Air Force notes: Kicker Soderberg off to a good start

Erik Soderberg’s psyche was a story line for Air Force coming into training camp.

The senior kicker struggled through 2010, and lost his starting job by the end of the season. He made just 5-of-10 field goals last season, and with each missed field goal his confidence dipped a bit.

He seemed to bounce back in spring, and so far in August he is doing well. Part of that has been being mindful of not kicking too much in practice and tiring out his leg. He is also using a simpler mental approach and not overanalyzing his kicks, which is what he did as a sophomore.  

“Feeling great right now,” Soderberg said. “Just taking it day by day.”

Falcons coach Troy Calhoun rarely endorses anyone as a lock to start in early August, so he will promote competition at kicker, especially for kickoffs. But he was happy with Soderberg, especially after Soderberg hit a couple of field goals in Wednesday’s scrimmage, including a 44-yarder.

“Reasonable, but across the board we have to be better,” Calhoun said when asked how Soderberg has kicked in camp. “That involves just not the kicker but really whipping the ball back there consistently.”

Wright helps

Sophomore cornerback Steffon Batts has moved up the depth chart in camp and has a chance to earn the starting cornerback spot opposite senior Anthony Wright. The person who has had the biggest impact on Batts’ improvement has been Wright.

“We’d come out here on the field sometimes on Saturdays, after school, and just go through stuff,” Batts said of his offseason work with Wright. “So when we got to camp, it was second nature. I’m lucky to have someone like that who had the time and the patience to work with me.”

Practice canceled

After a long scrimmage Wednesday, the Falcons canceled practice Thursday. Players lifted weights and attended meetings. On Saturday, Air Force will go to Falcon Stadium for a practice from 9:30-11:30 a.m. that will likely be a scrimmage.