Even before what was admittedly his worst day kicking off as a pro last Sunday, Jason Elam had heard the critics. Denver eyes
kickoff specialistStar-Bulletin wire services
After the Miami game on Oct. 13, the Hawaii alumnus hopped in his car and clicked on a post-game talk show.
"There was some call-in guy who said, 'Jason's kicking off to the 20-yard line every time.' I turned it right off," Elam said in the days leading up to the win at Kansas City. "When have I ever kicked the ball to the 20-yard line?"
Unfortunately for Elam, he then went out and almost did just that. Against the Chiefs, his kickoffs sailed to the 15, 7, 17, 10, 5, 18 and 12. Kansas City's average start was at its 34-yard line.
That performance has prompted coach Mike Shanahan to lose patience. He brought in kickoff specialists yesterday, including Steve Lindsey, who handled that chore for part of the 2000 season.
Others competing will be Danny Kight (most recently with the Baltimore Ravens), Steven Scaldaferri (University of Kentucky), Scott Bentley (Washington Redskins), Jon Hilbert (Carolina Panthers), Micah Knorr (Dallas Cowboys) and Dan Hadenfeldt (University of Nebraska).
"Even if I don't like the idea of it, and would love a shot at redemption, I've always tried to be a team player, so I'll support it," Elam told the Denver Post. "My guess is that if they go with one, they'll probably go with the cheapest guy (against the salary cap). I think a lot of the other guys have so many years of service, it would cost them a lot against the cap."
Asked about the special teams Wednesday, Shanahan put kickoffs as his top concern. "We have to get better," he told the Rocky Mountain News. "Any time you kick off like that, it's really hard to even evaluate your kickoff coverage."
"We definitely don't want to bring a kicker on because he takes a spot on the roster," Shanahan told the Post.
Elam's numbers have been noticeably different on the road and at home this season.
Of the 20 kickoffs that ended in returns at Invesco Field, only two balls have been fielded outside the 5-yard line. On 17 road returns, only once was the ball kicked inside the 5, and nine of those kickoffs traveled between the 12- and 18-yard lines.
A kick during the Sept. 15 game at San Francisco was fielded at the 24.
Elam has recorded one only touchback, tying him with three others for worst in the AFC. Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski leads the league with 14 touchbacks.
Shanahan wants to evaluate Elam's "confidence" and kickoff performance this week but will hold tryouts regardless of whether Denver signs a kickoff specialist or not. He hinted a change could come at a future date rather than immediately.
"If we happen to have another game like he did against Kansas City, then we'd be forced to probably bring in a guy to kickoff," the coach explained. "But one thing that's great about Jason, he's been consistent kicking field goals, and that's a first priority."
Elam, who's tied for fourth in the NFL in scoring with 55 points, didn't kick off the final nine games of the 2000 season after breaking two bones in his back covering a runback. Elam won back the full-time job the following preseason, and according to his own statistics, his kickoffs in 2001 went, on average, to the 6-yard line.
Elam told the Denver Post he's confident he can get better. "Oh, I can improve on that. It won't take a lot to improve on that."