#5 Mike Scifres | P
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Position: P College: Western Illinois Height: 6-2 Weight: 236 Age: 27 Experience: 6th NFL Season Acquired: Draft 5 - 2003 (149) Hometown: Destrehan, La. |
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After posting a career-high average of 46.1 yards per punt in 2007, Scifres is now tied with his mentor and good friend Darren Bennett for the highest career average in team history (43.8 yards per punt). Scifres’ 46.1-yard average was the second-highest for a single-season, trailing only Bennett’s 46.2-yard season in 2000. Since taking over the punting duties in 2004, Scifres has backed that up with a 38.7-yard net punting average.
Throughout the 2007 season, Scifres gave opponents a long field to work with, landing 36 of his punts inside the 20, second-most in the NFL. Scifres finished the regular season as the NFL’s third-leading punter in terms of net average (39.6), narrowly missing out on becoming only the second punter in team history to post a season net average of 40.0+. Dennis Partee (40.6 in 1971) is the only punter in team history to finish a season with a net average of 40.0+. Scifres had only 29 punts returned this season, fourth-fewest among the league’s Top 25 punters. Six times in ‘07, opponents had either zero or negative punt return yards against the Chargers – Chicago (0), Kansas City (0), Oakland (0), Indy (-5), Baltimore (0), Detroit (0) and Denver (0).
The success carried into the postseason where Scifres had a monster playoff game against Indianapolis in the Divisional Round that saw him set a new team postseason record by averaging 59.0 yards per punt. It shattered the previous mark of 54.5 yards set by Bennett against the Colts in a 1995 AFC Wild Card Playoff game. Scifres saved his best for last, hitting a postseason team-record 66-yarder with the Bolts backed up at their own 14-yard line and only 1:42 left in the fourth quarter. Kicking from his own goal line, Scifres punt was fielded back at the Colts’ 20. It fired up the entire sideline and the defense promptly went out and ended the Colts’ season on downs four plays later, sending the Chargers to the AFC Championship Game.
Scifres lived in Bakersfield, California from ages 5-13 while his father worked for Shell Oil. He was born in New Orleans and returned there to attend high school. He went to college at Western Illinois upon referral from a close family friend, Dan Neal, who once coached at the school. At the time, Neal was an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints and recently coached the tight ends for the Buffalo Bills.
Mike is an avid golfer and one of the team’s best players. He plays golf frequently in San Diego with his special teams mates, David Binn and Nate Kaeding. He also likes to play golf in exotic locales like Hawaii and Mexico. Scifres currently plays to a 15 handicap.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fifth-round pick (149) by San Diego, April 27, 2003…signed with Chargers, July 19, 2003…signed four-year contract extension through 2011, Nov. 3, 2005.
2007: Named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team…selected as first-alternate to AFC Pro Bowl squad…ranked third in NFL with 39.6 net punting average and sixth with 46.1 gross average…blasted six high punts in season-opening win over Chicago (averaging 40.7 yards per punt) and did not allow Bears single return yard…three times, forced Bears Pro Bowl return man Devin Hester to call for fair catches and had fourth downed by long snapper David Binn at Chicago’s 12-yard line…late in third quarter, hit 22-yard punt that actually deflected off cable supporting FOX’s Cable-Cam, but fortunately punt took great bounce and hit Bears’ safety Brandon McGowan in shoulder…errant ball was recovered by heads up cover man Matt Wilhelm and four plays later, Tomlinson threw TD pass to Gates and Bolts took 7-3 lead…had first punt of his career blocked in Denver Oct. 7…punt was blocked by Tony Scheffler and Denver recovered at San Diego’s 22-yard line, but defense held and forced Broncos to turn ball back over on downs…landed all four of his punts against Oakland Week 6 inside 20-yard line, his first punts I-20 since Sept. 23 at Green Bay…AFC Special Teams Player of Week after career performance against Houston Oct. 28, posting career-best 50.2 net average…landed all five of his punts against Texans inside 20-yard line…ran streak of consecutive punts inside 20 to nine…combined with Chargers’ outstanding coverage play, Houston started drives at 16, 6, 14, 4 and 1-yard lines following punts…first punt of day was season-long 63-yarder…upped season-long to 65 yards and landed five of eight inside 20 in Bolts’ Nov. 4 game at Minnesota…forced Vikings to start drives at 8, 4, 10, 16 and 19-yard lines following punts…two other Vikings drive following punts started at 20 and 21 yard lines…landed three of five punts against Indianapolis on NBC’s Sunday Night Football Nov. 11 inside 20-yard line and for third week in row hit punt over 60 yards with game-long 61-yarder…hit season-long 70-yard punt vs. Baltimore in first quarter Nov. 25…landed two of four punts vs. Ravens inside 20 and did not allow any returns or yards…70 yarder was longest punt since 71-yarder against Ravens last season in Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2006…stuck two huge punts late in Tennessee game Dec. 9…hit first for 39 yards early in fourth quarter, which was downed at one-yard line…it led to three-and-out by Bolts’ defense and touchdown on ensuing offensive possession…then in overtime, had 51-yard punt downed at two-yard line…it too was followed by three-and-out before offense responded with game-winning touchdown drive…solid night against Denver Dec. 24 on ESPN Monday Night Football, landing four-of-five punts inside 20-yard line and not allowing any returns to post 44.0 net average…also filled in to handle kickoffs for Nate Kaeding, who injured left non-kicking leg during game’s opening kickoff…had monster playoff game against Indianapolis in Jan. 13 Divisional Playoffs, setting new team postseason record by averaging 59.0 yards per punt…shattered previous mark of 54.5 yards set by Darren Bennett against Colts in 1995 AFC Wild Card Playoff game…Scifres saved his best for last, hitting postseason team-record 66-yarder with Bolts backed up at their own 14-yard line and only 1:42 left in fourth quarter…kicking from his own goal line, Scifres punt was fielded back at Colts’ 20…it fired up entire sideline and defense promptly went out and ended Indy’s season on downs four plays later, sending Chargers to AFC Championship Game…landed two of five punts inside 20-yard line in AFC Championship Game at New England and did not allow any punts to be returned, having three fair caught, one downed and one roll into end zone for touchback.2006: Named first-alternate to AFC Pro Bowl squad...had banner night in Sept. 11 season opener at Oakland, punting five times for 43.8-yard average with two inside 20-yard line and two punts fair caught...Raiders returned other three punts for total of one yard...only called upon to punt two times against Tennessee Week 2, landing both punts inside 20-yard line and now allowing any returns as both were downed by Chargers...punted five times for 53.8-yard average and tied his career long with 71-yard effort Oct. 1 at Baltimore...landed two inside 20, but also had first touchback of season...did not allow any returns on three punts Oct. 22 at Kansas City, having two downed and one fair caught... against St. Louis Oct. 29, landed all three punts inside 20-yard line with long of 55 and allowed only one return for 0 yards...hit 66-yard punt in second quarter against Cleveland Nov. 5...late in third quarter of Browns game, hit 35-yard punt which was downed at two-yard line by Antonio Cromartie...proved to be big play as San Diego’s defense forced three-and-out and on first play after Browns’ punt, LT took run 41 yards for touchdown and 17-12 lead...allowed only 10 yards two punt returns Week 9 at Cincinnati...landed two of five punts inside 20-yard line...landed all three punts at Denver Nov. 19 inside 20-yard line, with all three resulting in fair catches at nine, 16 and 14-yard lines...dropped first three punts inside 20-yard line without allowing any returns on Dec. 3 at Buffalo...punts forced Bills to start first-half drives at their own 12, 17 and two-yard lines as Chargers jumped out to 17-0 first-half lead...last punt of day, 50-yarder in fourth quarter, rolled into end zone for touchback...only second TB of season (Oct. 1 at Baltimore), ending streak of 38 consecutive punts without one...netted 45.3 yards per punt against Denver Dec. 10...was third-highest of season and highest since Oct. 15 at San Francisco (47.0)...of three punts against Broncos, two landed inside 20-yard line and Denver managed only one return for -3 yards...landed three punts inside 20-yard line without any touchbacks against Kansas City Dec. 17, placing punts at four, six and 16-yard lines...only allowed two punts to be returned for total of six yards...punted career-high 10 times with three landing inside 20-yard line with no touchbacks in rainy Dec. 24 game at Seattle...hit long of 59 yards against Seahawks...landed all three of his punts in Dec. 31 season finale against Arizona inside 20-yard line without any touchbacks...tied team playoff record with seven punts in AFC Divisional Playoff game vs. New England...John Kidd also had seven on Jan. 10, 1993 at Miami...landed five punts inside 20-yard line, tied with Kidd for most in playoff game in team history...Kidd had five in AFC Wild Card Playoffs against Kansas City on Jan. 2, 1993.
2005: Second-alternate to Pro Bowl…averaged 50.3 yards on three punts at New England Oct. 2 and had only one returned for eight yards…averaged solid 48.3 yards on four punts with long of 52 yards and two inside 20-yard line in Oct. 10 Monday Night Football game…Steelers only had one return for no yards and fair caught two other punts…another solid effort with seven punts for 42.6-yard average and landed four of seven inside 20-yard line in 27-14 win at Oakland Oct. 16…allowed only three of seven punts to be returned for total of 15 yards…mishandled fourth-quarter snap in end zone, but recovered and still managed to get off 33-yard punt…averaged solid 49.2 yards per punt against Kansas City Oct. 30…averaged season-high 57.5 yards per punt on two attempts against New York Jets Nov. 6…attempted only one punt against Buffalo Nov. 20, which traveled 53 yards and was fair caught…allowed only one of six punts to be returned for total of three yards in 23-17 overtime win at Washington Nov. 27…landed three punts inside 20-yard line and had four fair caught by Redskins…bailed Chargers out of own 10-yard line with career-long 71-yard punt in ESPN Sunday Night Football game against Oakland Dec. 4…tied for third-longest punt in team history…was second-longest punt in team history at sea level…Paul Maguire, who was in broadcast booth as color analyst for ESPN, hit longest punt in team history at sea level with 82-yard effort against Dallas Nov. 19, 1961…71-yarder was downed at Raiders’ 19-yard line…three of four punts on night landed inside 20-yard line…Raiders had only one return for no yards…had first punt of game against Miami on Dec. 11 go for touchback…was first touchback since Nov. 6 at New York Jets, ending string of 13 straight quarters and 11 consecutive punts without touchback…during stretch, landed 7 of 11 inside 20-yard line…allowed only one punt return for six yards in win over Indianapolis Dec. 18…landed two of four punts inside 20-yard line and forced two fair catches…landed three of seven punts inside 20-yard line with long of 56 in season finale versus Denver.
2004: First-alternate to Pro Bowl…first-team All-Pro by Sports Illustrated and SportsIllustrated.com…Chargers Special Teams Player of Year…ranked third in NFL with 38.4-yard net punting average…hit four punts against New York Jets Sept. 19 and had only one returned for two yards…averaged 49.2 yards per punt on six attempts at Denver Sept. 26…hit 59-yarder against Broncos and did not allow any returns…drilled 57-yard punt at sea level at home against Tennessee Oct. 3 and landed three punts inside 20-yard line…two of four punts were returned for no yards against Titans…landed all four punts inside 20-yard line against Jacksonville Oct. 10 with only one returned for one yard… landed two of five punts inside 20-yard line at Atlanta Oct. 17 and allowed only one to be returned…had two punts downed and two fair caught against Falcons…punted five times at Carolina Oct. 24, allowing only one return for no yards while landing three punts inside 20-yard line and forcing other four punts to be fair caught…averaged 48.7 yards per punt, including season-long 60-yard bomb against Oakland Oct. 31…landed one punt inside 20-yard line and had only one returned by Raiders…lone punt against New Orleans Nov. 7 traveled 31 yards and was fair caught at 10-yard line…averaged 43.3 yards and hit long of 57 on four punts at Oakland Nov. 21…landed three of four inside 20-yard line…had only two returned for nine yards by Raiders, while one was fair caught and other was downed…landed all three punts inside 20-yard line at Kansas City Nov. 28…two of the punts traveled 51 and 55 yards…allowed only one return for one yard and two others were fair caught by Chiefs return man Dante Hall…set career highs with eight punts and 372 yards against Denver Dec. 5…landed three inside 20-yard line…hit timely 60-yard punt to tie career long and later added 52-yarder in fourth quarter against Broncos to help preserve victory…had first punt go for touchback since Sept. 26 at Denver ending string of 36 consecutive punts without touchback…23 of 36 punts during stretch landed inside 20-yard line…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after averaging 46.8 yards on four punts with long of 50 and three inside 20-yard line against Tampa Bay Dec. 12…allowed only three returns for five yards against Bucs…tied season long with 60-yard punt at Indianapolis Dec. 26…season-high 49.8 yards per punt against Colts, landing one inside 20-yard line with two touchbacks on artificial turf…landed one of four punts inside 20-yard line and allowed only one return against Kansas City Jan. 2…had pass intercepted by Chiefs on botched field-goal attempt and injured thumb on play…averaged 36.4 yards per punt on five attempts against Jets in Wild Card Playoff game…landed one punt inside 20-yard line with no touchbacks.
2003: Handled kickoffs Weeks 4, 7, 12-14 and 16…inactive Weeks 1-3, 5-6, 8-11 and 15.
COLLEGE: First-team Division I-AA All-America selection by Football Gazette as sophomore and senior…three-time first-team all-conference choice…second-team All-America by Sports Network as sophomore…only Division 1-AA punter to be named finalist to Ray Guy Award list in 2002…second in nation with 48.0-yard gross average as senior…National Player of Week four times by Football Gazette and Special Teams Player of Week for Gateway Conference twice during senior campaign…conference Player of Week three times and Sports Network National Player of Week three times as sophomore…Division I-AA National Special Teams Player of Week after kicking school and conference record 89-yard punt against SW Missouri in 2000…school record 56-yard field goal against Northern Iowa as time expired in 44-41 win for 2000 conference title for ¬Western Illinois on first-career field-goal attempt…Gateway Conference All-Newcomer selection as redshirt freshman in 1999…played at Western Illinois from 1998-2002…earned degree in communications and broadcasting.
PERSONAL: Born Oct. 8, 1980 in Metairie, Louisiana…all-district selection at Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana…lettered in football, soccer and baseball.

