N.O. hopes that lightning strikes twice
Sixth-round pick has thunder in his kicks like legendary Saint
Sunday, May 11, 2008
By Jimmy Smith
In 1982, three years before Taylor Mehlhaff was born, the Saints made their last leap of faith by using a draft pick to select a kicker.
It was a left-footed place-kicker, from a Big Ten school, whose accuracy and leg strength made him one of the most dependable kickers ever in the NFL.
If he's lucky, the Saints' sixth-round pick this year -- also a left-footer from a Big Ten school -- might get the opportunity to be on the same field as Morten Andersen, a kicker destined for the Hall of Fame.
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"Obviously, that guy has stuck around forever," Mehlhaff said Saturday of the 47-year-old Andersen, a fourth-round pick from Michigan State who has professed a desire to be kicking when he's 50, although he is currently a free agent. "He's a kicking legend. Any kicker would love to accomplish what he's done. (The situation) is similar, but I'm just coming in. I haven't done anything. He's proven himself and is one of the greats now."
The fact that the Saints have, for the first time in a generation, drafted a kicker tells you that the potential is there.
In his four years at Wisconsin, 43 percent of Mehlhaff's kickoffs (123 of 287) were touchbacks, including 50 last season, even though the kickoff line was moved back to the 30-yard line.
And in an era when hybrid players such as Chicago's Devin Hester and Cleveland's Josh Cribbs are scoring threats each time they touch the ball on special teams, the easiest way to neutralize such players is to take the ball out of their hands.
"I think the kickoffs are becoming more and more important," Mehlhaff said Saturday between practices at the Saints' rookie minicamp. "The return men are getting more and more dangerous. You have to have a guy who can put the ball deep and hang it up there with good hang-time. The kickoff team is very important, and it all starts with the kickoff guy."
The Saints thought they had solved that problem last offseason when they traded for strong-legged Olindo Mare and released sure-legged John Carney.
Mare's accuracy struggles and a late-season hip dislocation led to the signing of Martin Gramatica, who reportedly didn't miss a kick in practice (he was 5-for-5 in field-goal attempts in three games last season).
Mehlhaff was 50-of-65 in three years at Wisconsin.
But Coach Sean Payton said Saturday the last thing the Saints did before the NFL draft was work out Mehlhaff and Georgia's Brandon Coutu, because they wanted to get someone in the later rounds or free agency to compete with Gramatica.
Special teams coordinator Greg McMahon and assistant special teams coach Mike Mallory conducted the workouts.
"We worked out the two guys we thought were the best kickers in this draft," Payton said. "When they came back, they felt there was a gap and a clear separation. (Mehlhaff) has a good technique, a strong leg. He's doing well. He did well (Friday), and he'll get some P.M. work (Saturday) inside."
That will be a switch for Mehlhaff, who grew up in wintry Aberdeen, S.D., before moving to Madison.
"I've played in some cold and windy games, even going back to high school," Mehlhaff said. "Any time you can take the wind element out of it, it's exciting. I'd love the opportunity to kick in those games indoors."
