Browns special teams coach Mike Priefer freely admits he doesn’t know the scientific specifics. But Priefer knows from experience the difference between kicking in regular stadiums and then heading to Denver to play in the higher altitude.
In his press conference on Thursday, Priefer talked about how much range the thinner air adds for kicker Austin Seibert on his field goal attempts.
“If it is not a very windy day, probably 5-6 yards, I would imagine. Pregame will show that,” Priefer stated. He then elaborated on the range in which Seibert could top out,
“Whether it is the 32, 35 or 38 yard-line going one way or the other. Then of course at the end of the half or the end of the game, you might have to extend that a little bit for obvious reasons to get the game-winning kick or end of half type of kick. I would imagine it is probably around 5 yards.”
Seibert is a perfect 10-for-10 on his field goals, but he has not attempted any over 50 yards yet.
The altitude should help punter Jamie Gillan, another rookie who is off to a great start, add a little more hang time too.
“The hang time for a punter could upwards of another half a second of hang time,” Priefer said. “I have no scientific proof of that; I am not smart enough to figure that part out. It has been my experience for being out there for two years that it is amazing how an average punt becomes a 5.0 punt because of the altitude.”
Neither Gillan nor Seibert have collegiate experience kicking anywhere with an altitude higher than about 1,000 feet. Denver is more than five times that altitude.
