Midd graduate Hauschka gets tryout with Falcons
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The Associated Press - Published: November 25, 2009
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are looking at alternatives for slumping kicker Jason Elam.
The Falcons brought former Middlebury College kicker Steve Hauschka, Sam Swant and Shane Andrus and former Georgia standout Brandon Coutu to their practice facility for tryouts on Tuesday.
Hauschka, Swant and Andrus have NFL experience. Coutu was drafted by Seattle in 2008, but did not make the team.
Hauschka set records in three years at Middlebury and then played a season at North Carolina State as a graduate students. He was recently cut by the Baltimore Ravens.
The 39-year-old Elam has made only 10 of 16 field goals this season and ranks 30th in the league with his 62.5 percent success rate.
Of most concern, Elam has made only three of seven attempts from 30 to 39 yards, including a missed 35-yarder in Sunday's overtime loss to the New York Giants. He made 29 of 31 attempts overall in 2008.
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