Search for Serna alternative kicks off

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This article was published 10/08/2010 (5847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT’S summer, it’s Winnipeg. And so, back by unpopular demand comes another kicking carousel/soap opera/crisis.

Blue Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice reconfirmed his frustration with current placekicker Alexis Serna — so very obvious immediately after Saturday’s loss to Hamilton in which the third-year pro missed on two field goals — by stating unequivocally that a new toe is en route.

"We’re in the process of bringing in somebody to compete and we’ll have an announcement when something’s finalized," said LaPolice Monday. "But that’s a process we’re actively researching right now.

"I don’t know about (today), but we’ll definitely have somebody in this week to compete."

A number of names have been tossed around, including CFL vets Justin Medlock, Nick Setta, Louie Sakoda and Jeremy Ito and a source said the team has also contacted former Ticat Justin Palardy — rated the No. 2 placekicker behind Calgary’s Rob Maver heading into the 2010 draft.

But Setta is training NFL kicking prospects, Sakoda is said to be headed to the UFL and Medlock’s agent Frank Murtha has indicated his client will continue to pursue an NFL shot.

"He is not on his way there," Murtha said. "Right now he’s probably either practising kicking or on the golf course with his girlfriend (LPGA golfer Hannah Jun) caddying for her. That’s his usual routine. There are just too many people, both in the CFL and down here, who feel he’s one of the better placekickers out there. He’s got to continue exploring everything down here."

LaPolice, meanwhile, said Monday the nationality of Serna’s challenger/replacement — import or Canadian — wouldn’t matter. What does matter is simple.

"We’re looking for a kicker who can kick at a high level," he said. "Experience helps, you’re always looking for experienced guys first and foremost because the special teams are a lot different (in the CFL). That’s one of the first criteria.

"We’ve got a couple of guys, three or four guys we’ve talked to and been in contact with."

Serna has connected on eight of 14 attempts (57.1 percent) after sporting an 81.6 percentage last season. In his three years as a Bomber the Oregon State product has been good on 71.9 per cent of his field-goal tries.

But after having two long tries returned for TDs this year and then missing from 28 and 32 yards in Saturday’s loss, LaPolice said his lack of confidence in his kicker has also forced him to change his strategy and opt for placement punts by Mike Renaud.

And so when the kicker does line up for a try inside the 40-yard-line, he has to be money.

"That’s what’s difficult, when we drive it inside the 30 and you miss," LaPolice said. "That’s when it can be frustrating for an offence.

"We did a good job in that first quarter of moving the ball… we went right down the field on them. You capitalize to get into real good field-goal range and then we weren’t able to get points. If you (actually) get six points (on the missed attempts), at the end of the game you’re just kicking a field goal from 10-yards out for the win."

LaPolice also said that the kicking position isn’t the only spot under the microscope. But he stressed the coaching staff would not make roster changes just to rattle the troops.

"I’ll say this: we make change to get better," he said. "The guys understand, we made a change last week at the SAM linebacker position (with Ike Charlton released and replaced by Bernard Hicks) because we felt we could make a change for the better. Two weeks ago we moved Aaron Hargreaves to the starting Z (receiver) because we thought we could be better. It’s not a message, it’s just doing what we feel is best.

"We feel we have confidence in the guys in here but if they continue to make mistakes then we have to make change."

BLUE NOTES: The Bombers expect to have more information on OL Andre Douglas (knee) in next day or so… LaPolice was very happy with the return work of Deon Beasley (two kickoff returns for 59 yards). Daryl Stephenson also returned kicks, but will likely hand those duties back to Markus Howell when he returns to the lineup.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca