Prater or Elam?

[bronclvr]

With Prater missing seven of his last fifteen attempts, and, being 4 of 10 from 40-49 Yards, how many of you miss Elam? I loved Jason while he was here, he was clutch. Do you think Matt will pick it up and become the player we all hope he can be, or did we make a mistake letting Elam go?

[Los Broncos]

I think he is a goner.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Glad you brought this up....it hasnt been discussed in the past 5 minutes

[SouthStndJunkie]

I have already discussed this in 10 other threads....I wanted to keep Elam before the season and still wish we would have kept him at this time.

Prater had a 67.6 FG% in college.

Prater has a 67.6 FG% in the NFL.

I am rooting for him to turn it around, because 67.6% is not nearly good enough in the NFL.

Dude has a cannon for a leg, but kicking is mostly a head game in the NFL. Just like golf, you have to have the same mechanics to be consistent.

I hope I am wrong. Maybe Prater will nail a 47 yard FG to beat Buffalo....I do know that my sphincter will be clenched up like someone's first shower in prison if we do trot him out to attempt the potential game winning FG.

[Hogan11]

Prater still hasn't cost Denver the two games many forcasted he would around here. Elam had to go, whether you thought his skills were waning or not, the fact is he wanted much too much jack.

There was no mistake made, Prater is our man, period.

[SouthStndJunkie]

Prater still hasn't cost Denver the two games many forcasted he would around here. Elam had to go, whether you thought his skills were waning or not, the fact is he wanted much too much jack.

There was no mistake made, Prater is our man, period.

Don't jinx us....there are still a few games left in the season.

[Hogan11]

Don't jinx us....there are still a few games left in the season.

No jinx at all....he has had my full and complete confidence all season, which hasn't been bad at all really, especially for a first season as a full time PK.

[SouthStndJunkie]

No jinx at all....he has had my full and complete confidence all season, which hasn't been bad at all really, especially for a first season as a full time PK.

Don't you know that masterprating can make you go blind?

[Hogan11]

Don't you know that masterprating can make you go blind?

Ha! Knocking Elams out will cause the very same thing.

[frerottenextelway]

Prater has potential. His misses are by feet, he's not shanking them.

Most young kickers (and other positions too) go through this phase, at this point I'd rather see us work with him and his technique than disband him.

[Arkansas Bronco]

I havnt seen prater with a Fake FG run yet so Elam has the advantage (oh and he hasnt kicked one from 62 yet either).

[KipCorrington25]

Prater sucks, this is the NFL, no time to wait for some d-bag to work out the kinks. Even if he comes back next year and has a huge camp and pre season you really can't trust him because he's shown he can't get it done when the lights are on and that's all I need to see.

[frerottenextelway]

I havnt seen prater with a Fake FG run yet so Elam has the advantage.

That was awesome!

We did it with like 10 seconds left in the half - Elam gained like 4 yards and the first down - hurt his leg - since there was no almost no time left we had to send a limping Elam to kick the FG on the very next play anyways.

He did make it though!

IIRC.

[Florida_Bronco]

There were articles posted during the preseason where Prater mentioned that he had never really received any coaching as far as being a kicker. It was pretty much "just go kick the ball" for him.

Like Frerotte said, lots of young kickers go through this issue and lots of them turn it around. Prater had a good start to the season and has done great on kickoffs, so I think he's at least earned another season.

[Miss I.]

My two cents for what it's worth (probably not much in this economy):
Prater will improve and will be fine (no Nick Folk I suppose, but you know when you got to UofAZ you can't help but be awesome, Go Wildcats!) After another year if he hasn't improved who knows, but honestly how much has trading around kickers helped the Chefs? I believe they traded Tynes to NYG who really isn't all that great a kicker, but got it done when it needed to be and now he has the ring.
Elam I miss, it would've been nice to have had him retire (which after 16+ year is likely to be soon) in a Denver uni. I do believe he was strong asset for our team, but that position was going to require a new person at some point , plus some stuff he wasn't as proficient at anymore.

it works out okay (Elam goes where he wants to live and get his money and a new kicker begins a career.)

That said, I really liked Elam. Not really sure there was logic to it, but I did like him.

[Northman]

Prater will be fine.

[Punisher]

Elam forever!

[GreatBronco16]

Hey I know, lets get Elam back and waste a roster spot for a kickoff specialist.