Confidence Goes a Long Way

The field goals from 47 and 48 yards against Oregon were worth three points each. But so much more.

“Oh, definitely,” Chris Griffith said.

Griffith had already established he was consistent--it was the reason he was named the No. 1 kicker at the end of camp over Nathan Fikse. The question was his leg strength, a matter that was not resolved even as Griffith was five for five in the early going because no field goal was longer than 37 yards.

Then came the last two games.

Griffith made one from 46 yards at Arizona State. Last Saturday night against Oregon at the Rose Bowl, he connected from 47 and 48.

Point(s) made.

“It definitely boosted my confidence,” said Griffith, a redshirt freshman. “Practice-wise, I go out and hit those and have a lot of success. But you have to be able to do that in the games. I needed to show that I could. So when you go out and do just that, there’s sort of a satisfaction.”

Griffith has made all 20 extra points and is 10 for 13 on field goals. All three of the misses have come on blocks, including two against Oregon.

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The soreness in both Achilles’ tendons that have troubled tackle Brian Polak since the start of camp has disappeared, but now he is bothered by tendinitis in the left knee. It limited him to about half the game against Oregon, with backup Micah Webb getting extensive time. “It’s always something, it seems,” Polak said said. “I can’t win. It’s frustrating, but what are you going to do? You just have to play through it.” He will. Polak is scheduled to start his 19th consecutive game at right tackle. . . . Bryan Fletcher, the part-time starter at tight end, will probably be reduced to limited duty against California because of a strained groin. He will move to fourth string this week and Randy Hakes and Mike Seidman will have increased roles.