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Right now our kicking game reminds me of the Tiger's bullpen. I was at the VT game and when we missed that 29 yarder with the score 18 to 10 in the 3rd, it completely took the wind out of our sails. Last night missing 3 kicks was devastating. I said to my buddy when we were lining up to kick that last extra point that we were probably going to miss it. It was predictable and a tough pill to swallow.

We are improving in every aspect of the game except special teams.

I agree it is a concern for this year's team, but I think there is very little we can do to correct it right now. A large part of special teams is having depth. And right now, we are still one year away from having that.

I keep hearing a lot of criticism on the special teams coach, which I firmly believe is unjustified. The last 5 or 6 special teams mistakes I've seen -- going back to the Va Tech game -- have been correctable mental mistakes, also dictated by unique circumstances IMO.

We played against the best special teams football program in the country last week, and then this week the field conditions were extremely poor. Toledo turned the ball over on offense several times, we missed kicks.

In Blacksburg, Celiscar inexplicably fumbles the opening kick-off, Pfeifer snaps the ball over the punter's head on the next drive, and we miss a couple of key kicks. I haven't seen anything schematic that has me concerned. That's just my opinion.

This whole thing is a process. Fleck has done an excellent job on the recruiting trail and our offense is vastly improved. I think next year, we can expect to see some continued improvement on defense (with experience) and special teams (with depth and more experience).

I'm trying to be patient with our special teams this year for all of those reasons stated above.

All kickers have a leg. The great ones have a certain mindset that they can't miss.

Hopefully Haldeman's isn't completely crushed.

Some head coaches are their own Special Teams coordinators (Frank Beamer and Urban Meyer for example).

Out of curiosity, what does Fleck coach during practice? How involved is he in kicking game?

I feel for the kid and hope he can win a game for us this year. Lots of teams develop resentment towards kickers and outcast them because all they do is kick. I hope this group picks him up as they will need him at some point in this season.