lurker1965
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Yes. His kick-offs have improved while his field goal kicking has gone a little south. Bleaker has him rated 20th going into this season--this confirms the lead thread.
Also BB must be disappointed to say the least because he hates turnovers with a passion. And a missed 40 yarder is the same as a turnover.
Then you must think that Belichick needs his head examined because, with 8 seconds and 1 time out, he decided not to try further advancing the ball downfield, despite the fact that 8 seconds (with 1 time out) is plenty of time to try and gain another 10-15 yards.Breathe.
It's not like no one, even Vinateiri, never missed. And anyone thinking a 40+ yarder is a chip shot needs their head examined.
See, this is where I part ways with many in this thread. Our expectations of a guy taking down $3.4 million of the salary cap are way too low. I would say, without hesitation, that Gostkowski has hardly been "fantastic" this year. 5/6 is not fantastic. 5/6 is 83 percent. That's what he was last year, and it's bottom third of the league.
6/6 is fantastic. 18/19 is fantastic. 5/6 is fantastic if five of them were over 45 yards and the miss was from 58. Four of the field goals that Gost made so far this year are kicks that pretty much every kicker in the league should make virtually all of the time -- 21, 30, 33 and 35 yards. If you're kicking from inside the 20 yard line, you better make them. You can miss one inside the red zone during a year, because, well, stuff happens. You can miss one because the holder drops the snap or the center misses his block. Miss two and you're on the bubble.
On kicks of significance, he's 1 for 2. He hit a 48 yarder. He missed a 45 yarder. If he hits his next four or five 40+ kicks, then he'll have made up for the one he missed.
All time leader in NFL history is Mike Vanderjagt, the liquored kicker, at 86%.
Gostkowski is at 84%.
This year?
4 for 5 or 80%.
His holder was cut 1 1/2 weeks ago.
So, I'd say NO.
...with a cap savings of about $3m next season, Ghost will be "Mesko'd"...
Then you must think that Belichick needs his head examined because, with 8 seconds and 1 time out, he decided not to try further advancing the ball downfield, despite the fact that 8 seconds (with 1 time out) is plenty of time to try and gain another 10-15 yards.
I think his kickoff abilities are overstated a bit, but it is a good point for discussion.
He is clearly well above average in this department. Not very top of the league last year, but for the conditions he kicks in late in the year, very effective. And money so far this year. What is that worth in terms of points. Over a year, is a guy whose average starting field position is the 22 yard line worth six points more than 24.5, or whatever the average is? If so, I guess missing 6 kicks between 30-49 yards is a wash over an average kickoff guy who would have only missed four. Or maybe you need to be more sophisticated about the true cost of missed FGs.
I don't know the answer. I do wish there were more sabermetric type analyses or discussions of this kind of stuff out there, instead of everyone (myself included) just cherry-picking things we like or don't about a guy to support our prejudices. In this regard, football feels 20 years behind baseball.
I am an idiot. That is all.
End of message.
I am an idiot. That is all.
End of message.
I am an idiot. That is all.
End of message.