BEREA, Ohio — Could the Cleveland Browns have a surprise entrant in the placekicking competition as training camp winds to a close Wednesday ahead of Friday’s third preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida?
Well, they just might after Tuesday’s practice.
During a team drill, punter Jamie Gillan worked on an adjacent field on placekicking, attempting and making from 60 yards away, and when asked about the kick, Browns coach Freddie Kitchens seemed intrigued by the idea.
“Yeah, it is,” Kitchens said of the kick being impressive. “I didn’t even know he could kick field goals, but if he’s out there kicking field goals, hell yeah he may get a chance. If you can kick a 60-yarder, (you’re) going to get a chance.”
While auditioning to become the Browns’ full-time punter, Gillan is no stranger to place-kicking.
During his final year at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Gillan launched 71 punts for 3,015 yards, with 21 kicks being fair-caught, 27 landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and 19 that travelled at least 50 yards. Gillan averaged 42.46 yards per kick and had a long punt of 80 yards.
Additionally, Gillan converted 20 of his 29 field goal attempts, including a 10-of-11 mark between 30 and 39 yards and six-of-eight record between 40 and 49 yards.
“When all the guys were coming out, I know we all looked at him as a punter, but things change,” Kitchens said. “It may have changed today, I don’t know. I’ve got to get back up there and see this. Hopefully, they videoed it.”
Kitchens and the Browns have been seeking more consistency out of the special teams throughout training camp and the preseason.
After a solid showing in joint practices against the Indianapolis Colts last week, both rookie Austin Seibert and second-year kicker Greg Joseph missed field goal tries from 50 yards away in a game played indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Then, in the Browns’ first practice following the second preseason game, Seibert and Joseph each went four for six in team drills. Seibert missed from 37 yards and 50-plus, but converted one from over 50 Monday.
Both of Joseph’s misses came from 50-plus.
“I want the ball to go through and not outside those yellow poles,” Kitchens said following Monday’s practice.
“I think both of them had plenty of leg. When we send the field goal team out there, I do not want to send the field goal team out there thinking, ‘Maybe we will make it.’ I want to know that we are going to make it.
“I want to be able to send them out there, turn around and go talk to the offense and hear about the score.”