BearTalk

The start of training camp is just five hours away. Still plenty of time to talk issues.

The kicking game has been a spot of concern for Jeff Tedford the past couple of years. From the moment Tom Schneider went down with a season-ending injury while warming up for the 2007 opener, the kicking game has been inconsistent. From Jordan Kay to David Seawright to Giorgio Tavecchio, nobody has been able to match the consistency and the dependability of Schneider.

But Tavecchio showed flashes last season and had an excellent spring. He should start camp as the favorite. Tavecchio hit the weights after last season ended and it is apparent it helped his leg strength. He boomed long field goals consistently during spring practice and his kickoffs went further. And that’s has been the biggest shortcoming with the kicking game — the inability to drive balls deep on kickoffs.

But the Bears have three legitimate kickers that will be competing during camp. Along with Tavecchio, David Seawright is back recovered from a hip injury. Seawright was limited during the spring but appears ready to challenge Tavecchio for the No. 1 job. The biggest question will be his kickoffs. He wasn’t healthy enough to even attempt kickoffs during the spring.

The wild card in the competition is incoming freshman Vince D’Amato, whom the Bears are excited to see perform. D’Amato was a highly successful high school kicker and Tedford is excited about what he might add to the competition.

Still, it appears this is a spot that is Tavecchio’s to lose.