Seahawks Sign UDFA K Wes Byrum

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 12:05 PM PDT in Seahawks News & Rumors

Wes Byrum, a place kicker out of Auburn, lets us know by twitter that he is joining the Seahawks (thanks Adam Nappa), his agent confirms.

Considering the speed of this signing is obviously a back-up plan for Olindo Mare. The advantage of UDFAs is that they can join in practice immediately, while FAs have to wait until they are officially signed on July 29th.

His bio is available here. He ranks in the top-5 all-time in several categories for Auburn, including fourth in field goals made percentage (74.1%). Scouts point to him being a clutch kicker and accurate overall.

DK Edit: Per an AJC scouting report, Bynum is "considered one of the more reliable kickers in the nation, (he) finished his collegiate career by making 60 of 80 field goals and missing just three of 186 extra points." He went undrafted because his long-range ability may be sub-par.

"However, he's likely to go undrafted due to his struggles on kickoffs and from long range. He may have to prove in training camp that can improve in those areas. Only five of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks last season. Byrum's issues from long range were also evident on field goals, making 15 of 26 attempts from 40 yards or more. He was impressive inside of 40 yards, connecting on 45 of 54 chances over four seasons."

As for the kickoffs, perhaps the new NFL rules will help there. The long range (40+ yards) field goals will be his biggest weakness, and could pose a problem in his ability to make the roster.

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Comments

My name changed!

Hope it doesn’t confuse.

Follow me on twitter!

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

Um

Here

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions

You might want to take the moment to mention your previous alias.

Vasilii, everyone.

by Wilder. on Jul 27, 2011 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe put it in your signature for awhile, too.

by Wilder. on Jul 27, 2011 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I REFUSE

Good idea

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Aw man,

“Vasilii” was so exotic and cool. You have a fine name, though.

Recently engaged! Best. Off-season. Ever.

by Cheddar28 on Jul 27, 2011 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Why did it change ?

I don't have a gun, but if I did, I would shoot a baby deer in the mouth and feel nothing. Louis CK

by Lo Pann on Jul 27, 2011 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I've used the Vasilii handle for a while now, but even for Russians it is obscure, and Americans just tend to misspell it or make Vaseline jokes

So I switched to my real name. It’s puhrfeshiunal.

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Thomas? I use to always think of you as a Jerry.

“Because you’re silly!”

by Dizzy Saturn on Jul 27, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

*used

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fusilli_Jerry

by Dizzy Saturn on Jul 27, 2011 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

THAT is funny.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Jul 29, 2011 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd have to wait till my wife gets home to ask about the Russian connection

but I’m just hoping you didn’t take “vasilli” from Twilight, because that’s the first thing that pops up on google.

Offseason 2011: The purge of Ruskell's Boy Scouts continues.

by Wayward Llama on Jul 27, 2011 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Never heard of it. Never read/watched Twilight

Vasilii is an old but now less common Russian name. With my twitter account (@dolgorukii), it’s a reference to Vasilii Dolgorukov (longarms)

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

looks promising

i watched this guy a few times last year and looked solid. happy we have someone there for now…would be nice to bring in someone else for competition though.

by MrJstin on Jul 27, 2011 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

Competition?

Pete’s would never dream of it.

by Stay Off the Flowers on Jul 27, 2011 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Keller?

He’s retiring at the end of the year!

by MrJstin on Jul 27, 2011 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Terry Boss

Just because I don’t want to see him in goal next year.

by wyte_lightning on Jul 27, 2011 12:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

We can just grab Meredith from Kitsap

Kid looked good in the USOC game a few weeks back.

by SmartAssCoug on Jul 27, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Wasn't Coutu a kicking phenom at Georgia? That didn't work.

by StealthHawk on Jul 27, 2011 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

I miss Mare already

canadian eh

by Unidentified flying orgasms on Jul 27, 2011 12:22 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I was at the national championship this year

and the Auburn fans I was sitting next to would always say “Thank you Wes” after an extra point or field goal.

by lmeyer40 on Jul 27, 2011 12:25 PM PDT reply actions

As an Oregon fan, I hope this guy breaks his leg and never plays for the Seahawks.

Okay, not really. Welcome aboard for a month or so, Wes.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Jul 27, 2011 12:30 PM PDT reply actions

Isn't this the guy who ran up to Urban Meyer and did the "Gator Chomp"

after Meyer tried to freeze him with a timeout just as the ball was snapped?

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Jul 27, 2011 1:08 PM PDT reply actions

Could Ryan do the kickoffs?

by Flamefox111 on Jul 27, 2011 1:12 PM PDT reply actions

Uh, haven't the Seahawks learned how valuable touchbacks are?

Yikes.

by Coach Owens on Jul 27, 2011 1:31 PM PDT reply actions

We're entering a whole new era of kicking!

Formerly Known As Vasilii

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 27, 2011 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Which figures to make the gap between the have-legs and the have-not-legs

more stark. But possibly it will end up mattering less and greater accuracy is more valuable. But I’m doubting it.

Head of catering.

by jacobstevens on Jul 29, 2011 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions

They're a lot less valuable now

The only reason why touchbacks are valued is that they diminish the possibility of long returns. The new kickoff rules will have that effect on all the kickers and the league-wide TB rate should increase.

Also, Mare signed a giant 4 year/$12M deal with a $4M signing bonus.

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Jul 27, 2011 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure he'll stick around

I’d be far more comfortable with a kicker capable of consistent long-range field goals and mighty leg strength. Without the ability to rely on getting three points from 40-50 yards fairly consistently, that puts a lot of pressure on our offense to get into the red zone which, let’s be honest, they’ve kind of sucked at the past couple years. And with so many young O-linemen and new pieces, it’d be nice to have a consistent fallback option if the offense sputters out.

by Clendy on Jul 28, 2011 12:36 AM PDT reply actions