John Barker, Syracuse’s No. 3 kicker coming out of preseason camp, received the figurative call in the bullpen this week to warm up.Barker’s kicking mates – sophomore Ricky Krautman and redshirt freshman Patrick Shadle – didn’t impress in SU’s 31-0 win over Buffalo on Saturday, so head coach Greg Robinson inserted Barker, a walk-on freshman, back into the mix.Robinson doesn’t have anything to lose after his first two options looked shaky Saturday.Krautman had a low 40-yard field goal blocked and later bounced an extra point off the right upright. It managed to bounce in, but only after a loud thud.Shadle didn’t fare any better in his first try, missing on a 39-yard attempt. Robinson wants better results for Saturday’s noon game against Virginia at the Carrier Dome.’Coach Robinson called me over and he just told me, ‘Ricky you can kick an extra point 47, 50 yards, so make sure you do that every kick,” Krautman said. ”It doesn’t matter if it’s an extra point or a field goal, make sure you do it every time.’ I know what I have to do out there. I know I can do it every time.’Robinson called Saturday’s effort a ‘disappointment,’ since the kickers demonstrated they had the ability to be successful during an intense preseason competition. Robinson ended the speculation days prior to Syracuse’s opener against West Virginia by tabbing Krautman for extra points and short field goals and Shadle for longer attempts.The difference between a short field goal and a longer one is anyone’s guess, but Saturday’s game didn’t provide the answer. Krautman missed a 40-yard field goal, essentially a long attempt, while Shadle missed from a yard closer. Krautman said Robinson never designated a specific yardage but other coaches have told him if the team is around the 20-yard line or in, Krautman will kick. If the kick is longer, it’s Shadle’s responsibility. Robinson didn’t elaborate on that strategy in his Sunday conference. Instead, the first-year coach said he was going to speak with Barker and inform the freshman he was getting another look.Robinson reiterated that point Tuesday, but said no decision has been made for who will kick Saturday.'(Barker’s) kind of been out of the loop for two weeks,’ Robinson said. ‘Quite frankly, he was never that far off. I didn’t think it was right to keep three guys going all the time. He has been working hard.’A majority of the kicking work with the team is done during practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Krautman said he had four attempts Tuesday during the field goal drill and he estimated Barker had eight tries. Shadle said Barker kicked well this week with the extra work. The increased load for Barker could mean he’ll have a chance to kick Saturday or that the coaching staff wanted to make up for lost time.’We’ve got to step it up and make this a strong part of the team and not a weakness,’ Shadle said. ‘John’s been getting his shot this week and he’s been doing really well.’Robinson’s public declaration that Barker would get extra consideration this week and the disapproval he sent to his current kickers showed the rest of the Orange he’ll hold every player accountable, no matter the position. If you play poorly, you can get singled out and put on notice.Krautman and Shadle didn’t meet Robinson’s expectations and Robinson didn’t skirt the issue. He immediately gave Barker a shot. It’s hard to imagine the competition hurting the kicking unit. The competition should allow Syracuse an opportunity to find the best kicker on the team. Even if it takes a few weeks or the whole season of rotating kickers, Syracuse will have two to three years of one kicker providing stability at the position, much like Brendan Carney has done for SU’s punting.If none of the kickers fulfills expectations, then Robinson gave each a fair shot and he can recruit someone else.This week it very well might be Barker. Next week it could be back to Krautman. At least Robinson is holding his players accountable and making quick decisions. Now it’s up to the one of the kickers to secure the job.’It’s up to the coach, what he does,’ Shadle said. ‘I have to be ready at any time. He can change his mind at any time.’

Scott Bisang is a staff writer at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear regularly. E-mail him at smbisang@syr.edu.