More evidence we're beating the bushes

[Albany,n.y.]

I keep saying, there's no way Lindell is our kicker on opening day. We won't stop with this guy if he doesn't work out:

 

Bills | May Call on Place Kicker - from www.KFFL.com

Wed, 11 May 2005 15:23:44 -0700

 

The Salt Lake Tribune reports undrafted rookie free agent PK Matt Payne (BYU) recently received a call from the Buffalo Bills. He is hopeful the Bills may extend an offer in two weeks. If not, other chances may come over the summer. "He had four great years," said BYU special teams coach Paul Tidwell. Payne has given up punting to focus on his place kicking.

 

Name: Matt Payne

College: BYU Number: 38

Height: 6-4 Weight: 229

Position: K Pos2: P

Class/Draft Year: Sr/2005

40 Time: 4.75

Projected Round: Stock:

Rated number 9 out of 32 K's / 1482 TOTAL

 

Combine Results Pro Day Results

Combine Invite: yes

Height: 6040

Weight: 229

40 Yrd Dash:

20 Yrd Dash:

10 Yrd Dash:

Wonderlic: 27

225 Lb. Bench Reps:

Vertical Jump:

Broad Jump:

20 Yrd Shuttle:

3-Cone Drill:

 

Dates: 03/08/2005 03/16/2005

Height: 6040

Weight: 229

40 Yrd Dash:

20 Yrd Dash:

10 Yrd Dash:

225 Lb. Bench Reps:

Vertical Jump:

Broad Jump:

20 Yrd Shuttle:

3-Cone Drill:

 

 

DRAFT BIOGRAPHY

OVERVIEW

 

 

In this day and age of specialized football, Payne takes the words "special teams" to a different level. Few kicking specialists in the game are capable of handling all the aspects of kicking as well as Payne. Not only is he a superb long distance field goal artist, but he is known for his towering punts and ability to pin the opponent inside the 20-yard line. Not to be outdone by those exploits, he is also a capable kickoff specialist and also has ranked among the team leaders in tackles on the coverage unit. He has a strong arm and quick feet to either throw or run with the ball on fake field goal and punt attempts. He even got some action as a receiver earlier in his career.

 

Payne lettered in football twice and basketball and soccer three times at Weber High School. He earned All-Region, All-Area and All-State honors in soccer and basketball. Payne handled place-kicking duties in 2001 at Brigham Young, scoring a career-high 109 points as he made 73 of an NCAA season-record 76 extra point attempts and 12 of 17 field goals. He took on punting chores as a sophomore, gaining 2427 yards on 51 attempts (47.6 avg) with eleven kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line. He added 66 points on 13 of 16 field goals and 27 of 30 PATs. He also recorded four tackles in 2002.

 

 

 

Payne again handled all kicking duties in 2003, connecting on 14 of 18 field goals and all 20 extra point tries for 62 points. He punted 78 times for 3433 yards (44.0 avg) with 22 boots that were downed inside the 20-yard line in 2003. He also registered a team-high eight special teams tackles. All-American accolades would come his way in 2004. Payne scored 75 points on 15 of 22 field goals and all 30 PAT attempts. He averaged 43.0 yards on 62 punts with 23 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and had only 27 boots returned. He added eight tackles on special teams, threw a 12-yard touchdown and rushed twice for 44 yards. He also averaged 62.2 yards on 57 kickoffs, with only 30 attempts returned.

 

In 47 games with the Cougars, Payne scored 312 points on 54 of 73 field goals and 150 of 157 PATs. Only Owen Pochman (333, 1997-2000) scored more points in a career at Brigham Young. His 54 field goals rank second on the school's career-record list behind Pochman's 66. Payne has never had a field goal blocked in his career. He gained 8713 yards on 192 punts, finishing with a 45.38-yard gross average and a 40.48-yard net average. He recorded 25 tackles (16 solos), rushed three times for 72 yards, caught a 1-yard pass and completed one of two passes for a 12-yard touchdown. He also holds the Mountain West Conference career-records for holds the most field goals, PATs and career yards per-punt average.

 

ANALYSIS

 

 

Positives...Solid and productive kicker who consistently produces under pressure...Very quick in his approach, coming from the side at a proper angle...Gets excellent trajectory and lift behind his kicks...Very flexible and smooth in his approach...Extremely consistent field goal artist from the mid-range (40 yards) area...Strikes with explosion and shows the range to make the longer three-pointers...Uncoils quickly, getting additional hip swerve and body snap behind his attempts...Very enthusiastic in lending support to the kickoff coverage unit, getting downfield quickly and showing no fear in getting involved in making the tackle...Hands appear good fielding the punt...Average hang time on punts range from 4.5-4.64 seconds and his touch-to-toe mechanics on punts ranges between 1.16-1.28 seconds...Shows explosion into the ball as a punter and has the leg strength to drive it into the wind.

 

Negatives...Erratic as a kickoff specialist...Does not get good height on these attempts, with most barely making it to the end zone, resulting in a high amount of returns...Mostly kicks line drives on his kickoffs, needing to improve both distance and height on his attempts to prevent the long return...Average kickoff hang time ranges from 3.77-4.07 seconds...Steady field goal artist, but lacks the leg strength to make the long range kicks...Two-step punter, but sometimes his approach is slow and deliberate, resulting in a few blocks (four).

 

CAREER NOTES

 

 

2004 SEASON

 

First-team All-American selection by The Sporting News and the American Football Coaches Association, adding second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and Associated Press...First-team All-Mountain West selection at punter and second-team All-MWC performer at kicker...Was a semi-finalist for both the Lou Groza Award (nation's top place-kicker) and Ray Guy Award (nation's top punter) and was the only player in the country to earn that distinction on both lists...Five-time Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week ...Broke the NCAA record with 14 consecutive field goals from 40-49 yards...Broke the BYU record with 67 consecutive PATs...Scored 75 points on 15 of 22 field goals and all 30 extra point tries...Punted 62 times foe 2808 yards (43.0 avg), as one attempt was blocked, seven others went for touchbacks, three resulted in fair catches and 23 were downed inside the 20-yard line...Finished with a 41.45-net yard average as only 27 of his punts were returned...Completed one of two passes for a 12-yard touchdown...Rushed twice for 44 yards...Recorded eight tackles (7 solos) on the coverage units...Averaged 62.2 yards on 57 punts as 21 resulted in touchbacks and four others went out of bounds.

 

2004 GAME ANALYSIS

 

Notre Dame...Earned ESPN Player of the Game and MWC Player of the Week honors after punting nine times for a 46.8-yard average with a long of 63 yards and six kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line...Only two punts were returned for 11 yards...Also made 44 & 35-yard field goals and a pair of extra points.

 

Stanford...Punted four times for 180 yards (45.0 avg) with a 54-yarder that was downed inside the 20-yard line...Had one punt blocked for a 14-yard gain and only one punt returned for 9 yards...Added a PAT and a 40-yard field goal.

 

Southern California...Averaged 48.2 yards on eight punts with a long of 79 and two kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line...Only two punts were returned for 7 yards...Had an extra pint and a 46-yard field goal.

 

Boise State...Kicked 32 & 42-yard field goals and three PATs...Punted seven times for 308 yards (44.0 avg) with a long of 59 yards and made four tackles, including two highlight reel stops of returner Chris Carr.

 

Colorado State...Added four extra points and a 52-yard field goal...Punted five times for 238 yards (47.6 avg) with three kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line, including a 55-yarder...Only two punts were returned for 5 yards...Also made a solo tackle.

 

Nevada-Las Vegas...Had a pair of conversions and field goals of 47 & 50 yards...Punted seven times for a 45.1-yard average with two attempts returned for 13 yards...Also attempted a pass.

 

Wyoming...Averaged 40.3 yards on seven punts, with four returned for 67 yards...Posted a solo tackle...Kicked a 46-yard field goal and three extra points.

 

Air Force...Followed with 23 & 53-yard field goals, five PATs and had three punts for a 42.3-yard average...None of his punts were returned...Also gained 20 yards on a fake punt.

 

San Diego State...Successful on 43, 34 & 42-yard field goals and four PATs...Had one extra point blocked, snapping his school record streak at 67...Punted four times for 187 yards (46.8 avg) with two kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, including a 55-yarder...Had two punts returned for 12 yards and registered a solo tackle.

 

New Mexico...Averaged 47.8 yards on four punts, with three returned for only one yard... Added two PATs, including one on a 12-yard touchdown pass that he threw to Riley Weber in the first quarter.

 

Utah...Closed out his career with three conversions, a 24-yard rushing attempt and four punts for 172 yards (43.0 avg).

 

2003 SEASON

 

An Honorable Mention All-MWC selection...Saw action at both punter and kicker in all 12 games...Listed as a candidate for both the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards...Led the MWC with 78 punts for 3433 yards (44.0 avg) with two attempts blocked, eight that went for touchbacks, three result in fair catches, 22 that were downed inside the 20-yard line and a long of 67 yards...44 of his punts were returned for 492 yards and two touchdowns...Hit on 14 of 18 field goals and all 20 extra point tries for a career-low 62 points...Because of poor coverage on his punts, he led the special teams with eight tackles (5 solos).

 

2003 GAME ANALYSIS

 

Georgia Tech...Had two punts blocked, but also made three PATs and a 24-yard field goal.

 

Southern California...Became the first kicker in BYU history to kick two 50-yard field goals in the same game, connecting on 53, 26 & 52-yarders and averaged 44.3 yards on six punts...His 53-yarder was the second-longest field goal in school history, topped only by Owen Pochman's 56-yarder vs. New Mexico in 2000.

 

Stanford...Punted nine times for a 50.2-yard average with three kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line and a long of 67 yards.

 

Air Force...Gained 264 yards on six punts (44.0 avg) and kicked a 35-yard field goal.

 

San Diego State...Followed with 39, 47 & 18-yard field goals, two PATs and eight punts for a 41.6-yard average.

 

Wyoming...Punted five times for 255 yards (51.0 avg) and kicked a 30-yard field goal.

 

Nevada-Las Vegas...Had field goals of 40 & 50 yards, two extra points and a 51.6-yard average on five punts, adding two tackles on special teams.

 

2002 SEASON

 

Earned All-MWC first-team honors...Named the team's Special Teams Most Valuable Player as he ranked second nationally with 51 punts for an average 47.6 yards (2427 yards)...Had a long of 76 yards, one punt blocked, seven go for touchbacks, two result in fair catches and eleven that were downed inside the 20-yard line...Only 21 of his punts were returned, finishing with a 43.49-net yard average...Recorded four tackles on special teams, caught a 1-yard pass and ran for a 28-yard gain...Scored 66 points on 13 of 16 field goals and 27 of 30 extra point attempts.

 

2002 GAME HIGHLIGHTS

 

Posted a season long punt of 76 yards vs. San Diego State...Also recorded punts of 70 (vs. Syracuse), 72 (vs. Nevada), 71 (vs. Nevada), 64 (vs. Hawaii) and 63 (vs. Wyoming)...Had 21

punts of 50 yards or more, including four 50-yarders vs. New Mexico...Pinned Nevada inside its own 20-yardline three different times...Credited with a 28-yard run for a first down vs. New Mexico...Earned MWC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors after posting a 44.4 yards-per-punt average vs. New Mexico, and posted three straight field goals.

 

2001 SEASON

 

Competed in all 14 games for the Cougars as a freshman...Earned All-Academic MWC honors...Cougar Club Academic Award recipient... Made 73 of 76 point-after attempts, setting an NCAA record for most point-after attempts (76)...Ranked second on the BYU roster in scoring, posting 109 points...Connected on 12 of 17 field goals and also punted once for 45 yards...Recorded five tackles on special teams.

 

2001 GAME HIGHLIGHTS

 

Earned MWC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors after nailing a 25-yard field goal as time expired to give BYU a 41-38 victory at Mississippi State and also connected on a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter at MSU to pull the Cougars to within a touchdown...Tied a BYU single-game record with 10 successful extra-point attempts vs. Tulane...Kicked a season-long 50-yard field goal vs. Nevada-Las Vegas.

 

2000 SEASON

 

Redshirted as a freshman.

 

INJURY REPORT

 

 

No injuries reported.

 

AGILITY TESTS

 

 

COMBINE: 30 ¼-inch arm length...9 5/8-inch hands...27 Wonderlic score.

 

HIGH SCHOOL

 

 

Lettered in football twice and basketball and soccer three times at Weber (North Ogden, Ut.) High School, playing football for coach Kory Bosgieter...Earned All-Region, All-Area and All-State honors in soccer and basketball.

 

PERSONAL

 

 

Business major...Younger brother, Mitch, signed as a kicker with BYU in 2003...Married the former Amanda Lindley...The couple has one child...An Eagle Scout...Served a Church mission to Portland, Oregon before enrolling at BYU...Son of Gordon and Mary Payne...

 

Resides in North Ogden, Utah.

 

PLAYER STATISTICS

 

PLACEKICKING STATISTICS

 

STATS

FGA FGM EPA EPM POINTS LONG 0-29 30-39 40-49 50+

2001 17 12 76 73 109 50 5/4 3/3 6/4 3/1

2002 16 13 30 27 66 52 2/2 6/6 6/4 2/1

2003 18 14 20 20 62 53 7/6 4/2 2/2 5/3

2004 22 15 30 30 75 53 2/1 4/2 11/8 5/4

TOTAL 73 54 157 150 312 53 16/13 17/13 25/18 15/9

 

PUNTING STATISTICS

 

STATS NO YARDS AVG BK LONG In20 RET R/YDS N/YDS N/AVG

2001 1 45 45.00 0 45 0 0 0 45 45.00

2002 51 2427 47.59 1 76 11 21 209 2218 43.49

2003 78 3433 44.01 2 67 22 44 492 2941 37.71

2004 62 2808 45.29 1 79 23 27 238 2570 41.45

TOTAL 192 8713 45.38 4 79 56 93 939 7774 40.49

 

KICKOFF YARDAGE STATISTICS

STATS NO YARDS AVG TB OB

2004 45 2797 62.2 10 1

 

MINI-PROFILE, DRAFT SCOUT NEWS

01/13/2005 - (East-West Shrine Practice Note) - PK Matt Payne, BYU: Provided some highlights this week with some impressive punting. Payne, who has seen action as both a punter and kicker this week, routinely booted punts of fifty yards or more, with most scraping the clouds.

 

11/03/2004 - P/PK Matt Payne -- The senior has been named Mountain West Conference special teams player of the week four times this season and seven times in his career. Payne is averaging a league best 45.2 yards on punts, is 12 of 14 on field goals and set a BYU record with his 64th consecutive PAT in an Oct. 23 win at Air Force.

 

10/05/2004 - DRAFT 2005 PROSPECT - #38 K/P MATT PAYNE, (BYU), 6032, 238 lbs

 

Big, physical athlete for a kicker/punter...that led the Cougars to a 31-21 win over Colorado State on Saturday with outstanding special teams play...the strong legged kicker/punter is the the only prospect listed on both the Lou Groza Award and Ray Guy Award watch lists...on Saturday Payne averaged 47.6 yards per punt on 5 punts and added seven points in the Cougars' 10-point victory over Colorado State...he kicked a 52-yard field goal to give BYU an early 3-0 lead with 9:55 left in the second quarter and also added 4 PAT's...Payne was also credited with another bone-jarring tackle in kickoff coverage and has 3 "monster" special teams hits on the season. Payne holds the MWC record for most career field goals with 46 and has hit 55 consecutive point-after attempts.... BYU leads the nation in net punting average, with 42.9 yards per punt. Payne ranks third nationally in overall punting with a 46.5 yards-per-punt average. Also, Payne is a perfect 6-for-6 from 40 yards or more on the season, including 2-for-2 from over 50 yards. Payne has scored 269 career points, including a team leading 32 points this season.

 

JUNIOR SEASON - (2003): An Honorable Mention All- MWC selection ... saw action at both punter and kicker in all 12 games ... was listed as a candidate for both the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards ... a preseason all-league selection ... earned preseason All-America honors ... an Athlon Sports second-team Preseason All-American ... selected by The Sporting News as a preseason second-team All-American ... listed by TSN as the second-ranked punter in the nation ... led the Mountain West Conference with an average 44.0 yards per punt ... recorded at least one punt of 51 yards or more in all 12 games during the season ... credited with a season-high 67-yarder against Stanford ... also recorded a punt of 66 yards at Wyoming ... posted an average of 51.0 yards per punt in three different games, including a career-best 51.6 yards per punt at UNLV ... recorded a season- high 10 punts for 409 yards in the Cougars? 10-7 win at New Mexico, averaging 40.9 yards per punt ... recorded a total of 22 punts over 50 yards on the season ... also tallied 22 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line ... only eight punts were credited as touchbacks ... 44 of his punts were returned for an average of only 11 yards per return ... credited with 14-of-18 field goal attempts, including a long of 53 yards ... became the first kicker in BYU history to kick two 50-yard-plus field goals in a single-game (vs. #4 USC) ... booted a career-long 53-yard field goal against the Trojans in the first half, followed by a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter to pull the Cougars to within just three points of the Trojans with 7:05 remaining ... his 53-yard field goal against USC tied for the second longest field goal in school history ... was 3-for-3 in the Cougars' 44-36 win at San Diego State ... was also 2-for-2 in the Cougars' overtime win at UNLV, including a 50-yarder that tied the score at 13-13 with two seconds left before the half ... credited with eight tackles as a result of aggressive special teams play ... named Special Teams player of the game by the coaching staff against USC, UNM and UNLV.

 

SOPHOMORE SEASON - (2002): Earned All-MWC First Team honors ... garnered post-season All-America honorable mention recognition ... a Phil Steele's College Football Preview second-team All-MWC selection ... named team's Special Teams Most Valuable Player ... ranked second nationally with 51 punts for an average 47.6 yards per punt ... posted a season long punt of 76 yards against San Diego State ... also recorded punts of 70 (vs. Syracuse), 72 (vs. Nevada), 64 (vs. Hawaii) and 63 (vs. Wyoming) ... credited with 21 punts of 50 yards or more, including 4 50-yarders against New Mexico ... landed 11 punts inside the 20-yardline ... pinned Nevada inside its own 20-yardline 3 different times ... credited with a 28-yard run for a first down against New Mexico ... was 13-of-16 in field goal attempts, including a long of 52 yards ... earned MWC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors after posting a 44.4 yards-per-punt average against New Mexico, and posted three straight field goals ... was a perfect 8-for-8 from 20-39 yards ... posted a mark of 4-for-6 from 40-49 yards out ... after missing the first two field goals in the season-opener against Syracuse, connected on 13 of his next 14 field goal attempts ... was 27-of-30 on PATs.

 

FRESHMAN SEASON - (2001): Competed in all 14 games for the Cougars as a freshman ... earned All-Academic MWC honors ... a 2001 Cougar Club Academic Award recipient ... earned MWC Special Teams Player-of- the-Week honors after nailing a 25-yard field goal as time expired to give BYU a 41-38 victory at Mississippi State ... also connected on a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter at MSU to pull the Cougars to within a touchdown ... made 73-of-76 point-after attempts, setting an NCAA record for most point-after attempts (76) ... ranked second on the BYU roster in scoring, posting 109 points on the season ... tied a BYU single-game record with 10 successful extra-point attempts (vs. Tulane) ... connected on 33 straight PATs during the season ... posted five or more successful PATs in nine different games this season... was 12-of-17 on field goal attempts ... posted a season-high 50-yard field goal at UNLV ... was four-of-six on field goal attempts between 40-49 yards ... was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts between 30-39 yards.

 

REDSHIRT - (2000): Redshirted.

[Coach Tuesday]

Bills | May Call on Place Kicker - from www.KFFL.com

Wed, 11 May 2005 15:23:44 -0700

 

The Salt Lake Tribune reports undrafted rookie free agent PK Matt Payne (BYU) recently received a call from the Buffalo Bills. He is hopeful the Bills may extend an offer in two weeks. If not, other chances may come over the summer. "He had four great years," said BYU special teams coach Paul Tidwell. Payne has given up punting to focus on his place kicking.

[Sound_n_Fury]

Salt Lake City Tribune article:

 

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2726052

 

 

War Room analysis

 

Payne is a right-footed soccer-style kicker who also can handle punting duties. He has a big leg as a punter. He has good size. He converted 15-of-22 field-goal attempts as a senior, with his long coming from 53 yards.

 

His leg strength is adequate but not elite. He shows good mechanics and accuracy as a kicker, and he consistently sent kicks down to the goal-line at the East-West Shrine Game. He has solid directional skills and hang-time as a punter. He has a better shot at making a pro roster as a punter.

 

 

 

Pro Football Weekly analysis

 

Positives: Great size with a strong leg. Fine directional punter. Good hang time. Jack of all trades. Handles kickoff and field goal duties and was very accurate from inside 55 yards. Very durable.

 

Negatives: Inconsistent and has been helped by kicking at high altitude in mountain air.

 

Summary: Strong legged punter who can also handle kickoffs and long distance field goals and could be drafted late.

[drnykterstein]

He has good size

lol, I don't think size matters with kickers. In fact (from soccer) some of the people with the strongest legs I've seen have been really short.

[TigerJ]

Interesting. He would be one of the biggest kickers in the NFL, bigger than Lindell, taller than Janikowski (Janikowski is fat). Payne has iceal linebacker size and has a 40 yard time in the range of a linebacker too. No, I'm not suggesting he double like Paul McGuire did as a punter/linebacker, but on kickoffs he could be a real force on coverage. He wouldn't need to be afraid like a 5'8" 160 lb shrimp. I guess he hasn't shown a huge leg on kickoffs, but he wouldn't be any worse than Lindell, and maybe with some work on technique he can get a little more leverage. I like it.

[MadBuffaloDisease]

\No, I'm not suggesting he double like Paul McGuire did as a punter/linebacker, but on kickoffs he could be a real force on coverage.

I heard he layed out some returnmen in college. Should be interesting at the very least.

[Rubes]

Posted this in another thread but thought I'd put it up by itself just in case. LAMP!

 

 

This is the guy I've been calling for for months. I've watched this guy play, and he is a potential gamer. He can hit kicks fairly consistently from beyond 40 yards, and has made plenty from beyond 50. He is big (6'4", 230 lbs) and like to lay a few big hits on return men.

 

He has missed a few key kicks, but one upside is that he is both a kicker and a punter. He's actually a damn good punter. Would be good insurance is Moorman gets injured.

 

Here are a few good articles on him. The first one is nice:

 

Linky 1

 

Linky 2

 

Linky 3

 

Personally, I'd love to see this guy get a contract with us.

[Sound_n_Fury]

I'm curious to see if he can be as effective kicking at lower alttitudes...I'm always leary of the stats put up by guys playing in that thin mountain air.

[Rubes]

I'm curious to see if he can be as effective kicking at lower alttitudes...I'm always leary of the stats put up by guys playing in that thin mountain air.

334816[/snapback]

 

 

True, although not all of their games are at home.

[stuckincincy]

I heard he layed out some returnmen in college.  Should be interesting at the very least.

334190[/snapback]

 

Maybe he'll break Roscoe's leg during practice.

[Sound_n_Fury]

True, although not all of their games are at home.

334821[/snapback]

 

Yep, but they don't call it the Mountain West conference for nothing!

 

I thought this fact was interesting:

 

"Only Owen Pochman (333, 1997-2000) scored more points in a career at Brigham Young. Payne's 54 field goals rank second on the school's career-record list behind Pochman's 66."

 

We seem to have a thing for BYU kickers lately...must be all the experience they get in a wide-open, offense-oriented conference.

[Mark VI]

I saw a couple BYU games this past season and remember the kicker running down the field and making a couple of big hits which had the announcers going wild. Obviously, it was him.

 

The Bills had a kicker in the early 70's named John Leypoldt who would kick off and make plenty of big hits/tackles . He weighed 240 and feared no one.

 

If Payne could show some consistency, I'd like to see a Kicker who could make tackles again.