trib today on kicking game

[smazza]

Bulls' Kicker Working On Little Things

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA After Delbert Alvarado's roller-coaster 2007 season, that included a Big East record 56-yard field goal and missing four of six field goals at Auburn, the University of South Florida junior kicker knows what he must do this season.

"I've got to step it up," Alvarado said Tuesday.

Alvarado spent the summer working with former USF and NFL kicker Bill Gramatica.

"He's helped, working with him," Alvarado said. "That was different. We've really never had anyone to help us out from that perspective. I'm just trying to work on little things.

"I've got to step it up. It's about time. Coach [Jim Leavitt] basically told me being OK isn't good enough. You've got to step above that."

Alvarado, who made 19 of 29 field goals, finished third in the Big East last season in punting.

NOT THE WEAKEST LINK: Much has been made about how difficult it will be for CBs Tyller Roberts and Jerome Murphy to replace NFL draft picks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams. Roberts said they welcome the challenge.

"We never want to be labeled the weak link," Roberts said. "Everyone says, 'you lost Trae and Mike, how do you replace those guys?'

"We can't. But we can just go out and play our game."

ODDS AND ENDS: USF was not ranked in Sports Illustrated's Top 20. USF opponents ranked were: No. 14 West Virginia, No. 15 Kansas and No..19 Pittsburgh. … Leavitt on Tuesday's practice: "We were not very good today. They were slow, on the ground too much. Complacent. We didn't stay on task. We certainly wouldn't have won a football game today, I can assure you."

Senior LB Tyrone McKenzie said the biggest surprise after the first two practices has been freshman CB Quenton Washington. "He comes ready to work," McKenzie said. "He has a good attitude. If you have those two things going for you, the sky's the limit." … Gainesville High OL Kendall Kelly verbally committed to USF Monday, choosing the Bulls over scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Middle Tennessee, Ohio and Charleston Southern.

Brett McMurphy

[stringfellow]

I know I'm new around here but can't we replace Delbert as the kicker?  He's just bad!  Isn't there a soccer player or new recruit that can take over that duty?  There has to be something better than Delbert!  Let him punt - give someone else the kicking job.

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

wasn't Delbert's 56-yarder during the 2006 season, during the 'Cuse game IIRC?

[Bull Martin]

wasn't Delbert's 56-yarder during the 2006 season, during the 'Cuse game IIRC?

That's the thing.  Delbert can kick.  He has a problem with his accuracy.  Sure we could go with a guy that could make 25 yarders easily, but hell that's a FG off the 8-yd line...

If Delbert can work on his accuracy he'll be a monster.  That 56 yard FG as I remember still had some clearance room. 

He did finish the season strong (though he was used very conservatively).  Hopefully he'll come back fired up.

[Rizman]

I think with the incoming freshman kicker you will see a big improvement in the kicking.

[Bull Martin]

I think with the incoming freshman kicker you will see a big improvement in the kicking.

From Delbert having actual competition?  You know how Leavitt is a homer for his starters.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.  The new kid might come in now and again, but unless Delbert has an Auburn-esque day he'll be starting most of the season.

[usfgrad84]

Key componenet to the kicking game is the holder.  Now that Severino is gone anyone have any clue who will be holding?

Delbert will probably start the season as the kicker.  He finished the year 9 of 10 I believe in FGs and only missed 1 PAT for the year..  Hopefully he has improved to be more consistent.  If not let one of the others have a shot. 

[hightechbull]

While Delbert is not blameless in his missed kicks, it is kind of hard to be accurate with your kicks if the o-line does not block the defense.  I cannot name specific numbers or incidents, but I clearly remember several missed kicks last year were because of a porous offensive line.

The o-line issues are the same reason the running game has been mediocre since Andre Hall graduated.  Shore up the o-line and Grothe can hang in the pocket and make deep passes, the running game can get a lot of yards, and Delbert will miss less field goals.

[TheBullies]

I think CJL has made it clear to him he needs to step up his game to stay in there.

[TheBullies]

basing that on a post-practice interview I watched... think it was the day two interview