What's the deal with Ghost?

Anyone knows which way he missed against Miami? Today was to the right. Feely said he was drifting to the right too in warm-ups. And he missed the XP in Denver to the right too.

Look, I'm usually lollipops and roses optimistic about the Pats. But, I said it last week in this thread and Tom Curran on WEEI this morning also said there's reason to be worried about him. Curran said he's always been a guy who has had variability in the confidence area. I love the guy, but he hasn't been the same since the missed EP in Denver.

Here is theory based on golf swings. PURE SPECULATION to follow:
He had to change his "swing" for kick offs and it is in his head on long kicks.

sb1 said:

He missed 2 all season in 2014. Only 3 all of last year too.

If it's a problem from that AFCCG then I hope he can get his head straight quickly. We are not a SB contender with an unreliable Ghost.

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Hopefully it's not a Mitch Williams type of thing...I can see mental similarities between a closer and a kicker.

Ghost is struggling that's for sure. His FG percentage was 75% before this game and likely to go down after this game. It's his worst percentage ever. Considering he has been over 90% the last 3 years. it's a bit worrisome. He kind of looks like he did in 2010. Still it's early in the season and hopefully he will find the groove again soon.

PF_SU said:

Anyone knows which way he missed against Miami? Today was to the right. Feely said he was drifting to the right too in warm-ups. And he missed the XP in Denver to the right too.

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The Miami one went right too. Let's hope the Pats don't need one of his field goals to win a game until he gets himself right.

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.

It's officially time to go, "Hmmm."

neuronet said:

It's officially time to go, "Hmmm."

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It's either an injury or mechanics change. I would be surprised if Belichick would keep a kicker with confidence issues.

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

robertweathers said:

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

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You know it's ok to question a patriots player?

Like that's allowed and doesn't necessarily mean you're saying the season is lost and we're all doomed

It is concerning.

KontradictioN said:

It's either an injury or mechanics change. I would be surprised if Belichick would keep a kicker with confidence issues.

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I think it's mental. And like physical, it's correctable.

Jangles said:

You know it's ok to question a patriots player?

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Questioning is one thing. Saying his mechanics are f-ed up and we need to bring in Robbie Gould is something else. Hes perfect on XP and has missed from 39, 48 and 50.

Is he below Gost standard? Its early but maybe.

Like that's allowed and doesn't necessarily mean you're saying the season is lost and we're all doomed[/QUOTE]

Go to the game day thread sometime.

Jackson 2 said:

I think it's mental. And like physical, it's correctable.

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I don't think so, though I confess to not being any kind of expert on kicking. But it was noted in the broadcast that he's not following all the way through on the kicks that he's missed which could explain why they're pulling to the right. Whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. I think we can all agree on that.

KontradictioN said:

I don't think so, though I confess to not being any kind of expert on kicking. But it was noted in the broadcast that he's not following all the way through on the kicks that he's missed which could explain why they're pulling to the right. Whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. I think we can all agree on that.

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Agreed. And I think it's fixable and I love Gostkowski. But, anyone who still denies there's nothing wrong is f####### kidding themselves and in denial.

robertweathers said:

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

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He hasn't seemed quite himself, since the missed extra point, is just my impression. I could be wrong. I'm not in the sky is falling camp, but I am in the "Hmmmm" camp. Eyebrows raised, some concern. Could be an insignificant blip. Hope so.

neuronet said:

He hasn't seemed quite himself, since the missed extra point, is just my impression. I could be wrong. I'm not in the sky is falling camp, but I am in the "Hmmmm" camp. Eyebrows raised, some concern. Could be an insignificant blip. Hope so.

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

robertweathers said:

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

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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.

robertweathers said:

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

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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.