Gumby

After this last weekend Gostkowski nailed 4 straight 30 yard attempts; are the beginning of the year skeptics now willing to say he is a 'reliable' kicker?

Not saying pro-bowler; not saying HOF clutch kicker (but I will give season # comparison just for argument's sake below.) But can he be considered reliable?; and at the price we are paying for him as a rookie - a good investment? Especially considering the 52 yarder he hit that AV hasn't had the leg for in years.

81% is not anything to crow about; but if you throw out the 2 blocks he is pushing 90%. And he hasn't been AWOL on the IR at all during the year.

Gost: 81% on year - 17 of 21
1-19: 0-0
20-29: 8-9 (1 block)
30-39: 7-9 (1 block)
40-49: 1-2
50+: 1-1

AV 87% on year 20 of 23
1-19: 1-1
20-29: 3-3
30-39: 9-10
40-49: 7-8
50+ 0-1

PatsDeb

He is now reliable (until he misses an important one - kidding, kidding). You can see his confidence and the confidence of BB (remember the Denver game when we were down by 10, were in long FG range and BB went for it on 4th down instead of trying the FG (we didn't get it and basically gave up the game) - if that scenario occurred today, I think there is no question that BB would go for the FG).

BelichickFan

He's been terrific. Getting a few game winners through is pretty much the last question.

DarrylS

They handled him well, brought him along slowly and he seems to be responding well.. deep kicks, so far accurate on FG's.. might be ok for this team.

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BradyManny

I think the majority of this board always supported Ghost.

milwaukeebeers44

I'm liking him so far. I think his recent consistency (and that 52-yd rocket) have greatly boosted his confidence. I'm glad he got more "real game" kick time in yesterday, too.

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Armen Da Pats Fan

Since I was a lvocal critic earlier in the year, I will now stand up and take my lumps.

When Gostkowski comes on the field, I feel confident he'll make the kick. So, regardless of whether he actually misses or hits, the confidence thing is what I was seeking.

And he has delivered it to me.

Thanks, Gost...

Love - your biggest fan,
ADPF

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TomBrady'sGoat

I always thought this board was fairly supportive of him.

The truth is that the jury is still out. So far everything points towards him being a really good kicker. I think he has been handled well and he has stepped up to produce when asked to.

Has he kicked a game-deciding kick yet? Kickers are often judged by those and one big failure can mess with a kicker.

I'm impressed, but I feel it's too early to call him reliable. Of course it only takes a few games to be called unreliable, so he's ahead in that reguard.

ironwasp

In recent weeks he's done all that has been asked of him. And the big 52-yarder in the Bears game should have been a massive shot in the arm for his confidence and that of those around him.

However, Gost, like the team, has his most important moments of the season ahead of him, and I have a feeling we'll learn as much about him in the next 2 to 6 games as we have in the last 14.

But I've been a supporter all along, and will continue to be, even if he misses a trciky one here or there in the final few weeks of the season.

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JoeSixPat

The playoffs are a brand new season.

The pressure in the playoffs is nothing to the pressure of kicking for team that seemed destined to make it to the playoffs right from the start of the season.

So the jury is still very much out. But that being said, Gostowski's done nothing to make anyone think that he CAN'T handle the pressure of the playoffs.

He even made a 50 yard FG a few weeks ago - a kick I really don't think AV could have made - nor would the team have even asked AV to try. That should be a boost for his confidence as well.

But it's a whole new season in the playoffs.

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