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SUN., MAY 4, 2008 - 7:37 PM
Packers: DeBauche puts best foot forward
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176

GREEN BAY — Only a few sets of eyes got to see Ken DeBauche get his kicks during the Green Bay Packers' three-day, post-draft rookie orientation camp, but the former University of Wisconsin punter left feeling pretty good about what he'd shown them.

DeBauche punted only on Friday and Saturday and, on both days, his practice started 45 minutes before the rest of the team's.

That meant only DeBauche, long snappers Thomas Gafford and J.J. Jansen, special teams coordinator Mike Stock, assistant special teams coach Shawn Slocum, general manager Ted Thompson and a few other personnel staffers were in the Don Hutson Center at the time. Practice was only open to reporters on Friday.

"So I had all my punts in both days before anyone else was on the field," DeBauche said after the camp wrapped up Sunday afternoon. "I think each day I probably had about 15 punts that were charted.

"Friday I punted very well; (Saturday) I punted well until my leg started getting a little tired. The only competition I had was myself, and I thought it went well."

So did the Packers, who signed DeBauche, a Suamico native, to compete with incumbent punter Jon Ryan when organized team activity practices begin May 19.

"We look for him to create very good competition for Jon, and we're excited about him. That's why we signed him," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said when asked if DeBauche was more than just a camp leg. "He's competing for a job, no doubt about it."

OTAs begin May 19, two days after DeBauche will walk in UW's graduation ceremonies.

What will he be doing between now and then?

"Keep getting better," DeBauche said. "One of my roommates down in Madison is (former UW long-snapper) Steve Johnson, so hopefully I can get him out of the house and snap to me a little bit. I'll just get into my same routine — kicking, working out and trying to get better."


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