Annabelle de St. MauriceAfter a series of special teams miscues in last week’s 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois Wesleyan, the Washington University football team will look to rebound with a strong effort Saturday against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Engineers.
Illinois Wesleyan pressured the Bears’ kicking units relentlessly, blocking a punt, as well as a missed field goal and extra point. However, sophomore place-kicker Ben Lambert believes that the problems can be remedied.
“The field was wet, which made it difficult to kick field goals,” explained Lambert, who also missed a 24-yarder in the third quarter. “But I definitely place the blame for the blocked kicks on me. Basically, the kicks weren’t high enough to get past the line of scrimmage.”
Despite his poor showing against Illinois, Lambert has converted five of his seven field goal opportunities this season. His previous success has helped him maintain a high level of confidence throughout the week.
“I can’t worry about those missed kicks, because the most important kick is always the next one,” said Lambert. “If you worry too much, you might miss again, and then you’re really in trouble. It doesn’t matter if I make a 50 yard kick or miss a 20 yarder; I always try to concentrate on my next attempt.”
Meanwhile, pressure has been on sophomore punter Richard Worth to get his kicks off in time. He has had two kicks blocked in just three games this season, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
“We need more protection,” Worth said. “The blockers don’t have their assignments down perfect yet. On both blocked punts, somebody missed their assignments. We worked together as a punting unit seven minutes each practice, and we had a really good week. I think we’ll start to pick it up from now on.”
In previous years, head coach Larry Kindbom has made sound special teams play a hallmark of WU football. This season, since the first practice, he sensed that the unit would be a work in progress.
“Our special teams are loaded with guys that can play,” Kindbom said. “Every one of those guys plays hard and comes to practice, but we just haven’t developed chemistry like we have the last few years. We have an inexperienced team, though, and sometimes inexperienced kids have to go through some growing pains.”
The Bears will get a chance to see how much the kicking game has progressed against Rose-Hulman, who lost resoundingly last weekend to Wheaton College 49-0. Wheaton gained 551 total yards against the porous Engineers’ defense.
“On defense we have to be able to stop the run and make them one-dimensional,” said Kindbom. “Obviously we have to clean things up on special teams. Offensively, I like our chances because of the way our passing game is going. We have some young guys who are really playing well.”
One such young gun is freshman quarterback Nathan Szep, who had a breakout game last weekend, going 29 of 50 for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Brad Duesing, also a freshman, proved to be Szep’s favorite target, catching nine balls for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Kindbom sees Szep’s rapid development as a function of the entire offense’s aptitude in the passing game.
“The offense as a whole has come together and played well,” said Kindbom. “Duesing and Jeff Buening have made things easier on Nathan by running nice routes. When the offensive line gives us protection, we feel that any of our quarterbacks can deliver the ball well. I’d like to see even more improvement this weekend.”