Stephen Gostkowski

[PatsFan2]

I've been thinking about this a lot and how he capped his horrible season with a missed XP in the SuperBowl, essentially continuing the same problem he had throughout the year, and how he basically got a pass for it because we won the SuperBowl.

So my question to everyone is, if Amendola fails to convert the second 2-point conversion to tie the game at the end of regulation (Amendola barely got in) and the Patriots lose SuperBowl LI 28-26, would we all be more upset about the missed XP from Gostkowski in the SuperBowl and would there be more furor for having competition at the spot.

How come Stephen Gostkowski basically got a pass for both his season and his SuperBowl performance when he's one of the highest paid kickers in the league? Why doesn't he got more criticism and why isn't he more under pressure for holding on to his job? I feel if we had lost 28-26, fans would be calling for his head.

Great points still can't believe all the conversions even I have warmed up to Amendola...but Ghost I am sure BB have taken notice. Ghost missed a Pat in Denver the year before making it even Tougher in Denver basically handing the Forehead a SB Birth and win on his way out.

 

[RobertWeathers]

FWIW, though, the Patriots didn't even see the need to bring in a camp leg.

I really think it was the short kickoff techniques that were messing him up his XP and FG mechanics. Might have gotten into his psyche. Not sure. If you golf you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I don't think BB needs to bring in another camp leg to press Gost. Complacency or leg strength is not the issue.

 

[tasmlab]

Fun fact: Gost has scored 1,457 points for the Pats so far.

To sort of answer the OP's question, most fans would blame the whole loss on the hypothetical Dola missing the conversion, even though the pick six in the first half would have been the more damning mistake.

Just like the Tyree catch was the Pats defense losing the game even though the greatest offense ever only scored 14 points.

 

[pats_premi]

Competition generally makes everyone better. I am not sure why the Patriots are not bringing in another kicker to the training camp unless they are worried that it will shatter Ghost's confidence.

 

[meatface]

Competition generally makes everyone better. I am not sure why the Patriots are not bringing in another kicker to the training camp unless they are worried that it will shatter Ghost's confidence.

they obviously don't want to use a roster spot on one and have full confidence in him. They had that trick shot guy in minicamp but I don't think they have brought in a Kicker since 2011 when Ghost was coming back from injury

 

[PatsDeb]

You lost me at "horrible season."

 

[varjao]

No one is better at pinning teams on kickoff s than Gostkowski has been, however I think the rule changes caused him to alter his mechanics and that screwed up his accuracy on PAT's and field goals. That said replacing him would be really difficult and probably unwise. I think he will resolve the mechanical issues and continue to be one of the best kickers in the game for some time to come.

That's my hypothesis as well, I remember the year Allen got injured in the playoffs and Ghost had to punt, in an interview after the game he said he doesn't like to practice punts because that mess with his mechanics on the kicking game, so it seems he is very sensitive about that, maybe all kickers are, I don't know because I never punted or kicked a football in my life.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Competition generally makes everyone better. I am not sure why the Patriots are not bringing in another kicker to the training camp unless they are worried that it will shatter Ghost's confidence.

They've never brought in serious competition for Gostkowski after his rookie year.

 

[Schmo]

Just saw this and it kinda surprised me .... Vinatieri vs Gostkowski in their careers as patriots:

Vinatieri (96-05): 160 games; 81.9FG%; 8/17 50+; 98.1XP%

Gostkowski (06-16): 168 games; 87.1FG%; 19/26 50+; 99.3XP%

I know most people would point to WHEN Gost missed his kicks, but I thought these numbers put it in perspective for me. When you factor in how good he is on kickoffs, his salary and incumbency is well deserved. The only thing that can hurt him is lack of confidence (we've seen that he's not the type of guy to get complacent), and not having competition could be Bill's way of helping him with that.

 

[Tony2046]

If Adam Vinatieri (one of the greatest kickers in NFL history) didn't miss two FG's in SB 38 would the Pats have won by more?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

In his worst season, last year, he was still league average in field goal and extra point accuracy. Considering his past success and the mental roller coaster that kicking can become, I think people are willing to cut him some slack. Plus, he was outstanding on kick offs.

A level headed reply without the "WE WON WHO CARESSSS" condescension that we knew was coming. Thanks

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I've been thinking about this a lot and how Ghost capped his... Super Bowl season by pinning offenses near their own goal line on kickoffs multiple times in must win, big game situations .....IMHO.......priceless
The question: Is "priceless" worth more than a missed extra point?
I vote YES

Confession: I really haven't been thinking about this a lot....Why would I? Why would anyone?

Probably because our 2015 run ended just short of overtime when a missed PAT could've been the difference? And we were close to having it happen again?

 

[Wordsmyth]

Enough of this butthurt hypothetical ********. Suck it up, son. Enjoy the Pats or root for some lesser squad.

 

[patfanken]

I always find this discusssion LUDICROUS! The guy hit on 84% of his FG attempts last season and there are too many fans and mediots who want to put him down as a negative. Adam V played in NE for 11 years. In those 11 years Adam only had three season with a FG percentage better than 84% (and one of those years was with the pre-BB Pats. ).

People seem to forget that NE is one of the hardest places in the league for kickers, and yet we still want to hammer the guy for kicking 84%, and being compared to Adam, who kicks a minimum of 9 games a year in a dome.

I would suggest that when thinking about replacing Gotskowski "be careful what you wish for" should be the operative line to remember, because unless you are getting Tucker here, there is a good chance that the guy you bring in is NOT going to be as good as Gotskowski already is.

 

[Richard Camembert]

His kick offs have been amazing but he has been in a little funk.
However he has had ample time to correct it.
If he hasn't and come training camp is shanking gimme kicks.
Bring in competition to push or ultimately replace him.

Who you thinking about?

 

[Love The Drake]

Who you thinking about?

There is nobody in particular
I feel he still could use competition maybe the Malcom Butler of Kickers is working as a cart pusher somewhere?
Who knows?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I would suggest that when thinking about replacing Gotskowski "be careful what you wish for" should be the operative line to remember, because unless you are getting Tucker here, there is a good chance that the guy you bring in is NOT going to be as good as Gotskowski already is.

The big danger is that if they let Gostkowski leave, if it's just a case of the yips, then he could solve someone else's kicker problem for another decade.

 

[1960Pats]

Personally, I would have been more nervous about a Gostkowski XPA to tie the game than I was about the play that resulted in Amendola's score...if a Championship is on the line, I want it in Brady's hands...or on Vinatieri's foot, back in the day. But, that's just me.

As far as the bigger picture goes, as long as Belichick and Joe Judge think Gostkowski is the Pats best bet as K, that's good enough for me. The fact that he makes me nervous...well, that's something I just have to deal with.

Gostkowski is a more accurate and stronger kicker than Vinatieri, who also missed some kicks that the team was able to overcome. The difference is that nobody was calling for AV to be dumped after he missed.

 

[TennisBallHead]

He sucks. How many games does he have to screw up before they bring in some competition?

 

[1960Pats]

Just saw this and it kinda surprised me .... Vinatieri vs Gostkowski in their careers as patriots:

Vinatieri (96-05): 160 games; 81.9FG%; 8/17 50+; 98.1XP%

Gostkowski (06-16): 168 games; 87.1FG%; 19/26 50+; 99.3XP%

I know most people would point to WHEN Gost missed his kicks, but I thought these numbers put it in perspective for me. When you factor in how good he is on kickoffs, his salary and incumbency is well deserved. The only thing that can hurt him is lack of confidence (we've seen that he's not the type of guy to get complacent), and not having competition could be Bill's way of helping him with that.

Thanks for providing the stats to show the difference between the two. It's pretty startling when you see it that way.

I can't remember what year it was, but AV missed a chip shot vs KC many years ago that cost the Pats. He also missed two in the SB vs Carolina.

Even in his prime I don't think AV was known for his booming kicks.