North Carolina coach Butch Davis said Wednesday he “absolutely” still has confidence in kicker Casey Barth, despite the fact that the sophomore has missed two field goals from inside 40 yards this season.
But has Barth’s confidence been shaken?
“I don’t know if his confidence has,’’ Davis said. “I know that he’s mad at himself; I think that any kicker would be. Sometimes kickers are like quarterbacks; they’re their own worse critics. They want to be perfect, and I know that he wants to be perfect – he wants to make every kick. When I talk to him about it – like any kicker I’ve had – you talk to him in the context of a golfer that’s putting. You’re sitting there, and as much as you say, ‘We don’t expect you to make 50-footers in golf’, we don’t expect you to make 55-yarders in games very often. You might make some, but the ones … inside of three feet you’d like to make ‘em.
“But still, you see guys that do that for a living, and they still miss them. And it boils down to blocking out all the previous kicks, and it’s fundamentals. It’s your approach to the ball, your trust in the snapper, your trust in the holder.”
Barth was connecting consistently in practice Wednesday. Because of injuries, UNC has already changed field goal snappers this season; Barth has made four of his seven attempts.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
I think he's solid in his position
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 18:25 — PuddentainAfter all, if TJ is solid as the QB, Conner should be safe at FG kicker.
classic example
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 19:59 — gvillegatrand people (maybe) wonder why unc and ncsu fans are rarely civil to each other here at ACCnow. just a classless comment.
LOL
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 23:25 — mad_maxBoth his, and your comment made me laugh. Good times here at ACC Now. I'll copy and paste his comment for ya though, just in case Yates throws for 5 TDs this weekend.
thats just it
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 22:15 — gvillegatrcan he be counted on to make these kicks when the offense can't get it in the endzone? ...
of course I am rooting for him but the confidence is gone.
Yeah
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 18:20 — mad_maxOne more bad outing, and he may be done for. But I think giving him some more chances is a good idea. The mental psyche of a kicker is so complex, and these decisions are always tough ones.
Barth needs the coaches' confidence..
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 20:04 — UNC1998He's going to be counted on to get points. Until the offense becomes more effective, fg's will be attempted. They need to be successful to keep pressure off of the defense.