Should we bring in another kicker?

[Bruins29]

I think.

This is the problem. Not Ghost.

 

[XLIX]

Maybe the guy who missed Week 1 in Arizona is available.

How many years has it been since the last Gostkowski needs competition thread in pre-season?

It;s like going down memory lane.

Agreed. This is one of those things which is very easy to say in the abstract; i.e. "should we bring in a kicker?"

But then it's impossible to come up with an actual name that would be a legit improvement.

 

[XLIX]

WHAT - Are you watching at all. Are ANY of you actually watching. Last season, in a "bad" year Gotskowski kicked FG's at an 84% success rate. IIRC that "bad" percentage was better than Adam V did in 7 of his 10 seasons here in NE. :rolleyes.

This goes well beyond the "be careful what you wish for" adage. Is the benevolent society of nit pickers going to go to war on this topick AGAIN??????. Does he have to make every single kick before any of you yahoos decide it's good enough.

Would it matter to you to know that he kicks a MINIMUM of 10 games each season in stadiums that are among the most difficult to kick in (Gilllette, Buffalo, and NJ.....plus this season in Pittsburgh). Nah I guess not, You arbitors of perfection will tell us what's good or not, without a whit of understanding about what goes into making a FG other than the end result you watch on TV.

Believe me I bet your wives would take an 84% success rate in bed from you in bed....in a GOOD year.

Don't forget how great he is at those kickoffs, pinning opposing teams inside the 20 with those high kicks that land at the 2. Very tough to return.

 

[Gumby]

I would maybe consider bringing in a new kicking coach (the "Ghost-Whisperer" [find me one of those]) to add to the special teams coaches, but competition. . . . puuhleease, as every one else said: WHO EXACTLY and WHAT STANDARD would you expect them to achieve that is better than what we have? Plus, a second kicker means that many practice reps split more ways ---> = a distraction!

 

[patfanken]

I agree. It seems as though last year was a season-long case of the yips for the Ghost. A little open competition might aid things.

WHAT - Are you watching at all?. Are ANY of you actually watching. Last season, in a "bad" year Gotskowski kicked FG's at an 84% success rate. IIRC that would be a better percentage than Adam V did in 7 of his 10 seasons here NE.

This goes well beyond the "be careful what you wish for" adage. Is the benevolent society of nit pickers going to go to war on this topicAGAIN??????. Does he have to make every single kick before any of you yahoos decide it's good enough.

Would it matter to you to know that he kicks a MINIMUM of 10 games each season in stadiums that are among the most difficult to kick in (Gilllette, Buffalo, and NJ.....plus this season in Pittsburgh). Nah I guess not, You arbitors of perfection will tell us what's good or not, without a whit of understanding about what goes into making a FG other than the end result you watch on TV.

Believe me I bet your wives would take an 84% success rate in bed from you ...in a GOOD year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Why?

Too late. Gost is fine.

His dead cap is $1.5m next year and the team would save $3.5m. This year is a $3m charge.

If he has an average year in 2017, next camp he is fighting for his job.

 

[Angelpats]

Maybe its time to replace Brady, Edelman and others as well for missing throws or dropping the ball during playoff games then.

People bring up the missed XP against the Broncos as if the rest of the team played perfectly and didn't screw up at least as many opportunities as well.

I never said I wanted him replaced. I just think it's good to have some competition that will help him out. It's just a good idea to have someone push you become better. The same is happening with our qbs and no one has issue with that.

 

[Bruins29]

I never said I wanted him replaced. I just think it's good to have some competition that will help him out. It's just a good idea to have someone push you become better. The same is happening with our qbs and no one has issue with that.

Totally different. QB has a much higher injury rate, you need at least 2 to scrimmage, you need to develop a backup and even a 3rd guy since kickers can play 20 years. QB arm wear out in camp etc, kickers arent making that many kicks.

Bad example

 

[meatface]

I would maybe consider bringing in a new kicking coach (the "Ghost-Whisperer" [find me one of those]) to add to the special teams coaches, but competition. . . . puuhleease, as every one else said: WHO EXACTLY and WHAT STANDARD would you expect them to achieve that is better than what we have? Plus, a second kicker means that many practice reps split more ways ---> = a distraction!

Are kicking coaches a thing?

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

No.

We'll score so many points that even if he misses a FG a game, we'll still win . Ghost will be fine. Worst case his kicking is average. We've been spoiled with the success he's had.

 

[Love The Drake]

Keep a eye on the carolina kicking battle Gano and Butker are neck and neck let's hope they try to sign Butler to the practice squad would not put it past Bill to grab him and put him on the 53 just to kick the tires for a few week then sneak him to practice squad.

 

[Schmo]

To compete with the best kicker in patriots' history? Does Tom need Grop to "push" him? Does Gronk need Allen? Hightower/Roberts?

At this point, it would be insulting for BB to imply that Ghost is on the bubble by bringing in "competition," and most people would be against messing with a kicker's head.

 

[Love The Drake]

Some players do better with competition

 

[Love The Drake]

Some players do better with competition

I'm sure BB knows best what motivates him.
But if it's a physical decline vs a mental one.
Something needs to be done

 

[chasa]

I agree. It seems as though last year was a season-long case of the yips for the Ghost. A little open competition might aid things.

32 attemps 27 made, 85% hit rate (misses were, 2 from 50+, 1 40-49, 2 from 30-39

he also missed 3 extra points for a 93% rating.

lets all calm down a bit. not like there are some all pro kickers just hanging out waiting for a phone call.

 

[PatsWSB47]

32 attemps 27 made, 85% hit rate (misses were, 2 from 50+, 1 40-49, 2 from 30-39

he also missed 3 extra points for a 93% rating.

lets all calm down a bit. not like there are some all pro kickers just hanging out waiting for a phone call.

And he had several close calls too. He's not as reliable as he once was. Thats nothing to go and replace him over but that's just a fact. He is one of the best at forcing returners to fall short of the 25 though...often quite short.

 

[Bruins29]

And he had several close calls too. He's not as reliable as he once was. Thats nothing to go and replace him over but that's just a fact.

A fact is - He WAS not as reliable as the few years before not that he is not as reliable as he once was. He may have just had a off year, or maybe he was hurt. Your statement implies that he could never be as good as he was in 13-14-15 which is total ********. He could easily return to his prior form as he is young for a kicker.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sometimes this place really seems light on the thinking before posting thing.

In an good year, he's a top3/top5 kind of guy.
In a bad year, he was middle of the pack.

Should they have signed Aguayo?

 

[PatsWSB47]

A fact is - He WAS not as reliable as the few years before not that he is not as reliable as he once was. He may have just had a off year, or maybe he was hurt. Your statement implies that he could never be as good as he was in 13-14-15 which is total ********. He could easily return to his prior form as he is young for a kicker.

I didnt mean to imply that he could never be as good. Of course he can regain that reliability but he hasn't been as reliable going back to the AFC championship game in 2015. I hope he bounces back but he has added value in kick offs which became apparent with the 25 yard line touch back change last year........not to imply that he will always have that added value

 

[Gumby]

Are kicking coaches a thing?

LOL, that is why I said find me one.

There was that guy (former kicker-forget the name) who had a video analysis last season of ghost and identified that his mechanics had changed on his misses. It was posted in a thread here somewhere.