Cary Blanchard covers his face after missing a 44-yard field goal in the first half Sunday. (Reginald A. Pearman Jr. - washingtonpost.com)

By Bryan Tucker
Washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Web Posted: Sunday, September 27, 1998; 10:30 p.m. EDT

The revolving door with kickers at Redskins Park seems to have come to a stop after spinning out of control the last three weeks.

Washington's newest acquisition, Cary Blanchard, seems to have found his niche in a burgundy and gold uniform in Denver's rout of Washington, 38-16, Sunday afternoon in Landover, Md.

Blanchard finished the day 1 for 2 on field goal attempts, connecting on a 37-yarder in the third quarter.

Scott Blanton and David Akers were the Redskins previous kickers and both were cut in successive weeks. Blanton's exit came after the 49ers game in Week 2 and Akers after the Seahawks game seven days later. Both Blanton and Akers missed two field goals each and had short kickoffs in their respective final games.

Blanchard made his first field goal from 39 yards which was greeted by a mock standing ovation by Redskins fans at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. However, it was called back after a illegal formation penalty and he missed the successive 44-yard field goal wide left to keep the Redskins scoreless with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter.

"The second [attempt] when I came out there it just so happened it was a high snap and it kind of threw us off a little bit," Blanchard said. "When Matt [Turk] brought it down, the laces were right at me and I was already there so I kicked it and tried to adjust and ended up pulling it by a hair."

On kickoffs, Blanchard had much better success, booting three of his four kickoffs inside the Denver three-yard line. His final kickoff went for a touchback – a rarity for Redskins place kickers.

"I felt a little pressure on the kickoffs because like I said I have not kicked off in a longtime and coming into this game I really needed to show what I can do on my kickoffs," Blanchard said. "I did well, I did real well and I am happy with them."

Blanchard did not kickoff in Indianapolis because punter Chris Gardocki handled those responsibilities during his three-year tenure with the Colts. "I had not kicked off in four years," Blanchard said. "This is my first time and I had a touchback in my first game so I am pleased."

The 6-foot-1, 227 pound kicker is a six-year veteran of the NFL who signed a one-year contract with the Redskins after being cut from the Colts in favor of rookie Mike Vanderjagt in training camp.

He made the Pro Bowl in 1996 after making 90 percent of his attempts (36 of 40) in a 135-point season. Due to his experience, Blanchard knows what to do to avoid the waiver wire.

"This will be my sixth year in the league so I've been through most of it," Blanchard said. "I've been around so I'm coming in and I've had to do this on two other teams also so it has not affected me. I'm just trying to go out there and make everything."