Big shout out to Gostkowski for the onside kick

[Mountain_Commando]

Gronkowski is the MVP of this game.

I take it you meant the other Polish fella.

 

[Fencer]

The onside kick

First, I'm starting this thread as a placeholder, because I haven't found a good video of the onside kick that's staying up online yet.

Second, Improbable is commonplace for New England Patriots - ESPN Boston is a great description of the play design.

Third, one aspect of that jumps out at me -- the design of the play is that Gostowski sort of zone-blocks the opposing team, in the hope that he'll wind up the successful bottom man in a loose-ball pile. I.e., it definitely assumes that he's real football player.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: The onside kick

First, I'm starting this thread as a placeholder, because I haven't found a good video of the onside kick that's staying up online yet.

Second, Improbable is commonplace for New England Patriots - ESPN Boston is a great description of the play design.

Third, one aspect of that jumps out at me -- the design of the play is that Gostowski sort of zone-blocks the opposing team, in the hope that he'll wind up the successful bottom man in a loose-ball pile. I.e., it definitely assumes that he's real football player.

The design was for Gost to stay parallel to the ball and recover it after 10 yards, not block anyone. His eyes were on the ball the whole time.

“I slid and saw that the ball was just about to be 10 [yards] and I kind of waited,” Gostkowski explained. “That’s the thing -- I kick it, try to get in front of it, and slide and it’s supposed to fall right to me.”

 

[Fencer]

Re: The onside kick

The design was for Gost to stay parallel to the ball and recover it after 10 yards, not block anyone. His eyes were on the ball the whole time.

“I slid and saw that the ball was just about to be 10 [yards] and I kind of waited,” Gostkowski explained. “That’s the thing -- I kick it, try to get in front of it, and slide and it’s supposed to fall right to me.”

I stand by my interpretation. First, he's supposed to be between opponents and the ball. Second, he's supposed to recover a ball that the opponents will be trying to get as well. That role is not for the faint of heart, nor for those lacking in strength or toughness.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: The onside kick

I stand by my interpretation. First, he's supposed to be between opponents and the ball. Second, he's supposed to recover a ball that the opponents will be trying to get as well. That role is not for the faint of heart, nor for those lacking in strength or toughness.

You said his role was to "sort of zone block the opposing team." It wasn't. The bolded part above, I certainly agree with.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Big shout ot to Gostowski

best kicker in the NFL this year, without a doubt.

 

[Fencer]

Re: The onside kick

You said his role was to "sort of zone block the opposing team." It wasn't.

It was -- that's where the concept of "shielding" comes in.

 

[DarrylS]

Both kickers have been for the most part "money" this year, nice luxury for this team.

 

[varjao]

I take it you meant the other Polish fella.

yeah correct.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

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

For reference: NFL Career Field Goal % Leaders - Pro-Football-Reference.com

17 of the top 20 are current kickers.

A more useful explanation is that kickers have become more specialized, and more accurate, over the last 40 years.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

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.

Other than Gramatica his rookie season, Gostkowski has never had serious competition for his spot.

 

[tobias funke]

A more useful explanation is that kickers have become more specialized, and more accurate, over the last 40 years.

This is true, but I'm not sure how this relates to my point. There are barely any kickers from 40 years ago in the top 100 of that list.

The point is that eventually the guys in the top 10 of this list will be approaching 40 and their % will likely normalize to the 80-85% range, and they'll be replaced by younger guys with less kicks on their resume.

The top of the kicking % list is a revolving door of active kickers. Except for Mike Vanderjagt.

 

[bostonia3333]

How awesome has Gostkowski been so far?!

I used to be so nervous when this guy would come up in a big spot. It's amazing what one year can do.

I think he's been one of the most valuable Pats this year. In fact, he may be having one of the best years any FG kicker has had in NFL history. Gost has been a huge reason why this team is 10-3.

The numbers are sick.

30 FG made/32 FG attempts...94%!

From 50 yds+....he's 5/6
From 40yds+.....he's 8/9
From 30yds+.... he's 11/11
from 1-29yds.... he's 5/5

His 4th quarter FG numbers this year are 13/13 for 100%!

All I can say is WOW!

 

[Galeb]

Re: How awesome has Gostkowski been so far?!

In before merge!


Ghost rules!

 

[Batman]

Other than Gramatica his rookie season, Gostkowski has never had serious competition for his spot.

I know this but many people wanted Gostkowski gone and questioned not having competition in camp for him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

This is true, but I'm not sure how this relates to my point. There are barely any kickers from 40 years ago in the top 100 of that list.

The point is that eventually the guys in the top 10 of this list will be approaching 40 and their % will likely normalize to the 80-85% range, and they'll be replaced by younger guys with less kicks on their resume.

The top of the kicking % list is a revolving door of active kickers. Except for Mike Vanderjagt.

My point is that what you're describing doesn't really happen. If you look at the non-actives who "just miss," most of them don't have steep declines at the end of their careers. Several of them have one bad year, but that isn't enough to drop them more than ~1% or so.

 

[chasa]

Re: How awesome has Gostkowski been so far?!

I used to be so nervous when this guy would come up in a big spot. It's amazing what one year can do.

Im curious is maybe Zolton was holding the ball poorly/loosely causing some bad kicks.

 

[A man named Brady]

He's one of my favorite players on the team