’s even found time to work on his throwing game, in the case of that rare fake punt.
All those diverse elements of his punting game fit into the bigger scheme of why Colquitt decided to come to Dove Valley in the first place.
“It’s a lot of things coming in and stuff I’ve never done before, but I’m learning a lot,” he said.
- Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Britton Colquitt, Mike Priefer
I like that article on Baker it’s kind of like the post draft article I read on him but more to date. I’m pulling for him to make the team along with Rulon Gardner. Greatness I ahven’t seen the Shanny article but I did see the stuff he was saying about coaching at the bottom of the screen when I was watching softball yesterday! Hahaha
Shanahan probably wants to coach somewhere where he can get a lot of sun or a place that can give him discounts at tanning salons.
Miami?
San Diego?
Tampa Bay?
Shanny wont end up in either of those places. I think Dallas is a top spot for him. I can’t think of other places bc I don’t know their coaching status. I say Dallas bc Wade could be out if he doesn’t do anything this year.
Say Wade takes them deep in to the playoffs ruling out dallas, where do you see him going, Cleveland? 49ers?
Cleveland bc 49ers have a better chance to do good in their weak division
I don think either clevaland because they just hired that dude Mangini.
I would LOVE to have Shanny back here in Denver.
BroncoAussie and Camamelloo you both are off. If Lubbie does not do something this yr. He’s gone. Mike will be in Chicago.
Maybe, there are a number of teams he could go to. But everyone is saying the Bears are superbowl bound so if they are to be believed I think Lubbie will be fine.
The Bears are Super Bowl bound? How? Because they have Cutler now? Did they forget they have zero receivers and a OL that couldn’t block Rosie O’Donnell from an icecream truck?
I agree, but if idiots like Jamie Dukes are to be believed they are going to win it all, I think they will be a flop.
Yeah I never thought about Chicago if they were to do bad. O shanny would jump @ the chance to be with his boy Jay. Man I can’t wait till next week! It will be football timeeeeeeee!
All those commentators said the Chargers were Superbowl bound last year. Where did they end up?? They can say what they want, its only words. I do know our Broncos are going to surprise alot of people this year, in a good way!!!
GO BRONCOS 2009!!!
I just don’t understand all the salivating that going on over the possibility of Favre playing for the Vikings. First, look at Favre’s record over the last 4 years. Other than one incredible season (Which he ended by throwing a pass most rookies wouldn’t have thrown.), at best, he’s been an average quarterback. His TD vs Int ratio is pathetic. Second, what you’re telling your current QBs is that we don’t think you’re good enough to do better than a 40 year old has-been. Talk about a disruptive force towards team chemistry. Third, let’s pretend that Favre has an incredible season. Next year your QB problem is even worse as you’ve already told your pre-Favre QBs that they aren”t good enough. You’ve rolled the dice hoping to roll a 7. Even if you do, you’ve only made matters for the following season very tumultous. Just look at the Jets and what having Favre for a year did for then. Nothing!! They had to roll the dice on Garcia instead of filling other holes.
Its’ funny, cuz’ i am the only person who wanted the chargers to win the superbowl after they got to the playoffs. I mean, they are the team that screw us every year, but they do represent the AFC west.
If they were to win the superbowl next year (not saying I want them to), the AFC West would be the first division to have all of the teams won a superbowl. i personally think that would be pretty cool.
that would PROVE we aren’t the weakest division in the league. Besides, half the AFC and NFC north suck, so they are in the same shape our division is, the Cardinals slid into the superbowl luckily, and that redeems the whole division? No.
Watch out though, i have a feeling the Raiders are gonna go 6-10 or maybe even 8-8. Sad, but that would be major improvement for them. And in a few years, LT will retire, philip rivers will be shot, chris chambers and shaun merriman will leave, and then the division will go:
Broncos
(closely followed) Raiders
Chiefs
Chargers
Ya, I think that was a long enough entry to last a few months, so, enjoy my absence while you can!
oldsouthwhatever, You’re absolutely right. Favre is way overrated. which is part of the logic.
The vikings run/pass ratio is definitely uneven. Favre would have to just stand there and look pretty while they run it all day.
When your opponents think favre is as great as john elway was, they will protect the pass more often, giving AP more chances to run touchdowns.
It isnt simple logic, but they should pick up michael vick if he can come back into the league. Maybe they’d sign brett favre and trade him for a CB.
?
…or maybe WE could use michael vick. he may have killed dogs, but donte stallworth killed a person and he got a very short sentence, and nobody really cares. society is SO messed up
You are right WGBrtonco, What were the cardinals, the ravens, the dolphins, or the falcons supposed to do last year? And Weren’t the Giants bound for another deep playoff run? What happened? O must have been analysts who dont know jack about football. How did an offensive lineman get a job with NFL Network? Schlereth is the only one who knows what he’s talking about. Dukes is probably puffing up all the time and then saying the Bears with an Overrated QB, A bad Defense (They were horrible last year, and now they are a year older) A horrible Offensive line, and one of Cutlers old buddies in the receiving corps, who won’t be able to compete against NFL secondaries.
So why are they Superbowl bound?