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Posted on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 7:23 p.m.

Up for kicks: While Michigan's quarterback competition gets the focus, Rich Rodriguez is also trying to figure out his kicking situation

By Michael Rothstein

They made him nervous the first couple of days of practice, watching balls fly at goalposts but not necessarily between them. As far as competitions go in Michigan's preseason football camp, the three-way quarterback question garners the most attention, but what might be equally as critical is what's happening at place-kicker.

The Wolverines have to replace last year's starter, K.C. Lopata, as well as kickoff guy Jason Gingell.

So it's essentially the most important competition no one is talking about.

"For us, when you're a dominating offense and score a whole bunch of touchdowns and your guy is just kicking extra points, that's one thing," Rodriguez said after practice Wednesday. "But we're certainly not at that point. Maybe in a few years it'll be overshadowed a little bit, but right now it's pretty critical."

While Michigan is lacking experience - none of the candidates attempted a field goal in 2008 with Lopata making 10 of 15 attempts - they have a bunch of guys taking a shot at it.

Seven guys are listed on the preseason roster at the kicker position. Three - junior Bryan Wright, fifth-year senior Jason Olesnavage and freshman Brendan Gibbons - took attempts during Monday's media viewing of practice. Of the three, only Wright has any game experience, kicking off nine times last year.

Another name of note: freshman Eddie Murray. If that strikes kicking memories, it should. It's the same name as the former Lions kicker. The two, though, aren't related although Murray the walk-on has worked out with current Lions kicker Jason Hanson.

Rodriguez said he wouldn't be opposed to having multiple kickers depending on the distance as well as breaking up field goal and kickoff responsibilities.

"I hope we can have one guy do them all, but if we have one guy that's consistently good from inside 35 but not with the long ones, we'll do that," Rodriguez said. "We have enough candidates that we can figure that out. That's part of our goal in camp.

"Whatever it takes. We have a limit on the away games where we can only take 70 (players), and you don't want to take four or five kickers, but I think one or two of them will emerge. At least I hope so."

One place Rodriguez doesn't have to worry is punter, where Zoltan Mesko continues to be one of the best in his position in the country.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558 or by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com.

Comments

81wolverine

Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 1:19 p.m.

We should all enjoy having Mesko punting this year, as he's really blossomed into the player everyone thought he'd be. But, I sure hope the coaches are recruiting the punter position hard this year, because I don't see anyone on the current roster right now to replace him. They certainly don't want to resort to campus-wide tryouts for punter next year!

Michael Rothstein

Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 8:44 a.m.

Well played, Txmaizeandblue, well played. Tater, From what I could tell by Day 1 of practice, I wasn't overly impressed by any of the kickers, but then again it sounded like Rodriguez wasn't either. My guess is that they'll improve throughout camp, but that was part of why I asked about it.

Txmaizenblue

Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 8:32 a.m.

Field goals are over-rated - Scott Norwood

tater

Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 11:29 p.m.

I hope Gibbons is the real deal, because the kickers in the spring game looked terrible.