A lot of talk about “The Operation” lately and how the snap-hold-kickoff time has been a touch too slow for Dana Holgorsen’s liking. It’s been better lately, if even only a fraction of a second faster, but that’s a critical element in separating blocked kicks from kicked kicks.

There’s also a new part of the operation. The long snapper, Cody Nutter, and the kicker, Tyler Bitancurt, have been together for two years. The holder is new and Michael Molinari has needed, and deserved, a little time to get used to his surroundings. He’s learned a thing or two and not just how to quickly snatch the snap and plant the hold. Heck, he’s even had to re-learn a few things.

There are personal preferences to consider, too. Most holders will spin the ball so the laces are out away from the kick. Bitancurt would rather Molinari not spin the ball.

“If you kick a spinning ball, the chances it goes in are slim to none,” Bitancurt said. “I’ve told him how hard it is. In the spring game, I kicked a ball that was spinning. I told him he needs to stop spinning it.”

Bitancurt would rather kick the laces than kick a spinning ball, which hooks and slices. Bitancurt said the laces mostly mess with a kicker’s head and nothing else. It doesn’t look like what they’re used to seeing and it causes a hesitation the operation can’t afford. Bitancurt is over that obstacle.

“The laces only takes distance off the kick,” he said. “People think you can’t make it. You can get the same kick, but it just doesn’t go as far.”