Punters compete for starting
spot
By Anne McLaren
Assistant
Sports Editor
After miscues last season by the punt team, many
people probably wonder who Purdue's starting punter will be in the fall.
However, fans will have to wait until then when
a decision is made between Travis Dorsch, Scott Kurz and Aaron Levin.
"I think (Dorsch's) timing and his handling of
the ball is becoming quicker and quicker," said special teams' coach
Scott Downing. "Scott Kurz who punted for us last year at the end of
the year is continuing to be steady. We've seen a lot of improvement
out of Aaron Levin, who was redshirted last year as a punter."
Dorsch was the starting punter for the first five
games last season and averaged 50.2 yards on 13 punts, with a long of
63 yards. However, he had a punt blocked in games against Notre Dame
and Minnesota and did not get punts off against Penn State last season.
"I think that the one focus this offseason on my
punting has been shortening my steps down and getting the ball off quicker,"
said Dorsch, "which is obviously is going to help us with our protection
and getting our punts off. So that was my main concern. So I think I've
done that. So now it's just a matter of getting back in the routine
with it.
"As far as the punting goes, I'm very pleased with
where I am. Still some things to improve on, but pleased with where
I'm at."
After the punt team mistakes last fall, Kurz —
who had been handling the pooch punting situations — took over
as punter.
"Last year, obviously when we had some problems
on the punt team, he really stepped in and would catch the snaps and
get the ball off and just get it off," said Downing. "It helped us as
a team. He had some great games for us."
Kurz averaged 36.4 yards per punt and kicked 15
of 30 attempts inside opponent's 20-yard line.
"He does a great job with placing the football,
directional kicking," said Downing. "I think as he's gotten stronger
and bigger.
"He's always been a good guy as far as technically
sound in both kicking and punting. We always felt comfortable with him
as a backup punter because we knew he could get you in and out of a
game and not hurt you. He may not hit a 57-yard field goal to win the
game. But few guys do."
Downing said that Kurz accepts his role on the
team.
"The team feels comfortable with Scott Kurz and
I think that's very important to a kicker and a punter, that everyone
feels comfortable with him in there punting," he said. "He's continued
to work hard on his strength and his flexibility and I think that's
showing some dividends in what he does."
However, Downing says that the spring is much too
early to decide on a starting punter.
"We've got 34 practices before the first game,"
he said. "Travis obviously has a great leg. He boomed a couple the other
day in the scrimmage. We'll see what happens. I would like to carry
the competition into practice in the fall and see what's going on."
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