In 2005, MSU's special teams were anything but special.
Senior John Goss and sophomore Matt Haughey combined to go just 5-of-16 on field-goal attempts last season, and senior punter Brandon Fields averaged about six yards less per punt in 2005 than the year before.
The feeling this spring is that someone other than Goss or Haughey will be the kicker come fall.
At Friday's spring scrimmage, sophomore Todd Boleski handled all the field-goal duties, connecting from 23 yards, 32 yards and twice from 52 yards, which drew the loudest crowd eruptions at Spartan Stadium.
Boleski, who shared kickoff duties in 2005 with Fields, also was good on all of his extra points Friday, sailing two over the net behind the goal posts.
"He's had a pretty good spring," head coach John L. Smith said. "Like I've always said, he has a big leg. If he continues to improve that'll be some healthy competition which will be good."
That competition will involve incoming freshman Brett Swenson, a current high school senior from Florida, who Smith has repeatedly said will have every opportunity to compete for the kicking job. The 5-foot-8 kicker, ranked as the No. 4 kicking recruit by Rivals.com, went 16-for-22 on field goals and 77-of-79 on extra points during his high school career.
Two of Boleski's attempts during Friday's scrimmage — from 54 and 63 yards — were off the mark. And Smith said Boleski hit a 62-yard attempt during practice last week.
"The good kickers let the water roll down their neck and go out and kick the next one, and I hope he's that way," Smith said during Tuesday's practice.
"(Former Spartan Dave) Rayner was like that too. Rayner would miss one and you could slap him around and he would go out and get the next one. Hopefully (Boleski) can be that way."
The kicking game wasn't the only area of concern on special teams last year. Fields averaged only 41.6 yards per punt last season after averaging 47.9 yards in 2004 and 46.4 yards in 2003.
During the scrimmage, he and Goss shared punting responsibilities. Fields booted five punts for a 41.6-yard average, including one which dropped inside the 5-yard line.
Part of the explanation for Fields' decline in production in 2005 can be attributed to protection. One of Goss' attempts Friday was partially blocked, and another was heavily pressured.
"We worked a ton of coverage, a ton of protection, and we're just kind of letting him kick, so I feel better about it," Smith said. "We have to continue to do it though, but it'll come."
Smith used several players to return punts Friday. Junior Terry Love, sophomore Carl Grimes and freshman T.J. Williams — all wide receivers — saw action in that capacity during the scrimmage.
Love has the most experience in that role after returning 10 punts for 87 yards in 2005. Grimes also returned one for one yard.
"If I had to pick a guy today and we had to play today, it'd probably be Terry Love," Smith said. "We'll have to wait and see who comes in too. We have some guys that can come in and maybe do that."
