Georgia coach Mark Richt isn’t changing his mind about kickoff strategy.

Kicking for height – not distance, he said in Tuesday’s press conference – will lead to success, and he wants fans who are second-guessing the decision to know it.

Sophomore kicker Blair Walsh boomed two touchbacks against South Carolina, but one kick was returned 57 yards.

Richt said a line drive kick was the reason for the poor coverage.

“With the kickoff coverage team, for all the fans who want us to drive it out of the end zone every time, that was one of those where we drove it, the kid caught it five yards deep [in the end zone] and there wasn’t enough hang time,” Richt said. “Hang time is important. All the fans want to know why we don’t kick it into the end zone every time, that’s the reason why.”

Richt and coach Jon Fabris, who oversees kickoff coverage, prefer the directional method, which calls for Walsh to shorten the kick and make the ball go higher. The hang time provides the coverage team more time to run downfield to make the tackle but also gives the opponent the opportunity to make a return since the ball rarely goes in the end zone.

The collective groan heard on kickoffs comes from fans clamoring for the ball to be kicked to the end zone in hopes of a touchback.

“It’s a lot more intricate than that,” Walsh said. “There are a lot of things that go on – behind the scenes work, teamwork and this and that. I don’t think there is anybody who can kick it through the end zone every time consistently.”

It’s clear through Richt’s statements that he’s agitated with fans questioning the strategy. Walsh is, too.

“I am tired of hearing about it,” the sophomore kicker said. “I definitely am. I thought about it today and our kickoff coverage did a hell of a job against South Carolina.”

Walsh is right. Taking away the 57-yard return, South Carolina’s average starting position following kickoffs was the 25-yard-line.

“We have improved in that respect,” Walsh said. “We work hard in that area during practice.”

It also helps to have starting linebacker Rennie Curran on the coverage team. Richt and Fabris made an adjustment this season, placing defensive and offensive starters and contributors on the coverage team. Curran and starting tailback Richard Samuel are the headliners.

“I love it,” Curran said. “I remember the first time I walked into Sanford Stadium. That was the first thing I learned was the chant at kickoff. That was something I always wanted to be a part of. I love just running down there with the fans screaming having a chance to make a play.”

Curran, who made a game-high 15 tackles Saturday, said kickoffs are a way to set the tempo.

“The kickoff team, it can be the attitude for the whole team the entire game,” he said. “Coach Fabris says we can either maintain momentum or lose it.”

Curran said he doesn’t care how far or high the kick goes, he just wants to make the tackle.

“My mentality is I’m trying to hunt, trying to get to the ball as fast as possible,” he said.