Not that the Broncos’ season is off to a crazy start, but Jason Elam is getting more ink than Jay Cutler.
One minute, he’s kicking the game-winning field goal at Buffalo after running the Stanford Band play in the closing seconds. The next minute, Elam is kicking the game-winner vs. the Raiders.
It makes for good headlines and pure drama, but when your kicker is getting most of the attention, it’s not a good thing. NFL kickers are like umpires. The less you see of them, the better.
For all the offensive categories the Broncos lead the league in — total offense, for one — they also lead in one of the most dubious stats: field goals attempted.
Elam has lined up nine kicks in two games, three times as often as the Broncos have scored a touchdown. He’s on pace for 72 attempts, virtually twice as many as his career high of 38.
The fact that he has missed three kicks is another story for another day. The point here is, while settling for field goals was enough to beat the Bills and Raiders, two of the league’s worst teams, it doesn’t figure to fly against the Chargers and Colts.
The Broncos have done a great job of controlling the ball in the early going, but it has to lead to more points.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon. And read his Third & Short column on Sundays and the day after Broncos games.
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
