Improvements in the kicking game must be made by the Oregon State football team this week by the time the Beavers face Washington.
Field goals have made a difference in the games with the Huskies over the years. Remember Alexis Serna and his six field goals against them in 2005?
Senior Justin Kahut is in a slump. He missed two extra points last Saturday, and is 3-for-5 on field goals. His misses are from 47 and 25 yards.
“(Special teams coordinator) Bruce Read had a long talk with him,” Riley said. “Its one of those deals he’ll have to fight out of a slump. He’s not hitting the ball well. It was obvious with the PATs and obvious on the kickoffs. He has to get back and technically get comfortable again.”
The Beavers have a backup kicker for emergencies. He’s freshman walk-on Max Johnson, but he’s not ready for prime time. Next year the Beavers have a scholarship recruit greyshirting in Trevor Romaine.
“He’s our guy right now,” Riley said of Kahut. “We have a backup kicker, but there will be no change.”
Check out my interview with Kahut last week here. It starts about the Arizona game from 2008, but then addresses his issues this season.
Here’s a link to the main GT site with my story on WR James Rodgers being out of the season with a knee injury.
Also, QB Ryan Katz was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week. Read more about it here.
14 comments
tommiet says:
May 24, 2013
Everytime we line up for a field goal or extra point there is a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Kahut needs to be given a break, let Max take a shot at a few and see how he does. Remember when Serna got benched his replacement was horrible, and we were all glad to see Serna come back, and come back he did.
Maybe the same would work for Kahut, and Riley needs to get him off the hotseat before he turns into the Brooks Conrad of the Beavs and costs us a game.
tim33 says:
May 24, 2013
Riley rarely recruits punters and kickers. They typically walk-on and then earn a scholarship. This is what you get.
maffub says:
May 24, 2013
I could be wrong, but it's not like there are tons of D-1 level punters & kickers out there straight out of high school. Most (but not all) of those guys don't develop until they're in college.
Serna got motivated after losing his job after the LSU game. Of course, he was a freshman at the time. Kahut doesn't present the same options given that he's a senior.
I bear Justin Kahut no ill will, whatsoever. However it is clear that he's a liability right now. I'd put Max Johnson on the travel squad to Seattle… "just in" case Justin's struggles continue.
JackBeav says:
May 24, 2013
I look forward to seeing Romaine on the field next year. Automatic touchbacks and PAT's are a good thing. Still, I wonder how much a K needs to be reminded that he's missed a kick. Maybe if we just leave him alone he sorts it out on his own. He just needs to go out and play. Stop thinking about it… just kick it.
Is it bad that Hekker's best punt was a short line drive that bounced harmlessly for a 45 yard kick?
WebTraveler says:
May 24, 2013
Yes, the kickoffs have been awful and the field goals have been awful. Kahut is a nice guy and a valuable member of the team, but something has to give right now. We've missed too many this year. Might try something different with kick offs and FGs going forward.
wcjr says:
May 24, 2013
This "slump" has been ongoing for more than 2 seasons. One hell of a long slump! I stand by my comments of yesterday, too many missed PATS and short field goals, kickoffs that are way too short, etc. Bottom line: Justin has been totally unreliable and inconsistent since the beginning. Topping it all off was missing two PAT'S in a row. Mind-boggling for a Division 1 kicker. His backup couldn't possibly do any worse.
tradernum1 says:
May 24, 2013
Congratulations to Ryan Katz, Pac-10 player of the week. Studly.
It's fuskies week, let's go beavs.
WebTraveler says:
May 24, 2013
so what's the word on James Rodgers….no news is probably not good news…..but I will be optimistic in my mind!
WebTraveler says:
May 24, 2013
Rodgers is done for the year.
http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-re…
LtSpears says:
May 24, 2013
ok I'll be the first to say it. BLESSING IN DISGUISE!!!! Next year is our year! Offense will be sick. Defense will be returning a ton. AND JR BACK!!!! Can you say National Champions!!!
osbeavs says:
May 24, 2013
Dude, we can't always look to the future saying next year is our year. This squad needs a rose bowl W before we even consider National Champs. We need to worry about this year before we worry about next. We also need a defense to show up before we can consider being a top ranked squad. Returning players isn't just enough, they have to be good players. LOok at Washington, they returned a ton are they great? Finally, no guarantees that Rodgers is granted the waiver. The only thing that is written is that he is eligible.
73GradMike says:
May 24, 2013
C'mon. There HAVE to be JC kickers who would LOVE to play in the Pac-10/12. They would have proven themselves for 2 years beyond high school. Isn't it about time the Beavs consistently took care of their kicking issues? It's obviously been a weakness. I see no good reason not to have 2 quality kickers each season.
aaron_ says:
May 24, 2013
JC is a great place to look for kickers. They should already be primed for action at that point. Great point Mike.
maffub says:
May 24, 2013
I would agree… to a point. The Beavers landed Sam Paulescu from JC but before that I believe you have to go back to Jose Cortez. The "Kahut problem" is the only time in recent memory (going all the way back to Randy Lund, circa 1995 if I remember correctly) that the Beavers have had what I would consider a weak kicker.
Is one possibly "freak occurrence" reason for the Beavers to thrash their approach?
I know my answer to that question…. what's yours?