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2007 Bears Camp Dates
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August 7, 2007 Bears position previews: Specialists
KICKERS Robbie Gould Height: 6-0 Weight: 183 College: Penn State Years of Experience: 3 It is sometimes funny how kicking in the NFL works. Marked with little more than a marginal kicking career at Penn State, Gould was given a tryout boasting nothing more than practice squad experience with the Baltimore Ravens with the Bears two years ago. That is usually a recipe for disaster in a field that is dominated by kickers with pedigrees and experience. But Gould bucked that historic trend and is emerging as one of the league's most reliable kickers as he connected on 32-of-36. He still isn't battle tested in the area of long field goals as he didn't attempt a single kick from beyond 50 yards last season.
Nick Novak Height: 6-0 Weight: 189 College: Maryland Years of Experience: 4 The kicker position is a funny one, as there are only 32 jobs to go around. Novak has been trying to break into that exclusive club with little success. Showing that he's close but not quite there, Novak has been added and released nine different times over the last two seasons but has yet to stick with any team. In spot duty (more often than not filling the role of an injured kicker), Novak has hit 13-of-20 field goals and all 25 of his extra points, for 64 career points. Novak is likely showcasing his skills for teams more in need of kicker than the Bears are.
PUNTERS Brad Maynard Height: 6-1 Weight: 186 College: Ball State Years of Experience: 11 Maynard is simply a very productive NFL punter. He leads the NFL with punts that were downed inside the 20 in his career with 290. He also compiled a more than respectable 44.2 yards per punt average last season and less than 50 percent of his punts in his career have been returned for gain. He is one of the league's best punters in the areas of hang time and punt placement and has been a valued addition since he was signed as a free agent from the New York Giants in 2001. There is small concern that Maynard's career may be winding down a bit, but some punters fight that trend and last for 15-plus seasons, Maynard could be one of those.
Filip Filipovic Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 College: South Dakota Years of Experience: 1 Where did Filipovic go when he disappeared from the league for four seasons after spending the 2002 campaign as the Dallas punter? He's been bouncing around the league ever since spending time in San Francisco, Minnesota, Houston and Philadelphia's camps but never sticking on the roster for final cut-downs. Filipovic's numbers appear to be OK and it is surprising with so many teams struggling for quality punting that he hasn't gotten another shot, but he isn't likely to get one in Chicago either with Maynard blocking his path.
Joel Stelly Height: 5-10 Weight: 200 College: Louisiana-Monroe Years of Experience: 1 It seems odd that the Bears would keep three punters in camp and Stelly isn't likely to even be considered to make the roster unless Maynard suffers an injury or is woefully unproductive in camp. Stelly did punt for high averages in his collegiate career, but might have trouble getting punts away against NFL special teams unit as he is often slow in releasing the ball on his kicks. Stelly does bring additional value as a kickoff specialist with over half of his kickoffs going for touchbacks in his senior seasons.
LONG SNAPPER
Patrick Mannelly Height: 6-5 Weight: 265 College: Duke Years of Experience: 10 Mannelly is listed as an offensive tackle on the Bears roster, but he's never played a game there in the pros. Mannelly, however, is one of those few players that has turned the skill of long snapping into an art form. He was a big part of Chicago setting an NFL record for consecutive punts without a block (920). Long snapping is often an duty performed by a player with another position, but Mannelly is so good at it that the Bears feel his roster space isn't a luxury, but a necessity. |
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