AZTEC UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Luginbill Finds the Reason for Kicker Trakas’ Problems

SAN DIEGO —  San Diego State coaches have watched films for 2 1/2 weeks. They have talked with each other. They have talked with members of their kicking team. And finally, Coach Al Luginbill thinks he might have the answer to why Andy Trakas has missed four extra-point attempts already this year.

“We don’t think we’re getting the ball down in the same spot all the time,” Luginbill said.

The Aztecs have a new holder this year, Scott Oatsvall, and Luginbill said films reveal that Oatsvall hasn’t been consistently spotting the ball. Apparently, the ball has been moved slightly between Oatsvall and the sideline, making it difficult for Trakas to hit the same part of the ball each kick.

As a result, H-back Larry Maxey has been practicing as a holder. Luginbill said Tuesday that he will decide before Thursday’s SDSU-UCLA game whether Oatsvall or Maxey will hold.

Oatsvall said he thinks that himself, Trakas and long snapper Thom Fletcher just need to continue practicing and concentrating better.

“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Oatsvall said. “But what happens is, I’m sometimes working with the punter, Fletcher is sometimes working with the punter, and our practice time is limited.”

Asked if he thought coaches were not allowing the three enough time for practice, Oatsvall hedged.

“I don’t want to say anything about that,” he said. “We have been getting more time now, I will say that.”

Oatsvall, a junior from El Camino High, said people sometimes overlook how difficult it is to hold.

“People don’t realize how hard it is to hold,” he said. “The laces have to be forward, the ball has to be straight up and down--not leaning back. It’s very precise. Everything has to be aligned.”

Other than the spotting, Luginbill said, nothing seems different.

“We’re getting the ball back a tenth of a second quicker than we were a year ago,” he said. “And (Trakas) kicked the ball really well the other day, except for that one.”

Thursday’s UCLA-SDSU game, a date made for ESPN, suddenly isn’t as attractive a match-up as it was at the start of the season.

The Aztecs (2-1) suffered several injuries at Air Force Saturday and, although only tight end Judd Rachow (right knee ligament sprain) is definitely out Thursday, at least five others on defense and one receiver will be slowed.

And, considering that this will be SDSU’s third game in 13 days and UCLA hasn’t played since losing at Tennessee Sept. 14, it seems the Aztecs will be weary and the Bruins fresh.

Luginbill said he has never had a turnaround as quick as this week’s.

“When we scheduled this game, it was in the athletic director’s thought process that Air Force would move into our open date (Nov. 23),” Luginbill said. “But the Air Force Academy would not do that.

“It fit in perfectly for UCLA and, at the time it was done, we were supposedly going to have a bye (Sept. 21), too, so that everything was equal. That did not get done.

“I may not be really smart, but I’m not a total idiot. I wouldn’t have scheduled a Thursday game when we’re playing Saturday against a team that’s constantly at your knees.”

Luginbill complained on Monday about Air Force’s low cut-blocking techniques. Defensive ends Turaj Smith and Ramondo Stallings and linebacker Lou Foster all suffered sprained ankles against the Falcons. All three are expected to play Thursday.

Also, defensive end Steve Matuszewicz suffered a groin strain and linebacker Andy Coviello suffered a shoulder sprain against Air Force. They are both probable for UCLA.

Receiver Patrick Rowe, who has two bruised shoulders, will also probably play against UCLA. None of the injured players have participated in contact work this week.

Tight end Marc Ziegler, who has yet to play this season because of a ligament strain in his knee, will return for UCLA. . . . Scouts from at least eight NFL clubs have gotten passes for Thursday’s SDSU-UCLA game, and Sam Jankovich, New England chief executive officer, will be in attendance as well. New York Giants scout Rick Donahue was at SDSU’s practice Tuesday.