The Kicking Game. Will Michigan's Improve?

With such "aweful" spelling, I am guessing that the OP comes from the OSU side of the "house divided?"

Olesnavage converted 11-of-15 field goals and 42-of-43 point-after-attempts.

I was very happy with how the kicking game ended up last year for Olesnavage.

UM ended up ranked #3 in the nation in net punting. Just like most chicken littles/trolls, you never do any research before you open your mouths. Thanks for trying, NEXT!!!

If you replace Michigan with Ohio State in your original post, then I think we have something to talk about.

#90 ranked punter, #41 net punting, 14 of 20 field goals.

Gibbons has a hammer but sprays them all over. At the spring game they said they got a kicker from the soccer team, which usually translates to more accuracy. Don't remember his name. All in all, I would say it is shaky, but not atrocious.

All things considered, we had a solid kicking game with another walk-on and the Space Emperor.

We should be OK this year. Gibbons has the leg strength, but he needs to be more consistent. Will Hagerup will be the punter when he arrives this summer.

I expect us to be in alot of close games this year, so the kicking game could be difference betwen bowl season and another losing season.

I expect Forcier to say in on many fourth downs, he has proven he can punt, but his play-making ability could allow for Michigan to keep many drives alive even on 4th and whatever. So, we may not need much of a kicking game this year.

Hagerup will definitely be the punter. As for the kicker, I was really impressed with Justin Meram's performance at the spring game. He is a captain and the leading goal scorer on the soccer team. I wouldn't be surprised if he won the starting job.

It seems to me the place kicking is wide open. Michigan does have two walk on's coming in. One of those guys is from Pioneer across the street.

I would admit that, while our K and P game was excellent last year, we are eally starting over this year.

The punting in the Spring game was atrocious, but, assuming Will-Verine Hagerup has college-level maturity, he should be a great punter for us for the next four years.

The fact that Gibbons couldn't beat out a walk-on last year, and hasn't separated himself this spring is disturbing. I wasnt at the SG, but from what I could see on the BTN and posted pix, our kickers are not at a B10 level in technique right now. Converted soccer players almost never have the right FG technique without a lot of work. The motion is close, but not close enough that you can just kick it like a soccer ball. It's not an easy transition. Gibbons looks very inflexible, which is why it appears he hits lots of low balls.

My sources indicate that Will-Verine is being encouraged (pressured) by the coaching staff to prepare to compete for kicking dutes in addtion to punting when he arrives. From his youtube stuff, he looks like he could be a big time kicker, too, and unlik the others, his technique looks extremely sound right now.