Big shout out to Gostkowski for the onside kick

I've watched that onside kick about 20 times and gotta give credit for not touching the ball before the 10 yard maker. He was basically running along side the ball the entire way. The 33 and 50 yard FG obviously help.

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

He's been money this season.

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

Their handling of the onside kick was masterful. It looked like one of those plays they practice for situational football. How many other teams have the kicker kick it straight then he and another guy get on either side of the ball as it rolls along and then be there to block the other team's guys out of the way. Everyone else just kicks it to one side and hopes for the best, usually to no avail. Gost had another great game. Making that long FG turned out to be important too - the difference between winning and losing.

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

I've never seen an onside kick like that - here's yet another thing the league gets to copycat

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

That was my biggest worry actually. The players were running so close to it I was afraid they would touch it. It takes an incredible amount of composure and focus to run so closely to the ball at that speed without letting it touching you while being aware of the other team's players.

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

ahmed said:

That was my biggest worry actually. The players were running so close to it I was afraid they would touch it. It takes an incredible amount of composure and focus to run so closely to the ball at that speed without letting it touching you while being aware of the other team's players.

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He's actually done it before.

As I've said before, they can extend him AND get an extra $1M or so in cap space for 2014. This really seems like a no-brainer to me.

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

This team is probably 7-6 with last season Gostowski. Major props to this guy. Bailed this team out sooooo many times.

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

I had the same reaction to the onside kick recovery as Gost simultaneous to him.

I guess in some sort of way that was a divine shout-out to him. The kicking specialists, as I've said all year, have been playing out of their mind this season. This game was no exception to that.

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

PatsDeb said:

Their handling of the onside kick was masterful. It looked like one of those plays they practice for situational football. How many other teams have the kicker kick it straight then he and another guy get on either side of the ball as it rolls along and then be there to block the other team's guys out of the way. Everyone else just kicks it to one side and hopes for the best, usually to no avail. Gost had another great game. Making that long FG turned out to be important too - the difference between winning and losing.

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Horace's Ivories said:

I've never seen an onside kick like that - here's yet another thing the league gets to copycat

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This is not a Patriots innovation. It is most commonly known as the drag kick or the dribble kick, and has been around longer than the NFL. The Ravens tried it on the Steelers Oct. 20th; I'm sure its been tried more times than that this year.

It's especially common sub-college because kickers haven't mastered the pop-up kick on the sideline. At ctpatsfans77 noted, Gostkowski is pretty good at this type of kick. It requires the kicker to be something of an athlete. On the pop-up kick he just has to be a kicker.

Re: Big shout out to Gostowski

Gostowski deserves to be an All-Pro selection this season.

Though the Raven's Justin Tucker is having a fantastic season as well. Gost gets the edge for the importance of the long kicks he's made.

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

Horace's Ivories said:

I've never seen an onside kick like that - here's yet another thing the league gets to copycat

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The year Gostowski tore his quad, the red-headed kicker Graham kicked one just like that for us. It was unsuccessful, but I will always remember it because it was so close.

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

doesntmatter1 said:

The year Gostowski tore his quad, the red-headed kicker Graham kicked one just like that for us. It was unsuccessful, but I will always remember it because it was so close.

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Must . . . resist . . . soul . . . comments. . . .

Gost has been an excellent follow up to a Hall of Fame caliber predecessor.

He's been absolutely incredible this season

There are a few kickers out there having really great years, but IMO, Gost should STILL be the unanimous All-Pro.

It'll definitely be interesting who gets All Pro selection and who goes to the pro bowl. So many kickers close statistically but hopefully he gets an all pro selection if he kicks a few more field goals with no misses in the remaining games.

Gostokowski is the MVP of this game.

They should have turned the gatorade barrel on him.

What a fantastic execution, master piece.:rocker:

I never got the hate for Gostkowski. Seasons like last year happen to EVERY kicker. Even Vinatieri had a season or two as bad or worse when he was a Patriot.

Gostkowski may be the most talented kicker this team ever had. He can do everything - short kicks, long kicks, kick offs, etc.

Vinatieri may have the clutch kicks, but he was less consistent and couldn't kick off like Gostkowski. I heard somewhere a week or two that Gostkowski has the 8th best kicking percentage in NFL history.

Rob0729 said:

I heard somewhere a week or two that Gostkowski has the 8th best kicking percentage in NFL history.

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Current kickers are always high up on that list. Until the ends of their careers when they nosedive and drop off.

For reference: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/fg_perc_career.htm

17 of the top 20 are current kickers.

The thing I liked most about that kick was not his not touching the kick but the willing to put his whole body on the line at 10 yards down field hitting the floor and getting his body in the way of the other team. Most kickers and punters don't want to do that they are not built like other players to take hits.

We are one game from winning the AFC east for the 6th straight year. we would not be in this position if not for Gostkowski. People question keeping Ryan Allen around to compete with Mesko and not having anyone to compete with Gost. Once again BB was right. In bill we trust.