Pats K Stephen Gostkowski confidence meter - New England Patriots Forums

strongside · 02-01-2012, 05:23 PM

The 07 game for Gostkowski was a little uneven. He yanked a Kickoff out of bounds and was passed on for a long (57?) field goal despite being indoors on a 4th and long.

Whats your confidence level with Gost going into this game if he has to line up the game winner?

I worry about him for some reason missing a kick early then I do with the game on the line. The guy seems to have a very even disposition. I think he will have a good handle on his nerves. Also, think his range will push 57 in that place.

letekro · 02-01-2012, 05:53 PM

0.0

I just get bad vibes. Of course no one can compare to the security blanket that was AV. Even after he missed the first two in SB 38, I had no doubt that he would nail the game winner. Gostkowski is the opposite. I am confident that he will nail everything in the first quarter, but I have my doubts about the 4th quarter.

Uncle Rico · 02-01-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongside

The 07 game for Gostkowski was a little uneven. He yanked a Kickoff out of bounds and was passed on for a long (57?) field goal despite being indoors on a 4th and long.

Whats your confidence level with Gost going into this game if he has to line up the game winner?

I worry about him for some reason missing a kick early then I do with the game on the line. The guy seems to have a very even disposition. I think he will have a good handle on his nerves. Also, think his range will push 57 in that place.

Good question. I read somewhere he was 13 of 15 in playoff field goals, which is pretty good (remember Vinatieri missed one and had one blocked in SB38 alone). IIRC, Gost had a big kick in San Diego in the 06-07 playoffs, so he's done clutch. For some reason, it never seems like the stats translate into fan confidence with him though. I remember he shanked one vs the Giants earlier this year (eerily close to the area from which Cundiff missed); I was at the game and just didn't feel confident in him making it. To be honest, I'd prefer he score something like 6 points, all on PATs; but if he needs to make a big kick, my confidence is 6 or 7 out of 10.

Gronkandez · 02-01-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Rico

Good question. I read somewhere he was 13 of 15 in playoff field goals, which is pretty good (remember Vinatieri missed one and had one blocked in SB38 alone). IIRC, Gost had a big kick in San Diego in the 06-07 playoffs, so he's done clutch. For some reason, it never seems like the stats translate into fan confidence with him though. I remember he shanked one vs the Giants earlier this year (eerily close to the area from which Cundiff missed); I was at the game and just didn't feel confident in him making it. To be honest, I'd prefer he score something like 6 points, all on PATs; but if he needs to make a big kick, my confidence is 6 or 7 out of 10.

Im sure whoever the Giants kicker is (Matt Bahr?) he's much better since the Giants are better in every matchup in this game.

He looked great on kickoffs last week and I'd expect the same this week. As for FG, I'm not worried.

Ron Sellers · 02-01-2012, 06:54 PM

Check out this article on Gostkowski from a few days ago. Perhaps some here may not have confidence, but he has confidence in himself - and that's what matters. Unlike many kickers he actually is a well-rounded athlete. It all started by competing and excelling against much older competition at an early age.

Madison mom eager to watch son in Super Bowl | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com

Quote:

Stephen’s older brother, Jeremy, admits he has thought about a scenario where the outcome of America’s premier sporting event rides on Stephen’s ability to kick a football between two posts 18 feet, 10 inches apart.

"I’ve played sports with him since we were kids, and I know what he’s made of," he said. "He doesn’t look at the pressure of a kick the same way you or I would, simply because he’s been doing it for so long."

By the way, he has kicked winning field goals against a team quarterbacked by Eli Manning; I think there is a very good chance that he will do it again.

Quote:

And also think back to a game Stephen’s sophomore year against Ole Miss in Memphis. Final score: Tigers 44, Rebels 34. Stephen booted three field goals in the fourth quarter.

The opposing quarterback that day? Giants star Eli Manning.

billdog3484 · 02-01-2012, 07:22 PM

that guy gives me a heart attack on 30 yarders

***Brady_to_Moss*** · 02-01-2012, 07:23 PM

If he has a 40 yard FG with the game on the line...I wil **** myself

Ron Sellers · 02-01-2012, 07:41 PM

I definitely recall many Pats fans saying similar things about Adam Vinatieri prior to the 2001 playoffs, how he made them nervous and they didn't trust him. I'm not trying to say Gostkowski is as clutch as AV - nobody is - but I think people are confusing being nervous about having to count on a kicker for a winning FG and being nervous about Gostkowski specifically.

Who would you prefer to have playing Sunday? Gostkowski ranks 7th all-time in NFL history for FG accuracy at over 84%. His kickoffs regularly go for touchbacks. Just because a kickoff once went out of bounds or you can remember him missing a FG that doesn't mean you should lack confidence in him. Do you lack confidence in Brady because you can remember him throwing an interception? Do you lack confidence in Welker because he dropped a pass in the last game?

If you need reassurance, read that article and see if that doesn't help.

Fencer · 02-01-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Sellers

I definitely recall many Pats fans saying similar things about Adam Vinatieri prior to the 2001 playoffs, how he made them nervous and they didn't trust him. I'm not trying to say Gostkowski is as clutch as AV - nobody is - but I think people are confusing being nervous about having to count on a kicker for a winning FG and being nervous about Gostkowski specifically.

Who would you prefer to have playing Sunday? Gostkowski ranks 7th all-time in NFL history for FG accuracy at over 84%. His kickoffs regularly go for touchbacks. Just because a kickoff once went out of bounds or you can remember him missing a FG that doesn't mean you should lack confidence in him. Do you lack confidence in Brady because you can remember him throwing an interception? Do you lack confidence in Welker because he dropped a pass in the last game?

If you need reassurance, read that article and see if that doesn't help.

BB going on it on 4th and long the last time we were in this position showed that BB didn't have confidence in Gostowski at that time.

Hopefully the situation is different now.

ahmed · 02-01-2012, 07:53 PM

I have absolute confidence in him... I also have absolute confidence that the game won't be close so this is a mute point.