USF No Longer Confident In Kicking Game

[Apis Bull]

TAMPA - For the first eight years of the University of South Florida's football program, the Bulls' kicking game was an afterthought. USF fans were spoiled by kickers Steve Riggs, Bill Gramatica and Santiago Gramatica.

From 1997 to 2004, Riggs and the Gramatica brothers made 64 percent of their field-goal attempts. The past two years, however, have been a much different story.

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[Apis Bull]

Seriously, why can't we get a good kicker?

[SANJAY]

We thought we did in Benzer and Alvarado.  Can't tell how kids are going to respond mentally.

[Kyle]

Alvarado has missed one kick, and shanked an EP. I think the kid deserves another chance. Afterall, they gave Benzer an entire year to figure it out and he's still lost in the woods.

[SANJAY]

Agree with Kyle.

[BullsFanInTX]

Also agree with Kyle.  Give Alvarado a chance, he's missed one FG and one XP.

[Rabbi Bull]

don't forget his one missed field goal was blocked, which is the lines fault for not keeping the d-line in check, not his fault on that one.

[smazza]

it is the coaching not the kids

either usf isnt recruiting proper players or

coaches arent coaching

it is insane this problem has gone on for so long

but there seems to be a pattern here

[smazza]

special teams is 1/3 of the game

[tampajo]

don't forget his one missed field goal was blocked, which is the lines fault for not keeping the d-line in check, not his fault on that one.

The problem is bigger, CJL shouldn't be the special teams coach.  He doesn't have time to focus and train. For example, there have been opportunities for the freshman punter to punt from the middle of the field, say in the NC game or UConn game, but Leavitt chose not to give them that experiece.  Every player needs a position coach to act as a buffer between he and the head coach, especially neurotics like kickers.

Just a bad plan design, in my opinion, that will never work.