Matt Stover has an added responsibility and a new snapper heading into Sunday night's season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, changes that sit well with the veteran kicker.
In a game in which field position can make the difference for the Ravens in trying to contain the Colts' offense, Stover will be asked to pin Indianapolis deep in its territory on kickoffs. When it's Stover's time to hit difference-making field goals, he will do so with rookie Matt Katula as his snapper.
"The team evaluated Matt a little bit better than Joe [Maese]," Stover said. "Tough decision by the coaching staff and management to make that jump because Joe has done an excellent job for the team."
As for the kickoffs, Stover said, "I've done it 900-and-some-odd times. I've always trained to be able to kick well and do the kickoffs."
It may be the last week for a while that Stover gets the chance. The team could re-sign kickoff specialist Wade Richey next week or promote Robbie Gould, whom they signed to the practice squad yesterday. The Ravens prefer to save Stover for field goals.
Stover, who has a .827 career field-goal percentage, converted 29 of his 32 attempts (90.6 percent) last season.
Meanwhile, if Katula has his way, this will be the last time he will be heard from for a while. Long snappers only get publicity if they fail to do their job.
Katula said he never had an errant snap during a game in his four years at Wisconsin. He replaces Maese, who had not had a bad snap his past three seasons with the Ravens.
"I thought it was leaning a little bit toward [Maese] because he's the veteran," Katula said. "But I'm glad they have the trust in me that I can go out there and do the job because I know I can."
Billick: Don't boo Boller
There figures to be much emotion in M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night, and Ravens coach Brian Billick is doing everything in his power to make sure none of it is directed negatively toward his team.
Specifically, Billick wants to make sure the boos quarterback Kyle Boller heard during the preseason do not reappear, and the focus remains on the Colts' return to Baltimore.
"I can't imagine, it's totally beyond me how a Baltimore Raven fan, a fan that wants this football team to do well regardless of what happens in a game ... how anybody can even think twice about wanting to support the Indianapolis Colts by [booing]," Billick said.
Suggs clarifies position
