Chuck Zodda looks at Stephen Gostkowski and what's happening mechanically

[Soul_Survivor88]

Is Stephen Gostkowski Fixable? - Inside The Pylon

Fascinating read

 

[DaBruinz]

Is Stephen Gostkowski Fixable? - Inside The Pylon

Fascinating read

Hopefully, Belichick and Joe Judge have done the same thing as Chuck Zodda did and sat with Gostkowski on how to correct the mechanics for the FGs without touching the mechanics for the kick-offs.

 

[long distance]

At one moment vs Bengals - when G hit the exact goal line with one of his kicks - it dawned on me as well that maybe the much bigger emphasis on kick-offs this year (namely treating them as punts - meaning that its not only about accuracy in placement but also in extended time of the ball in the air) - and his excellence in execution - might have something to do with field-goals efficiency ..

Of course it is debatable what is more important - better success at FG or KO - in case one technique indeed clashes with the other. What is more important is that in the light of new importance of the KO game that BB embraced with both hands - the evaluation of Ghost's success should take in account both aspects of his game. Excellent at KO, struggling a bit at FG should make for a solid grade.

 

[aluminum seats]

At one moment vs Bengals - when G hit the exact goal line with one of his kicks - it dawned on me as well that maybe the much bigger emphasis on kick-offs this year (namely treating them as punts - meaning that its not only about accuracy in placement but also in extended time of the ball in the air) - and his excellence in execution - might have something to do with field-goals efficiency ..

Of course it is debatable what is more important - better success at FG or KO - in case one technique indeed clashes with the other. What is more important is that in the light of new importance of the KO game that BB embraced with both hands - the evaluation of Ghost's success should take in account both aspects of his game. Excellent at KO, struggling a bit at FG should make for a solid grade.

Field goals are more important.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Field goals are more important.

Yes but missing the XP vs CIN made the scoring and defensive strategy a little more complex than it should have been.

 

[aluminum seats]

Yes but missing the XP vs CIN made the scoring and defensive strategy a little more complex than it should have been.

Oh for sure. But the post I was responding to was comparing field goals to kickoffs.

 

[long distance]

Field goals are more important.

Here's Rich Hill's attempt of calculating the importance of both. It's far from clear cut you want to make it.
I bet BB put more than one thought in it too.

A closer look at Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski’s field goal funk

In any case it shouldn't be on Ghost. Coaches took calculated risk. Now they'll try to manage it accordingly.
I expect he'll get closer to his usual FG efficiency while continuing to provide ST with a chance to put Pats D in favourable field position after KO.

 

[varjao]

The theory about the new kick off emphasis messing with the mechanics seems solid and a guy in this forum brought that up first comparing with golf swings. Kudos to him, sorry don't remember who it was.

I have another one. Kickers all around the league had their % down. I believe that with the extra point being basically another field goal has contributed to that so the kickers now have to kick 3 extra field goals compared to before (this 3 is just a number out of my head) thus they will miss more in consequence. Maybe this is getting in their heads and messing with the real FG attempts.

 

[aluminum seats]

Here's Rich Hill's attempt of calculating the importance of both. It's far from clear cut you want to make it.
I bet BB put more than one thought in it too.

A closer look at Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski’s field goal funk

In any case it shouldn't be on Ghost. Coaches took calculated risk. Now they'll try to manage it accordingly.
I expect he'll get closer to his usual FG efficiency while continuing to provide ST with a chance to put Pats D in favourable field position after KO.

Not sure the various numbers he throws out should be treated like gospel.

I'm generally a fan of stat-based looks at things, but if you're saying 4 yards on a kickoff is a good trade-off for missing field goals, I ain't buying it.

 

[Gumby]

Field goals are more important.

Agreed, otherwise they wouldn't say things like ' never take pts off the board'

Not sure the various numbers he throws out should be treated like gospel.

I'm generally a fan of stat-based looks at things, but if you're saying 4 yards on a kickoff is a good trade-off for missing field goals, I ain't buying it.

Agree again, but I think the better math is closer to 10. Regardless, that is for the avg team, if you are up against a good team instead (paymeaton in prime, Big Ben) or your D is injured those yds quickly get meaningless. And who are you going to meet in POs? . . Good teams. You have to win in season to get there, but you have to build to win in playoffs.

AND Even if you subscribe to the theory that making opposing team travel +10 yds is equivalent to 3 pts, what says your FG kicker is the one who has to mess up his mechanics to do it? There have been punters who have served as kickoff specialists.

And a punter is working on that whole hang time is everything, seconded by corner placement, theory anyway. So his skill set maybe anyway more suited to what BB is trying to do on kickoffs.

Or go real radical and see if you have a ST-gunner who can do kickoffs???

 

[Gumby]

BUT, After having said all above, I dont think the kickoffs strategy and Ghost mechanics are incompatible. He just needs to read that article and he/Coaches film his own practice kicks til he gets the mechanics back on track

 

[Adam Seward]

I'd like to think Ghost, coaches, etc have at least as good of a handle on this as a football website. I'm sure his mechanics will shake out, he's just too good not to.

 

[PP2]

Between the pylons is one of my favorite go-to's.

 

[long distance]

Not sure the various numbers he throws out should be treated like gospel.

I'm generally a fan of stat-based looks at things, but if you're saying 4 yards on a kickoff is a good trade-off for missing field goals, I ain't buying it.

Most number there are speculative. What is clear is BB bought into the new KO rule and wants to make the most of it. Its not only about the numbers its also about things like psychology, momentum, clock management .. more opportunity to force turnovers etc.

In any case I believe Pats successful KO game plays a part in having #2 D despite being only 27th on 3rd down and 29th in red zone .. but with least red zone drives allowed exactly due to longer fields.

 

[E1Downey]

But but....Felger and his pet rat said anyone who thought one could affect the other was stupid!

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

But but....Felger and his pet rat said anyone who thought one could affect the other was stupid!

How dare you disrespect Boston's premier sport expert on all things Celtics and Patriots!!

 

[Canuck]

Great article. It reminded me of Tom Brady and how in the past when he felt that his mechanics were off, he would go to Tom Martinez his long time QB's coach before he died to help fix his mechanics. Now he sees Tom House. It was striking that during the suspension, that during his throwing sessions, he would spend time working on his mechanics. Rodger's problems in GB have in part been to sloppy mechanics.
It is hard to self diagnose. Who can a kicker go to when things go wrong?