Boulware expects big things from special teams

Jay Boulware was emphatic and borderline annoyed when prompted about Auburn’s placekicking woes throughout the 2008 season.

Yes, Wes Byrum left a lot to be desired and, perhaps, directly affected a couple Auburn losses, but it wasn’t enough to make it a bad year for Auburn’s special teams as a whole, he said.

“If Wes Byrum has a bad year, does that mean we played bad special teams?” Boulware asked. “No, that means Wes Byrum had a bad year. That’s what that means.”

Boulware, when he sat down with beat reporters Wednesday, talked glowingly about the successes of Auburn’s special teams last season, even though he was coordinating those at Iowa State.

He pointed out Robert Dunn’s season-opening punt return for a touchdown and Tristan Davis’ two on kickoffs, both of which contributed to Auburn’s high national rankings in average punt and kick return yardage.

And then there was punter Clinton Durst, who went from never playing football before to an all-conference punter in 2008.

The only area of weakness Boulware said he saw was on kickoff coverage, which “could have been much more aggressive, much more physical and had much more presence in games.”

“Everybody keeps saying, ‘We weren’t very good on special teams,’” Boulware said. “I’ve heard it over and over and over again. To me, when I hear that, I say you’re wrong.

“I don’t just want to be the best in the conference, I want to be the best in the country. In order to do that, we got to raise the bar for everyone, including our kicker, whoever that may be.”

Boulware said Byrum, who was just 11-for-19 on field goal tries in 2008, and Morgan Hull, who had his lone field goal attempt of the season blocked in the Iron Bowl, will battle for the starting job in spring and fall practice.

“Everything’s a competition,” Boulware said. “In the spring, everybody’s working to win a job.”

That includes punters Ryan Shoemaker and Durst.

Boulware confirmed that Durst is, in fact, back with the Tigers. In January, Durst said he had left the team because the coaching staff did not offer him a scholarship for 2009, something he said was promised to him by the former coaching staff.

It is not known if Durst is or is not currently on a scholarship.

“I’m going to spend a great deal of time with those guys working on their techniques and fundamentals and trying to get those guys honed in on some of the things we do,” Boulware said. “We do a little bit of directional punting, which is a little different than what you guys have seen in the past here.”

Boulware wasn’t as detailed when explaining Auburn’s situation at tight end because of the number of uncertainties.

Senior Tommy Trott, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Auburn’s second-to-last game of the season against Georgia, will not participate in spring practice. Gabe McKenzie will be back at tight end, but Boulware did not exactly give him the most glowing endorsement.

“Gabe is a phenomenal athlete,” Boulware said. “He’s got a lot of ability that he’s got to be able to transfer over to the football field for us in our offense. In order to do that, you have to be physically and mentally capable to absorb everything that we’re trying to teach guys.

“That’s going to tell the tale for all of our athletes in the spring.”

Boulware said four-star tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who will join the team in the fall, has the ability to play right from the start.

“I think Philip is exactly what we’re looking for and I look forward to coaching him,” Boulware said. “I like his attitude. I like his demeanor. I like everything about the kid right now.”

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