While most of the attention focuses on the kicker during field goal attempts, there are really three key components that make up each try — not to mention the blocking up front.
Broncos kicker Matt Prater always credits his long snapper, Lonie Paxton and holder, Britton Colquitt, whenever he has the opportunity, because without all three doing their job, there would be no game-winning kicks.

THE SNAP IS AWAY…
Paxton is the veteran of the three-man special teams unit, playing in his 12th NFL season in 2011. Paxton has snapped for 15 game-winning field goals during his career, including two in the postseason with New England, where he began his career. The group draws off that experience come clutch time, which helps explain why the trio is four-for-four on game-winning kicks this season.
“Just knowing that he’s been there and done it gives you even more confidence that the snap is going to be perfect,” Prater said. “Just his mindset going into it – treat it like any other kick – and it’s been good learning from him. He’s the best snapper in the league, hands down, in my opinion. He’s just an awesome guy to work with.”
Paxton has worked to perfect his craft, which relies heavily on muscle memory to snap the ball back with the same number of rotations in a perfect spiral to the holder. Colquitt says that Paxton can snap the ball with such consistency that he usually doesn’t even have to rotate the laces as he’s putting it down.
“Most of the time it’s seven-and-a-half or eight-and-a-half rotations going back there,” Paxton said. “You stand a certain distance every time and you just practice it. If sometimes it’s a quarter-turn left, you’re a little bit too far away. If it’s a quarter-turn inside, that means you’re a little bit too close, and you just play with that.”
Colquitt, who is on the receiving end of the snaps, appreciates the consistency from Paxton. Knowing the snap will be perfect every time makes it easy for Colquitt to focus on other aspects of holding for Prater.
“The biggest thing with Lonie is that the snap is perfect every time,” Colquitt explained. “I usually don’t even have to turn the laces. All I have to do is make sure I catch it and then find the spot.”
Fans usually only take notice to the long snapper when he makes a mistake, but Colquitt appreciates how good Paxton is at his job every snap.
“I think it’s pretty rare (to have a snapper that consistent),” Colquitt explained. “It’s one of those things that goes unnoticed. Coaches just expect it to be right, but in the last couple years there have been a lot of guys throwing them bad or getting hurt so you’ve started to see what a vital position it is. Players all know it, but maybe the public doesn’t always realize it. It’s great on punts and field goals to have a guy like Lonie.”

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