What's the deal with Ghost?

[Angelpats]

He missed from 50. ************ it's not like he hooked a 23 yarder.

So people think an XP miss from 9 months ago is in his head even though he is 9/9 on XP since?

It's when he missed that xp that's concerning. He's a good kicker and all but he doesn't have ice in his veins like vinateri.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

So people think an XP miss from 9 months ago is in his head even though he is 9/9 on XP since?

Well, it should be in his head. Not to worry about it, but to correct his mistakes so it doesn't happen in a big game again. If he makes that kick, we may be in SB 50.

I think something is up myself. He's not playing as well as he used to

 

[luuked]

Ghost's accuracy problems are a concern. As mentioned above, if he can't get straightened out, one of his misses might cost the Pats a game or two. Robbie Gould may still be available if BB decides to dip into the free agent market.

There are about 6.8 million reasons in dead money indicating that we won't sign or even bring in other kickers to "motivate" Ghost. He will have to work through it and he will be fine..

 

[RobertWeathers]

It very well could be. I don't think that's the case but it's not hard to see that having a big hand in costing your team a possible Super Bowl appearance could be lingering in his head. I think it's more mechanical. Whether he's adjusting it to eventually improve his distance or because he's nursing a nagging injury would be up for debate.

I'll buy the mechanics argument. Gost had em in 2010 when he was banged up. Adam had them a few times.

I swear kicking is like golf. You need that "feel" constantly . Maybe because he is in his 30s they have him on a kick count during the week? Maybe practicing these short kickoffs has messed him up? Maybe his legs are tired from too much sex?

 

[luuked]

It's when he missed that xp that's concerning. He's a good kicker and all but he doesn't have ice in his veins like vinateri.

What a bunch of revisionist crap.. As if Vinateri didn't miss any important field goals in his career that fortunately for him didn't affect the ultimate outcome..

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I just hope he's in top shape come Steelers. We may need every point we can get.

 

[luuked]

Maybe practicing these short kickoffs has messed him up? Maybe his legs are tired from too much sex?

The short kickoff theory is the most interesting thing I heard so far. People are really underestimating how absolutely important much muscle memory and mechanics are in high pressure situations.

 

[RobertWeathers]

RW, you are in denial. I almost always agree with your posts, but not here. The zFG he missed last week was not weather-affected. The rain was over and there wasn't any wind whatsoever. I was there.

So your position is miss in DEN is in his head?

If he made the 39 yarder vs MIA would people not be concerned?

 

[RobertWeathers]

It's when he missed that xp that's concerning. He's a good kicker and all but he doesn't have ice in his veins like vinateri.

So he's been kicking in the NFL for 10 years. Dozens of playoff games and a few game winners and he's weak in the knes now? Cmon.

 

[neuronet]

So people think an XP miss from 9 months ago is in his head even though he is 9/9 on XP since?

He has done more than kick XPs since then, and he hasn't been quite himself. Hopefully just a minor correction to his mechanics needed...Kicking has a huge mental dimension I wouldn't dismiss the concerns so quickly. We'll never know anyway we can only sit here and speculate.

 

[Jackson 2]

Yes, that is my position. And I'm not alone and I think my track record here speaks to the fact that I'm not an alarmist Chicken Little. I always choose to look on the bright side of things and view things optimistically. I hop to god I'm wrong, but we'll see.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The short kickoff theory is the most interesting thing I heard so far. People are really underestimating how absolutely important much muscle memory and mechanics are in high pressure situations.

Im not trying to make excuses for the guy but I swear it's like golf. To execute on these kickoffs he needs to hold back a little. He might have needed to make a modification to his kick so he could do it with regularity. It's like hitting a 4 iron at the range 400 times then hitting a lob wedge. It takes time to adapt and find that groove.

I really want to understand it better. Kicking is a complicated science. One thing out of 234 is off he's missing kicks.

 

[meatface]

So he's been kicking in the NFL for 12 years. Dozens of playoff games and a few game winners and he's weak in the knes now? Cmon.

People just do not like kickers to ever miss kicks. I mean if he is gonna miss them then these have been the games to miss them, people had barely forgiven him for missing the game winning kick in the home opener against the cardinals a few years ago

 

[meatface]

Yes, that is my position. And I'm not alone and I think my track record here speaks to the fact that I'm not an alarmist Chicken Little. I always choose to look on the bright side of things and view things optimistically. I hop to god I'm wrong, but we'll see.

I'm not saying you are wrong because I don't know any better than you do but I think Ghost has been so automatic for so long that any struggles seem to foretell doom to some fans

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yes, that is my position. And I'm not alone and I think my track record here speaks to the fact that I'm not an alarmist Chicken Little. I always choose to look on the bright side of things and view things optimistically. I hop to god I'm wrong, but we'll see.

No you are one of the good ones. I'm just not there in thinking Gost is a head case.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

There are different sets of kicking mechanics for kickoffs and for field goal attempts, thus altering your approach to one should not affect the other. Footwork is different, speed of approach is different, trajectory imparted to the ball at point of contact is different...

 

[upstater1]

It's when he missed that xp that's concerning. He's a good kicker and all but he doesn't have ice in his veins like vinateri.

Yeah, you mean Vinatieri wouldn't miss in a big game? Like a Super Bowl?

 

[RobertWeathers]

People just do not like kickers to ever miss kicks. I mean if he is gonna miss them then these have been the games to miss them, people had barely forgiven him for missing the game winning kick in the home opener against the cardinals a few years ago

...and that was a bad miss. Under the situation worst of his career.

 

[upstater1]

In case people didn't know it, the wind was bad today. Swirling. The Great Lakes were pretty messy today even with the sun out.

 

[Jackson 2]

No you are one of the good ones. I'm just not there in thinking Gost is a head case.

And I hope you're right and I'm wrong, and if I am I'll happily admit it. As I said, I love Ghost and hope he turns it around, which I think is possible.