Is it time to draft a kicker in this years draft?

[Huckleberry1]

Gostkowski is a great kicker who has had a few struggles the past two seasons, but every kicker has those struggles periodically? Vinatieri missed two FG attempts in the 2003 Super Bowl before hitting the game winner. And people need to realize that we all thought Vinatieri was in the twilight of his career when he signed with Indyvand he's still going. Gostkowski could very well remain a stalwart kicker for this team for another decade and he's still one of the best kickers in the game. He's still got a big leg and he is better at pinning teams deep in their own territory than any kicker I have seen, and his kickoff's in the last Super Bowl were critical to their win. I would show total support for Gostkowski and actually try to re-sign him to a new long term deal as I think he will be great for years to come.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Agreed.
Kickers have bad years, look at Vinatieri's 2003 season. He went 25/34 on FG (73%) and was 7/10 in the playoffs , going 1/3 on FG's, one was blocked in the Super Bowl....... He turned out all right.....

im more nervous about gosts pat's than his fg's

 

[jah]

Zane Gonzalez of Arizona State. One scout told Daniel Jeremiah he gave Gonzalez the highest grade he's ever given a kicker and PFF say he's the best kicker they've seen in years.

Does that mean he'll go round 1 if he's better than Aguayo?

 

[Snooky97]

im more nervous about gosts pat's than his fg's

Lets just take 2points every time... look at the superbowl.. We looked pretty dam comfortable taking two in the most important game.. albeit we had to but we didn't look worried..

 

[PatsBoy12]

Yes

 

[shmessy]

No.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Zane Gonzalez of Arizona State. One scout told Daniel Jeremiah he gave Gonzalez the highest grade he's ever given a kicker and PFF say he's the best kicker they've seen in years.

That would be a pricey pick, though.

I would definitely bring in real competition but more of a late pick/UDFA not a significant draft pick.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Based on one year where he wasn't up to his all pro form? No. There is a lot we don't know about behind the scenes and if BB is confident in him, then so am I. There are other positions that are a higher priority to use draft picks on than kicker.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It does freak me out that for 2 years in a row Gost missed kicks in our last game of the season. BB loves camp competition. Use the 7th or UDFAs to get Gost's juices flowing. It'll help him get better.

 

[The Gr8est]

Ghost has been solid for us for a long time but this last year he had a huge drop off in made field goals and the struggle with extra points, is it time to invest a late round pick on a kicker?

Uhh, no!

On second thought uhhh, no!

 

[manxman2601]

Does that mean he'll go round 1 if he's better than Aguayo?

Only if TB are picking.

 

[gatsby47]

I noticed the NFL's decision to move the placement for point after kicks back made a number of kickers miss this year. The one Sunday(the date escapes me, but it was in all the funny papers) they set a new record for missed kicks of which, Ghost contributed. It used to be money in the bank. Now everyone looks at it more jaundiced eye. I would, if given the opp, vote for Ghost, and bring in a long soccer kicking Serbian midget, which if it doesn't provide competition will certainly keep Ghost laughing and loose. I think that is all he really needs

 

[Spiral]

He can't seem to get rid of that wicked slice. I think they should bring another kicker in, as insurance in case that slice is still there next summer.

 

[tasmlab]

Competition is fine. I'm hoping he turns it around and give the Pats 10 more good years. If he can do that, people may not even remember when he was merely a good-to-middling kicker for a season or two.

" Gostkowski also holds the record for highest average points per game scored over a career (8.75 points per game as of the end of the 2015 season), and is the first player since the AFL-NFL merger to lead the league in scoring in more than two consecutive seasons (2012–2015; he also led the league in scoring in 2008). In 2014, he became the Patriots' all-time leading scorer, surpassing Adam Vinatieri. As of 2016, he is also the Patriots' all-time leader in field goals, and holds the NFL record for consecutive extra points."

 

[Spiral]

Here's a question:

You're down 2 in the SB with 3 seconds left. You're at the 30, making it a 47-yd FG. Who do you want: SG or 40-something AV?

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I don't believe that Gostowski needs any competition, personally, but if they were going to bring in competition, I think it would make more sense to draft a younger, cheaper, player than it would to bring in a free agent.

Definitely still like Ghost. He was good enough in Houston, and he's not Roy Gerela.

I kind of expect Bill to glance across the pond, and check out a frustrated guy who just can't quite make it in the Premier League, but might be interested in fame and fortune in the colonies. Those guys can kick the hell out of a ball, and they often have nerves of steel because they haven't been mesmerized by American football all their lives.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Here's a question:

You're down 2 in the SB with 3 seconds left. You're at the 30, making it a 47-yd FG. Who do you want: SG or 40-something AV?

G H O S T all the way, baby. I love Adam but uh, how old is he now?

 

[DaBruinz]

Stats are one thing, but shanking PATs in playoff games/Super bowls has me thinking he's damaged goods. Arguably cost us a super bowl appearance in 15 and could have cost them this Super Bowl very easily. That missed PAT in the SB compounded a very bad situation when they were fighting to get back into the game.

Some on here will disagree, but I'm ready to cut ties.

How about we cut ties with fans like yourself who clearly don't understand that the game changed this year for kickers with the change of TBs moving to the 25. If you don't understand what I'm referring to, then it's clear you don't understand the game well enough to be making such comments.

You're claim that Gost cost us a SuperBowl appearance is total horse crap and has no basis in reality.

 

[Jangles]

had to go through and "agree" with a bunch of posts it looks like the homer crowd didn't agree with

Remember guys, it's not ok to question a patriots player ever

That said, I don't think it's time to move on, but it's time there was some competition for the spot. The SB started so poorly I began celebrating everything. I flipped my chair over when we scored our first TD and was screaming "double digit points!!!" which up until then didn't look like a certainty. In the back of my mind I was thinking the whole time, I really hope he doesn't screw this up.

And then he did

 

[DaBruinz]

Yep, and it's always good to have competition going into training camp.
He had big drop off in stats the last two years and we don't know how he is going to be next year.

Please put the cheap pot down because you're only making a fool of yourself. You are totally ignoring the fact that in each of the previous two off-seasons there have been major changes in the rules that have affected the kickers..

Prior to the 2015/2016 season, they moved kick-offs from the 30 to the 35 yard line as well as changing where XPs would be taken from, moving them from the 2 to the 15.

Then prior to the 2016/2017, they changed it so TBs would be at the 25 yard line instead of the 20. That's one of the main reasons why Gostkowski had fewer TBs. Because he was kicking them shorter with more hang time to give the coverage team a chance to make a play..

Do you understand what the difference between 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 was for Gost? 1 Missed kick. Do you know what the difference was between 2015/2016 and 2016/2017? 2 Missed Kicks.. So, a TOTAL of 3 missed kicks from 2014/2015 and 2016/2017.. That's NOT a huge drop-off.. That's normal fluctuation.. And let's totally over-look that 2014 was a CAREER year for Gostkowski for field goals.

Stephen Gostkowski