Tom Malone: Holder - handled two high snaps well, but may have bobbled getting the ball down on a 50 yd attempt that missed wide and short (I repeat may, not the best angle and the color man, OT Welbourne of the Eagles, wasn't sure either). He was working with a jet lagged new PK who was fresh off the plane, helped him make his first two kicks cleanly before the 50 yarder.
He had three punts for an average of 31 yds and a long of 34.
- First punt, it seems when he tries for height to keep it within the coverage he loses significant distance, this one wasn't returned, but it was barely 33 yds.
- 2nd punt was better, good height allowed the coverage to get there and force the
PR to let it go. Good backspin on the ball, unfortunately the backspin cost him over five yds before it could be downed at the 18, which turned it into a 26 yd net.
- I missed the 34 yd kick.
Factoring in the backspin loss on his second kick, he was booting 33-34 yd kicks in the air, at least his coverage, which has been abysmal, was able to get there...whether that was a coaching call to avoid returns I can't say.
After 8 weeks his avg. is 40.1, net of 32.7, 2 touchbacks and 5 inside the 20. His long is 55. 0 blocks. He ranks last of the 6 punters, though folks may recall the article the other day that discussed how he's coming back from a severe injury and is relearning good habits/technique so he may not be washed up yet.
Brian Barthelmes: Listed by the color man, former NFLE Coach Doug Graber, as one of the handful of players he expects to make an NFL roster. Brian got to start at C again with the original LG's return, he moved back to LG for one series in the middle of the third Qtr, then was back at C for the fourth Qtr. At C he was his highly mobile self owning the MLB and hustling all over the field decking guys - literally, great fun watching him play hard and nasty. QB Drew Olsen sucks dog turds, but he doesn't get pressured up the middle while he throwing his interceptions, no wonder Troy Smith is a hit in Baltimore. On their last scoring drive they took advantage of Barthelmes' ability to neutralize the MLB and the defense's blitzing off the edge to run behind Brian for the score.
Danny Baugher: Described by Coach Graber as the premier punter in NFLE this season, Coach stated he does all the punting duties well, including BB's favorite directional kicking. Baugher just held for extra points and one FG in the first half and got his first punt in the third Qtr which drew praise from Coach Graber for being "a great cut punt," right on the numbers into the short side of the field where the coverage team held speedy returnman Kino****a to three yds.
Baugher punted twice averaging 37.5 yds with a long of 43. His second punt came while he was standing on his own goal line, he fielded a low snap and still got the ball upfield to the 50 where the backspin cost him three yards before it was downed (net of 32). As I've noted before, he's Miller's competition if anyone is in this camp.
After 8 weeks his avg. is 42.5, net of 37.6, 2 touchbacks and 10 down inside the 20. His long is 59. 1 block.
The MLB for Amsterdam, Carl-Johan Björk (6-0/245), a Swedish National, was in Cowboy's camp last year where the colorman in a broadcast a couple weeks or so back mentioned Björk was told by Parcells that he could have a 10 year career in the NFL as a Reserve/Special Teams ace, but would probably never be a starter. Reportedly the kid has shifted his emphasis and has been working towards that goal. Now that the 'boyz no longer run the Parcells/Belichick 3-4, and only three teams do, it will be interesting to see where this kid lands in Training Camp.
NFLE Update
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