Huston a solution?
Who will replace Adam Vinatieri?
It’s one of the more prevalent questions for the New England Patriots at this time. Next week, special teams coach Brad Seely is scheduled to take an up-close look at a potential candidate -- Ohio State’s Josh Huston.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to work out for Coach Seely,†Huston said from Ohio State’s campus. “Having the chance to possibly kick for the Patriots would be a dream come true.â€
Huston, who the Pro Football Weekly draft guide rates as the top college kicker eligible to be drafted, indicated the workout is scheduled for Monday, April 10.
While Patriots coaches and scouts will ultimately work out hundreds of prospects leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-30), it’s difficult to put a quantifiable value on what a workout actually means. In one respect, it could eliminate a player from the team’s draft board. In another respect, it could enhance a player’s stock.
Perhaps the best way to judge a workout is that the Patriots still retain some level of interest in the player, and are seeking more information.
In Huston, they will be looking at a player who might be uniquely qualified to fill the big shoes left by Vinatieri’s departure. In 2005, Huston replaced one of the most popular kickers in Ohio State history, Mike Nugent (Jets, 2nd round in 2005). He said there was rarely a day that went by without being asked “How will you fill Mike’s shoes?â€
Huston was 22-of-28 on field goals in 2005, going 17-of-18 inside 40 yards. He was 5-of-10 outside of 40 yards and had two field goals blocked. Of his 70 kickoffs, 49 went for touchbacks, an indication that he has a powerful leg (note: college kickoffs are from the 40-yard line, not the 30 like the NFL).
“I pride myself on having a decent-sized leg,†said Huston, who red-shirted in 2000 and waited behind Nugent before becoming the Buckeyes’ full-time kicker in 2005. “In the end, I think any kicker would want to be known as Adam is known, as a clutch kicker, that when the game is on the line you know it’s good. The percentages are nice, but I think everyone wants to be that clutch guy.â€
Huston said it would be a bonus to be drafted, but he also understands being a kicker is different than most other positions. Where there are 160 starting jobs available for offensive linemen, there are only 32 for kickers.
When the 2005 season ended, Huston recalled meeting with his agent, Jeffrey Chilcoat, to talk about NFL teams that might be seeking kickers.
“We had a list of all teams and a grade on what their needs would be -- ‘A’ would mean they need a kicker next year, ‘F’ would be that they have a guy, a veteran free agent,†Huston said. “I remember when he had Indianapolis and New England as an ‘A’ that I was surprised. Both teams had two of the best kickers in the game. But that’s when Jeff told me they were both free agents and they might not be back with their teams. I was surprised that it happened that way.â€
Huston, who used to caddy for current Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel at a Columbus-area golf course, said he’s a big Red Sox fan. Asked to envision what it might be like trying to fill the role held by Adam Vinatieri the last 10 seasons, he compared it to his experience at Ohio State.
“Mike was one of the best kickers to ever come out of Ohio State,†he said. “Considering Adam is one of the top kickers ever, it would be a lot of pressure. But I also think it would be a lot of fun.â€
(Possible rookie replacements for Adam Vinatieri will be profiled in this space in the weeks leading up to the draft.)
Who will replace Adam Vinatieri?
It’s one of the more prevalent questions for the New England Patriots at this time. Next week, special teams coach Brad Seely is scheduled to take an up-close look at a potential candidate -- Ohio State’s Josh Huston.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to work out for Coach Seely,†Huston said from Ohio State’s campus. “Having the chance to possibly kick for the Patriots would be a dream come true.â€
Huston, who the Pro Football Weekly draft guide rates as the top college kicker eligible to be drafted, indicated the workout is scheduled for Monday, April 10.
While Patriots coaches and scouts will ultimately work out hundreds of prospects leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-30), it’s difficult to put a quantifiable value on what a workout actually means. In one respect, it could eliminate a player from the team’s draft board. In another respect, it could enhance a player’s stock.
Perhaps the best way to judge a workout is that the Patriots still retain some level of interest in the player, and are seeking more information.
In Huston, they will be looking at a player who might be uniquely qualified to fill the big shoes left by Vinatieri’s departure. In 2005, Huston replaced one of the most popular kickers in Ohio State history, Mike Nugent (Jets, 2nd round in 2005). He said there was rarely a day that went by without being asked “How will you fill Mike’s shoes?â€
Huston was 22-of-28 on field goals in 2005, going 17-of-18 inside 40 yards. He was 5-of-10 outside of 40 yards and had two field goals blocked. Of his 70 kickoffs, 49 went for touchbacks, an indication that he has a powerful leg (note: college kickoffs are from the 40-yard line, not the 30 like the NFL).
“I pride myself on having a decent-sized leg,†said Huston, who red-shirted in 2000 and waited behind Nugent before becoming the Buckeyes’ full-time kicker in 2005. “In the end, I think any kicker would want to be known as Adam is known, as a clutch kicker, that when the game is on the line you know it’s good. The percentages are nice, but I think everyone wants to be that clutch guy.â€
Huston said it would be a bonus to be drafted, but he also understands being a kicker is different than most other positions. Where there are 160 starting jobs available for offensive linemen, there are only 32 for kickers.
When the 2005 season ended, Huston recalled meeting with his agent, Jeffrey Chilcoat, to talk about NFL teams that might be seeking kickers.
“We had a list of all teams and a grade on what their needs would be -- ‘A’ would mean they need a kicker next year, ‘F’ would be that they have a guy, a veteran free agent,†Huston said. “I remember when he had Indianapolis and New England as an ‘A’ that I was surprised. Both teams had two of the best kickers in the game. But that’s when Jeff told me they were both free agents and they might not be back with their teams. I was surprised that it happened that way.â€
Huston, who used to caddy for current Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel at a Columbus-area golf course, said he’s a big Red Sox fan. Asked to envision what it might be like trying to fill the role held by Adam Vinatieri the last 10 seasons, he compared it to his experience at Ohio State.
“Mike was one of the best kickers to ever come out of Ohio State,†he said. “Considering Adam is one of the top kickers ever, it would be a lot of pressure. But I also think it would be a lot of fun.â€
(Possible rookie replacements for Adam Vinatieri will be profiled in this space in the weeks leading up to the draft.)
