Missed field goals, fumbled kicks disable Wolverines

NOTRE DAME - It's not a pretty list: Three missed field goals. Two kick returners running into each other. One field goal blocked. One fumbled kickoff return. Punt average of 31. One long snap that bounced to the punter.

Yeah, it's ugly. But that's exactly how the Michigan special teams looked last Saturday - ugly.

"We didn't kick the ball well at all," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We didn't punt it, we didn't place kick it, we didn't protect on the field goal.

"Obviously, we've got work to do."

And do they ever. In the first quarter, the Michigan kicker Kraig Baker missed two field goals - one from 33 yards and another from 43.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan kicker Kraig Baker missed two field goals Saturday.

So in the second quarter, Carr turned to Jay Feely who was primarily handling kickoff duties before that. Feely drilled a 21-yard field goal for his first attempt.

His second attempt in the third quarter, however, never made it past the line of scrimmage since it was blocked by Notre Dame linebacker Jimmy Friday.

When Feely got another clear shot at the uprights later in the third quarter, his 46-yard attempt fell short.

"If you don't win the kicking game, in most cases, you're going to get beat," Carr said.

Michigan punter Jason Vinson also had a rough day. His two punts were 30 and 33 yards each, much to Carr's chagrin. But Vinson did get a chance to show off his good hands by scooping up a snap that bounced in to him.

"I'm going to have to evaluate every guy and the way he practices," Carr said. "I'd say there's a good chance we'll make some changes."

The answer in Michigan's kicking problem may lie in the fact that the kickers are just mediocre. Going into Saturday's game, Baker was consistent on field goals less than 40 yards long, hitting 12 of 15 in his career. But he is 2-4 with anything 40 yards or over, with a 42 yarder as his career longest.

Feely was 3-4 in career field goals having walloped a personal-best 51 yarder last season against Baylor. And with freshman Hayden Epstein - one of the top kicking prospects coming out of high school - waiting in the wings, the changes may happen sooner than later.

"If we had make those field goals it would have made a big difference," Carr said. "When you consider those are four field goals - you expect to make at least three. Nine points in the third half or the third quarter would have made a huge difference."

The special teams problems weren't limited to the kicking game. The kick return unit had its share of problems, as well. One telltale sign is that three different people played the deep man on the kickoff return - Anthony Thomas, Clarence Williams and Justin Fargas. Tate Schanski fielded one short kick, as well.

Williams, who has handled return duties in the past, had what seemed to be a long return early in the third quarter. But as he was hitting the turf, Williams coughed up the football and turned it over to the Fighting Irish. The play was crucial and led to the touchdown that gave the Irish the lead.

"If you look at any championship team, they may not have great return teams but they're all sound," Carr said. "Their coverage teams are good, they punt the ball well. We're not there right now."

On another occasion, Williams and Schanski ran into each other while trying to field the kickoff. Fortunately for the Wolverines, Kevin Bryant recovered the loose ball and retained possession.

09-08-98