Steady leg puts Frost in good standing
Consistency attracted team
By RICK BRAUN
Packer Plus writer
Posted: Sept. 9, 2008
Green Bay - Derrick Frost had little reason to think he'd be in Lambeau Field on Monday night.
In fact, he had little reason to think hed be in the National Football League on the first weekend of the season.
Its been a crazy couple of days, Frost said last week. Im kind of excited just to settle in here and get the season rolling.
Frost, a fifth-year punter, was waived by the Washington Redskins in the final roster cut-down on Aug. 30. Two days later, Frost was a Green Bay Packer after general manager Ted Thompson made a move that shocked many by waiving Jon Ryan.
While Ryan averaged 48.0 yards gross and 37.7 yards net on 23 pre-season punts, the Packers apparently believed Frost, now in his fifth season, offers more consistency.
And special teams coordinator Mike Stock offered up something else when he said Frost was much better at getting his punts off more quickly.
Ryan had two punts blocked last season, both coming in the Dec. 23 game at Chicago, a 35-7 loss.
Get-off time has been a real concern for us for two years, Stock said. From the snap, to the catch, to the kick. Absolutely.
Still, Ryans 37.6 net average in 2007 was the Packers best net average in 38 years.
Although he joined the Packers just a week before the opener, as a punter, Frost doesnt have to worry so much about learning a scheme as an offensive or defensive player would have to.
Punting is punting, no matter where you go.
For the most part, Frost said. Sometimes they might ask you to do directional more than other teams. But for the most part, its really the same.
Because of an injury to J.J. Jansen, the Packers also have a new long snapper in Brett Goode. But Stock isnt worried about two of his three main specialists being new.
Its not that these guys havent done this before, Stock said. The punter has punted before in this league and punted well.
Stock took exception to reports that his past relationship with Frost had anything to do with the move.
Ryan had 18 (punts downed) inside the 20 last year, with a 37.6 net, this kid (Frost) had 23 inside the 20 with a 37.4 net, Stock said. Now the net is very close.
Ryan had 11 touchbacks, this kid had seven. Ryan had two punts blocked, this kid had none. This kid punted 75-80 times last year, we punted 60.
In terms of competition and comparison, theyre about the same. In terms of consistency, this kid has been very good.
Frost actually had a 36.4 net last season, not 37.4, but the Packers seem to be more concerned with get-off times and hang times and believe Frost will bring consistency.
He got off to a good start Monday night in the season opener, averaging 45.2 yards gross and 42.6 net for five punts.
Another aspect of the job for Frost is that he also is the holder.
He doesnt expect there to be any problems with that.
Youre limited to so many reps and you have to make the best of it, but I feel like weve had a really good week, Frost said. Mason hasnt missed a kick yet in two days (of practice). Hes a good kicker, and that makes it a lot easier.
While Crosby hit three extra point-kicks and a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter on Monday night, a 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked at the end of the first half.
Frost lost his job in Washington after the Redskins spent a sixth-round pick on Durant Brooks. Frost broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in the 2004 season and then kicked three years for the Redskins.
Hes fully aware his timing was very good.
When NFL Europa folded and teams were hit with a hard cap of 80 for their training camp rosters, many teams did not use extra camp roster spots on specialists. The Packers did not have any in-camp competition for Crosby or Ryan, which made the move to waive Ryan and sign Frost a bit of a surprise.
With the 80-man limit, Frost knows it will now be more difficult for young punters to get looked at in the league.
Its hard to carry two, Frost said. Youre not going to see a lot of that anymore.
Some guys were able to be seen by other teams in exhibition games, but that is not likely to be the case under the new roster rules.
Without the NFL Europe league, how do you show guys? Frost said. I just dont see how thats going to help the league in the long run. But things change from year to year and they figure out ways to solve those problems, so they probably will.