If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicker?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Let me say this - I think Gostkowski has done well as a replacement to Vinatieri,He has NOT made us forget Adam but have been decent for most of his kicks.

However you have to think that if Vinatieri was on the team BB would have gone for kicking the long 40+ FG without question instead of going for a suicidal 4th and 13 when the Giants were already proving that they were going to play hard and make everything difficult,If NE was destroying the Giants early I could see BB deciding to go for the jugular but this obvious was a case of BB and the staff not trusting that Gostkowski can make a very makeable FG in a dome.

Was it some of Stephens misses in the previous games that made BB decide not to trust his kicker and instead to go for it? or was it a bit of arrogance on BBs part?

If BB does not trust his kicker to make a very makeable field goal which had a better chance of going though the uprights than Brady completing a 4th and 13 on a play at that time that did not mean the game's fate (a 4th and 13 pass play is a usual longshot no matter who the QB is) then maybe the team needs to look for another kicker whether its a verteran or a 2008 rookie who the staff can trust in the biggest game of the season,I don't want to see gambles like this and its not necessary to roll the dice if you trust in your guy for 3 points,Trusting Gostkowski was obviously not the case and was possibly the difference between going into overtime and losing like the team did.

 

[Sean]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

I think the fact that he had completely shanked a kickoff earlier in the game might have had something to do with the decision to keep him off the field.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

I think the fact that he had completely shanked a kickoff earlier in the game might have had something to do with the decision to keep him off the field.

I thought that was Hanson who shanked it

 

[Maroney's Dreads]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

It was 50+ yards if I remember correctly.

This was more a vote of confidence in his offense rather than lack of confidence in his kicker. If he flat out didn't trust Gostowski, he would have punted

 

[sanvara]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

It was 50+ yards if I remember correctly.

This was more a vote of confidence in his offense rather than lack of confidence in his kicker. If he flat out didn't trust Gostowski, he would have punted

It was a very makeable 49 yard FG considering it was in a dome with no weather elements. Gostkowski was also making them from 50 yards in warmups. This to me was the strangest and worst coaching decision of the game. It seems like a no-brainer to go for a 49 yard FG in a dome when faced with a 4th and 13.

 

[primetime]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

This to me was the strangest and worst coaching decision of the game. It seems like a no-brainer to go for a 49 yard FG in a dome when faced with a 4th and 13.

Have to agree here. That was an absolute head scratcher.

 

[Sean]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

I thought that was Hanson who shanked it

nah it was gostkowski

 

[Jimke]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

Too early to give up on Gostowski but it wouldn't hurt to sign another
kicker as insurance. Yes, Vinatieri would have been brought in to try
the field goal. Hope we also bring in a punter to challenge Hanson.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

It was a very makeable 49 yard FG. This to me was the strangest and worst coaching decision of the game. It seems like a no-brainer to go for a 49 yard FG in a dome when faced with a 4th and 13.

Thats what I mean,If Gostkowski is not capable of making 40+ yard field goals in the NFL and in a dome for Gods sake then why is he playing?

I think its more distrust in the kid than it is the kids actual ability and I think he could have made it if he had been given the chance.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

Gostkowski was also making them from 50 yards in warmups.

Actually, he was not great in warmups when I was watching him. He was missing some from the 40 yard line (50 yarders) and missing several from the 45. He hit one from the 45 that had me very concerned -- it was about 20 feet short and about 20 yards wide right, and didn't even ever look like it got higher than the cross bar.

Tynes, by the way, was drilling everything -- including from the 45, and they still had something left.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

50 yard field goals in warm ups is different than 49 yard field goals in a game situation..

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

Actually, he was not great in warmups when I was watching him. He was missing some from the 40 yard line (50 yarders) and missing several from the 45. He hit one from the 45 that had me very concerned -- it was about 20 feet short and about 20 yards wide right, and didn't even ever look like it got higher than the cross bar.

Tynes, by the way, was drilling everything -- including from the 45, and they still had something left.

So maybe it would have been better to punt the ball and try and get a good corner kick inside of the 5 than going for it on a 4th and 13 if a FG was not in the plan?

 

[sanvara]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

50 yard field goals in warm ups is different than 49 yard field goals in a game situation..

True, but a 49 yard FG in a dome is definitely better odds for putting points on the board than going for a 4th and 13.

 

[Pats726]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski should'nt they be looking for a new kicke

Too early to give up on Gostowski but it wouldn't hurt to sign another
kicker as insurance. Yes, Vinatieri would have been brought in to try
the field goal. Hope we also bring in a punter to challenge Hanson.

Both will happen...I would not be surprised if a rookie punter is brought in as well as a vet...

 

[Truck]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

Can we get one for cheap? I think the money is better spent on an oline upgrade. Adam V was great, but he's not worth the money he's getting. Maybe Adam V makes that kick, but at the same time if we spent an extra 3 mil on an oline starter or a good rb who could also block well, maybe we dont need those field goals?

Also, he's still improving. Adam V wasn't considered the best until midway thru his career. I'm sure Gost will turn into one of the better kickers in the league. He's had a good start

 

[bostonia3333]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

Gostkowski missed some 30 yarders against Jax and Philly I remember. However, the misses weren't Vandershanked or Tynnesesque, they were pretty close to being good. Nonetheless, the jury is still out on Ghost. If Herm Edwards were our coach, we would know how good a kicker Gostkowski is--he'd have like 700 attempts by week 8. Right now Ghost is an enigma, we haven't seen enough to say if he's good, average, or bad. That's a good thing!

 

[eom]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

stop, plz.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

I wouldn't put be so quick to judge. Eliminate the field position for a second. In the pre season, we all remember BB going for it on 4th down in our territory - not as a sign of lack of confidence in the punter but as a wake up to the Off. They converted it and went on to win, I believe. At this point it was 7-3 and was probably meant to be a wake up to the off., not a sign of lack of confidence in the Ghost. Please don't start with me that one was the pre season and the other the SB, I am fully aware of that.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

Bring on Dale Endorf.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: If BB does not have faith in Gostkowski shouldn't they be looking for a new kicke

To be honest, I didn't really question the 4th and 13 going for it at first. I think I was too angry and just wanted to say "F it, let's go for it". Maybe BB had that same mindset at the time.

Sure, in hindsight, I dunno.