USF punter job still up for grabs

Posted Nov 22, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Nov 22, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Notes from correspondent Michael Manganello:

Junior Justin Brockhaus-Kann is the only punter that has seen the field this season, but Skip Holtz and the Bulls coaching staff are getting closer to making a switch as punt production continues to disappoint.

Brockhaus-Kann kept the job against Syracuse and Miami by edging redshirt freshman Chris Veron in practice, but Holtz was disappointed with how much yardage the Bulls lost as the teams traded punts.

“I wish I had an option that could punt it 43 yards every time and put hang time on it, because if I did, I would utilize it,” he said. “But right now, we don’t have that.”

After practice Tuesday, Holtz said the job for Friday’s game against Louisville is still up for grabs.

“I thought they both did a really nice job tonight,” Holtz said. “They baffle me because you sit out there in practice and see the ball going 45, 50 yards and we keep waiting to see that in a game.”

PENALTIES DOWN, BUT STILL COSTLY: After struggling with a combined 29 penalties in losses to Connecticut and Cincinnati and a win over Syracuse, the Bulls played a much more disciplined game against the Hurricanes, drawing four flags for 40 yards, their lowest total since committing three penalties against Ball State on Sept. 10.

The offense only committed one penalty, an illegal procedure call on running back Darrell Scott for leaning out of his starting position, but it cost the Bulls significant yardage and the chance to score early in the fourth quarter of a 3-3 game.

The Bulls had moved into field-goal range with a 13-yard pass to Victor Marc, but the penalty negated the play and moved USF back from the 26-yard line to the 44. USF would punt two plays later.

“You sit there and say, ‘We had one penalty all day and it was a 5-yarder. We didn’t have a hold, we didn’t have an illegal block in the back, we didn’t have a clip, the ones that kill drives,’” offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. “But the timing of it (was costly). There’s no excuse.”

The USF defense also committed a costly penalty, with cornerback Kayvon Webster being flagged for pass interference on Miami’s first scoring drive.