<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Lonie Took the Long Road to RedskinsBy Gary FitzgeraldRedskins.comMay 17, 2006If you searched the Redskins' roster for potential decathletes, you might choose versatile players like Antwaan Randle El or Clinton Portis or maybe Sean Taylor. You probably wouldn't choose a punter.But when the Redskins signed Aussie rookie punter David Lonie on May 3, the team also acquired a former decathlete and pole vaulter who competed in the Pan Pacific Games in 1996 in Perth, Australia.A question comes to mind: Can Lonie's experience as a decathlete aid him as a punter in the NFL?"Well, being an athlete in general will help," Lonie replied. "The fact that I've played a lot of different sports and I've picked them up quickly will help. I hadn't [punted]much until about four years ago, and then when I did, I picked it up quickly. Being a well-conditioned athlete helps you do that."For now, Lonie is expected to compete for the Redskins' punting job with third-year veteran Derrick Frost, who was the team's punter most of last season.Both Frost and Lonie have experience kicking off as well. Whoever wins the punting job could play a key special teams role next season--should coaches decide to limit kicker John Hall to field goals, that is.Lonie, a 6-6, 220-pounder, played his college ball at Cal the last four years. Last season for the Golden Bears, Lonie recorded 61 punts for a 41.9-yard average. In 2004, he had 47 punts for a 40.0-yard average.Lonie's road to the NFL has been far different from most players. He starred in several sports--including soccer and water polo--in his hometown of Palm Beach, Australia, before coming to the United States in 1999 for a job as a water ski instructor in Wisconsin.From 2000-01, Lonie played semi-pro soccer in England the next two years before attending Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa.He worked with some former NFL kickers and recruiters from major college programs took notice of his booming kicks and leg strength. He quickly became one of the most sought-after punters in the nation and eventually chose Cal in spring 2004.Two years later, Lonie finds himself in Washington."I'm used to moving around, so it's not that much of a difference for me," he said. "Being Australian, I've had to travel a lot. So coming out here from Cal wasn't that big of an adjustment. I feel pretty comfortable with the move."As an undrafted rookie free agent, Lonie chose the Redskins because he believes an opportunity exists for the team's punting job. Frost has been with the team for one season and certainly has the advantage of experience over Lonie, but it does not appear Frost has solidified the job long-term.Lonie got his first taste of NFL action at the Rookie Camp on May 5-7. He is also on hand for Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices, working with Hall, Frost and long snapper Ethan Albright in sessions every morning."It's an awesome experience to be here," Lonie said. "It's great to get an idea of what the coaches are looking for. [Special teams coordinator] Danny Smith has already shown me a lot of things I need to work on in punts and kickoffs."Basically, I just need to work hard and be consistent. I'm going to continue to grow and learn and try to win the job."</div>http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=17266Us 'skins fans are hoping that this guy beats Frost for the punting job... ANYONE is better than Mr. Frosted Flakes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Johnny White Guy @ May 18 2006, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Us 'skins fans are hoping that this guy beats Frost for the punting job... ANYONE is better than Mr. Frosted Flakes.</div>Someone quote him, this is the first time all offseason a skins fan has admitted their team has a weakness.
Our punter is our biggest weakness. NO doubt about that.2nd biggest weakness: our innability to avoid bad ref calls...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ May 18 2006, 12:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Johnny White Guy @ May 18 2006, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Us 'skins fans are hoping that this guy beats Frost for the punting job... ANYONE is better than Mr. Frosted Flakes.</div>Someone quote him, this is the first time all offseason a skins fan has admitted their team has a weakness. </div>How about having almost no depth in several positions and if someone gets hurt *cough* Springs, you are screwed (again).
Would you rather have a roster full of stars at every position with no depth at maybe two positions, or a team with insane depth but not very good starters...?But umm.... Dimitri Patterson can definetly play any 4th string receiver, and Ade Jimoh can play nickel, even 2nd string. Don't forget we have Kenny Wright, and of course Prioleau would be our NB if Srpings got hurt.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sheriff Gonna Getcha @ May 19 2006, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would you rather have a roster full of stars at every position with no depth at maybe two positions, or a team with insane depth but not very good starters...?But umm.... Dimitri Patterson can definetly play any 4th string receiver, and Ade Jimoh can play nickel, even 2nd string. Don't forget we have Kenny Wright, and of course Prioleau would be our NB if Srpings got hurt.</div>Just because you can name them doesnt mean they're any good.Keep in mind its basically the same secondary that knocked you out of the playoffs last season.
No, the missed FG knocked os out of the playoffs. And now that Archuleta is our SS, Prioleau can play CB.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Redskins | Jones to join team at offseason workouts Tuesday; will start bid for jobFri, 19 May 2006 19:34:05 -0700Jason La Canfora, of the Washington Post, reports Washington Redskins PK Tyler Jones, now kicking in NFL Europe, is expected to join the Redskins for their offseason workouts Tuesday, May 23. Although the odds of making the team appear slim, Jones is eager for a chance to push PK John Hall for the starting job. "I had a pretty good season and I was able to get a lot of good work in and good experience under my belt," Jones said from Amsterdam. Jones has connected on 9 of 12 field goals in NFL Europe and has been perfect on extra points. Jones has excelled on kickoffs, helping Hamburg to have the second-best kickoff coverage in NFL Europe. Kickoffs are of particular importance to the Redskins; head coach Joe Gibbs has said it is unlikely Hall will handle those duties this season.</div>http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nflI don't mind Hall when he's healthy, but we could use a guy who can stay healthy with us all year round. I'm sure if we get this guy doing kickoffs through the season, Hall will get injured for feild goals and Jones would take over all the kicker responsibilities.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Although the odds of making the team appear slim</div>That was all I needed to read.
I dont think he has a chance to make the final team... he has a better chance of making the team at the Texans.
Hall > Kris Brown who constantly misses PAT's and can't hit from 40+ 90% of the time.Hall > Kris Brown who constantly misses PAT's and can't hit from 40+ 90% of the time.Hall > Kris Brown who constantly misses PAT's and can't hit from 40+ 90% of the time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Johnny White Guy @ May 21 2006, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We hear you.We hear you.We hear you.</div>My comp was screwed up and some reason did that thrice. Yes, that's right, thrice.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ May 22 2006, 07:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Johnny White Guy @ May 21 2006, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We hear you.We hear you.We hear you.</div>My comp was screwed up and some reason did that thrice. Yes, that's right, thrice.</div>When you double post within like a minute of each other it just merges them togeather now.
Here's a recent article on Derrick Frost, who's the projected starting punter.http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=17394<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For Frost, New Season Means a Fresh StartBy Gary FitzgeraldRedskins.comMay 22, 2006Derrick Frost's 14-yard punt in the NFC Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was certainly ill-timed.The shank gave the Bucs the ball at their own 46-yard line, down by a touchdown, with 1:05 left to play. Fortunately for the Redskins, Marcus Washington intercepted a Chris Simms pass on the next play, sealing a 17-10 playoff win.Frost shook off that bad punt--what else could he do?--and got ready for the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Seattle a week later.The Redskins would fall to the Seahawks by a score of 20-10 at Qwest Field. Perhaps forgotten in the aftermath of that game was Frost's solid punting performance.Frost logged seven punts for a 42.7-yard average that afternoon. A cold rain fell from the skies most of the game. The playing field was rain-soaked and proper footing was difficult.Frost managed to overcome the weather conditions, especially in the first quarter when booming kicks were most needed. The Redskins' offense had struggled to get going, due in part to poor field position. The unit started inside its own 20-yard line on the first five possessions.Frost's solid punting--which included a 51-yarder--kept Seattle from starting a drive in Redskins' territory in the first half. It's one reason why the score stayed close until the Seahawks went up by 11 points in the third quarter.That was last season, though. With the start of Organized Team Activity practice sessions at Redskins Park last week, Frost enters his third NFL season eying a fresh start.He knows that most people will remember his 14-yard shank in Tampa Bay before they recall his solid showing in Seattle.Last year, Frost logged 76 punts for a 40.4-yard punting average. He put 23 punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 55 yards.In a sense, head coach Joe Gibbs and special teams coordinator Danny Smith gave Frost a vote of confidence this offseason by not bringing in a more experienced punter to challenge him.Instead, the team signed undrafted rookie David Lonie out of California.It's not out of the question that the team could bring in a veteran punter during training camp or even after the regular season has started. Last year, the Redskins signed Frost three weeks into the season to replace Andy Groom.For now, it's Frost vs. Lonie in a competition for the punting job."I just look at it at like this: every year, every week, just do your job," Frost said. "If coaches like what you're doing, then you're going to be here. Last year I feel like I really finished out strong in the postseason and I think I'm in good standing with the coaches."I'm just going to worry about myself and how I perform, because my plate is full enough as it is to have to worry about things I can't control."Despite finishing the 2005 regular season as the 14th-ranked punter in the NFC, Frost believes he showed improvement through the course of last season."This year, I'm hoping to start it off right and pick up where I left off from last year," he said.Along with overall consistency, Frost aims to improve his situational punting this offseason."I need to work on punting out of the end zone better," he said. "I also hit too many touchbacks last year and I need to work on getting the ball inside the 20 a little better."Frost is eager to get started."This should be an exciting year for the fans and I know there's a lot to be expected from this team," Frost said. "This will be the first time that I'll be with a team that has high expectations. So that's really exciting."</div>
