Kirby Smart not too worried about field goal game, even after G-Day struggles

Kirby Smart has been vocal about how scared he is about Georgia’s special teams.

But even with a shaky performance from Georgia’s kickers at Saturday’s G-Day spring game, that’s not the area he’s as concerned with at the moment.

Rodrigo Blankenship made field goals from 46 and 19 yards away but missed one from 44 yards. William Ham had a kick go into the line of scrimmage following a poor snap, and had another one hook away from him.

But Smart said both Ham and Blankenship have been solid through spring practice and that Saturday’s performance won’t deter his judgment on them.

"Ham has kicked really well all spring," Smart said. "I know that’s shocking to you after (Saturday) but some of that was a byproduct of either a low snap or a poor spin on the hold. Obviously, I was pleased Rodrigo hit the long field goal. Rodrigo and Ham have both kicked surprisingly well when it comes to field goals."

While Ham and Blankenship have been battling the primary field-goal kicker competition out, they will see added competition from Mitchell Wasson, a preferred walk-on, in August.

Smart did say he’s more worried about the punting game. Brice Ramsey did boom a 50-yard punt but Georgia got nothing else during the G-Day spring game. The other four punts averaged 39 yards per attempt. It could mean incoming freshman Marshall Long will be needed the moment he gets on campus.

"Punting has been a larger issue than the field goals," Smart said. "Rodrigo hit the (46-yarder Saturday) and Ham’s actually hit them good. He’s hit them that distance during spring practice. He just didn’t get real good luck today. He had some bad luck when it came to kicking it."

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Kirby Smart not too worried about field goal game, even after G-Day struggles."