Gostkowski blocked fg

[Fanfrom1960]

I watched the replay frame by frame on 61" HDTV. I initially thought the kick was blocked by an LB jumping high behind the line but then realized it was caused by a different LB (Vilma) penetrating through the right side of the line unblocked and diving across the path of the ball. That is not the kicker's fault.

It was a relative chipshot, wasn't it, so there was no reason he should kick it low. Got to get those short ones up quickly. I only saw one replay, and it didn't look like what you said. Instead, it looked like it was too low, and got all the way to the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. Rookie error, if it was as I saw it, but again, I could be wrong. Guys in the Boston area must have seen it over and over. Which way was it?

 

[Bella*chick]

In the end, my guess is it is as BB said in his press conference...just a combination of different things with no one thing 100% responsible.

Hopefully, he can get beyond this....he is certainly not the first kicker to get a kick blocked and he sure as hell won't be the last.

 

[oldskool138]

Last time I checked, there are 11 guys on the field goal unit that are responsible for getting an accurate kick off. Of course, the kicker, holder and long snapper are the key players in field goal situations but there are still eight other players that need do their job and keep the other team from blocking the kick.

If Gost shanked it badly, that would be one thing. The kick was a little low but the line did allow a LB to get some serious air to get a hand on the ball. I'd say the block was 20% kicker, 80% line.

But, I'm not going to play the blame game. Gost is a young kid who has a lot of upside. The kick didn't cost us the game. He's got a whole week to shake it off and work with the special teams coach. He'll be fine this coming Sunday with the home crowd cheering him on.

 

[Oswlek]

My thoughts

1) If BB says that it was penetration that was the cause, then penetration it was. WHo am I to say otherwise?

2) We all knew somewhere that there would be a Vinatieri moment at some point this season. I was glad that it happened in this type of circumstance rather than a game tying or winning situation.

3) For all the talking that the media is doing, they are forgetting that Saint Adam had a 31 yarder blocked in a much more crucial circumstance just a few short years ago. Not only that, but in his 3rd or 4th year, he shanked a ~30 yarder against the Cheifs that decided a 16-14 NE loss.

I am not yet willing to assume that this is a leading indicator of anything. If it happens again, then I will give it some consideration.

 

[SamBam39]

Last time I checked, there are 11 guys on the field goal unit that are responsible for getting an accurate kick off. Of course, the kicker, holder and long snapper are the key players in field goal situations but there are still eight other players that need do their job and keep the other team from blocking the kick.

If Gost shanked it badly, that would be one thing. The kick was a little low but the line did allow a LB to get some serious air to get a hand on the ball. I'd say the block was 20% kicker, 80% line.

But, I'm not going to play the blame game. Gost is a young kid who has a lot of upside. The kick didn't cost us the game. He's got a whole week to shake it off and work with the special teams coach. He'll be fine this coming Sunday with the home crowd cheering him on.

I have already liked very much the things I've sensed from this rookie kicker.

number one, he seems very relaxed and confident out there. I don't sense anxiousness from him. He seems like he's just focused on doing his job, is confident he can do it, and isn't all worked up about it, regardless of it's importance. Now that doesn't mean thee won't be times he's a little more nervous than usual, I'm just saying it looks to me like he handles the pressure really well so far, and I think that is a very important and good sign.

number two, I like it that he kicks it very, very straight - very much like adam did. Some of these guys have the ball drift, or curl, or they make it but
it's to the right or left alot - but his kicks seem to very often be staight and dead one alot of the time. I like that alot - I think that will serve him well in what I'm predicting will be a long and successful career with the pats.

number three, he's got great leg strength! I feel good when he's lining up a try from deep out, even more hopeful than I did with adam on kicks longer than 48 yards. It's a nice weapon to have.

when you throw in he's very young and therefore very cheap, and well, I think you gotta love this kicker - we'll all just feel better after we see him come through in the clutch some and set our minds at ease. I guarentee you all though, that before long, everyone's gonna be excited about him.

by the way, I don't blame him for the miss. I thouught the jets did a great job blocking it and it was obviously just a mistake. maybe he could've kicked it a little higher, but he's new and I'm not the least bit concerned.

 

[PromisedLand]

It was a relative chipshot, wasn't it, so there was no reason he should kick it low. Got to get those short ones up quickly. I only saw one replay, and it didn't look like what you said. Instead, it looked like it was too low, and got all the way to the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. Rookie error, if it was as I saw it, but again, I could be wrong. Guys in the Boston area must have seen it over and over. Which way was it?

If it had been blocked by the outstretched hand of the player leaping high behind the line of scrimmage, as most casual observers seem to think, I would agree with you, but that's not the case. The kicker is not at fault when an unblocked player gets into the backfield and dives through the trajectory of the kick.

By your own admission you only saw one replay, and as I said I watched it frame by frame on a 61" HDTV, so why are you arguing about it? That's like a basketball referee 40' from the action calling a foul when the one standing right next to it doesn't.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I can't remember Adam's first year but I also can't remember the last time he had a 29 yarder blocked.

Superbowl XXXVIII?

 

[BradyManny]

If memory serves me well, wasn't AV close to getting cut in his rookie season before his breakout game against I think it was the Cardinals?

Anyone remember the particulars?

I seem to recall Adam missing a potential game winner or game tier early in the season and thinking his job was not too secure. Granted, I was probably about 12 at the time, so I could be way off.

 

[PatsRI]

Superbowl XXXVIII?

http://www.superbowl.com/history/recaps/game/sbxxxviii
Vinatieri missed a 31-yard field goal on the Patriots’ first possession, and had a 36-yard attempt blocked by Shane Burton with 6:00 left in the second quarter.

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I'd rather Gost gets them out of the way against the Jets and they still win. My guess is it's just one more thing BB will use as a learning tool.

 

[Kdo5]

My thoughts

1) If BB says that it was penetration that was the cause, then penetration it was. WHo am I to say otherwise?

2) We all knew somewhere that there would be a Vinatieri moment at some point this season. I was glad that it happened in this type of circumstance rather than a game tying or winning situation.

3) For all the talking that the media is doing, they are forgetting that Saint Adam had a 31 yarder blocked in a much more crucial circumstance just a few short years ago. Not only that, but in his 3rd or 4th year, he shanked a ~30 yarder against the Cheifs that decided a 16-14 NE loss.

I am not yet willing to assume that this is a leading indicator of anything. If it happens again, then I will give it some consideration.

Dont forget the Texans game in 2003, overtime. Vrabel gives us a great easy chance to win and Adam's kick gets blocked, he redeemed himself later after the Texans screwed up again. But that just shows even the best like Vinatieri make mistakes. No one is perfect. Its better for the kid to learn now then later.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Josh Miller is on with Felger today. When asked if it was a low kick or if there was a problem with the snap or hold. He basically said it was a little low but the real problem was a breakdown in the protection and you don't want to F with a kid kicker over stuff like being a hair low. Say's he's fine and we just need to tighten up the protection. BB had said something in his PC about a breakdown the week before in another area that we tightened up indicating we just need to do a better job tightening up across the line. Josh said the snap was a 1.29 with a 1.34 considered good (they actually time snap to placements)

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Sounds to me like Mo got the scoop on the blocked kick.

It sure looked like a protection breakdown to me. Maybe not kicked perfectly, of course.

Does anyone really think that Ghost was going to be the first 100% kicker in league history?

Adam wears a Colts uniform, so that comparison is a little stale at this point, IMHO.

Let's allow the kid to play for a season before we are sure what we have. If the Pats can play from a lead more often this year, then things will be OK!

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I hope you guys are right and this was the line's fault as that does not scare me like the possibility that we have a choker for a kicker does. I can't remember Adam's first year but I also can't remember the last time he had a 29 yarder blocked. This was the closest thing to a pressure situation for Gost and it was a failure. I'll be holding my breath with every pressure kick until this kid shows something when it counts.

Back slowly away from the ledge, please! Everything will be alright.