PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Hey Mike, those articles about the improved running game and about how awsome this year Brady is, and deservers an MVP recognition for that, are great but I’m an extremly anxious fan so I always care about the flaws and I didn’t find anything about Gostkowski. However, the way that I see, right now he is the biggest question mark in this team. And I’m worried. This team really needs a reliable kicker, especially in the playoffs. Are you concerned like me?

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No question Gostkowski has missed some makeable field goals this year, most notably the one against the Cardinals that cost the Patriots the game.

Still he’s not that far off from where he’s been in the past, here’s his FG% for his career:

  • 2006 – 76.9%
  • 2007 – 87.5%
  • 2008 – 90.0%
  • 2009 – 83.9%
  • 2010 – 76.9% (8 games, injured)
  • 2011 – 84.6%
  • 2012 – 80.0%

He’s already hit 13 field goals of 40+ yards which ties a career best from last season. So has he been a little off this year? Yup. Is it enough to really worry about headed into the post-season? Not yet.

The interesting thing is  how much the Patriots needed Adam Vinatieri in the 2001 and 2003 Super Bowls runs, and the clutch kicks he had to make. Gostkowski has never had a kick the magnitude of those yet.

We’ll see what happens this year, but yeah, I might be a little more nervous than usual, especially given his clutch miss at home in September, not that that has any real impact.

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Over the past four games, the Patriots have converted 61% of their third-down tries, while no other team has converted even 50% in that stretch. Included in that number is a 22-for-28 (79%) performance on third and five yards or fewer. For the season, New England has converted 68% on third down and five or fewer, which leads the league by a mile: 68% – Patriots 60% – Packers 58% – Broncos 58% – Cowboys 57% – Texans

It Is What It Is » Nuggetpalooza: Statistical preview of Patriots vs. Texans Monday night blockbuster!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/over-the-past-four-games-the-patriots-have/

Inside the matchup: Texans at Patriots – Extra Points – Boston.com

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Inside the matchup: Texans at Patriots – Extra Points – Boston.com

Insightful X and O preview from the always must-read Alen Dumonjic.

One of the biggest problems for the Patriots’ secondary this game could be Houston’s use of the tight ends in the play action passing game. Houston’s tight ends do a very good job of getting behind coverage and working the shallow crossing routes, and they come in different fashions. Usually the tight end will run his crossing route to the side where Schaub rolls out to, but what Houston’s been known to do is have the tight end run a shallow crossing route opposite of the quarterback rollout, thus creating a throw back across the field. This is effective because while the defense heads toward Schaub’s direction, the tight end goes the opposite way.

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Gameday! Usually I’m not a big fan of MNF as a fan because you can’t really tailgate, you have to stay up way late, and generally it’s just a lot harder to enjoy the fan experience. But tonight’s a huge game so let’s just get after it!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/gameday-usually-im-not-a-big-fan-of-mnf-as-a-fan/

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Is it just me or does it feel like years since we last saw Gronker out there?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/is-it-just-me-or-does-it-feel-like-years-since-we/

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He’s so big, and he plays heavy, but he’s also fast,” Foster said. “He can play sideline to sideline. He comes downhill. He can head-butt guards like it’s nothing. Watching him on film, he’s just so strong. He’s disciplined, and he plays his gaps well. He’s a good pass rusher, and he’s really a Pro Bowl-caliber player, in my opinion. He’ll start getting more and more notoriety for his play, but I’ve always seen it in him. He’s a great player, a fun player to watch.

BostonHerald.com – Blogs: The Blitz» Blog Archive » Arian Foster on Brandon Spikes: ‘It’s hard for me to get intimidated on the field’

https://www.patspropaganda.com/hes-so-big-and-he-plays-heavy-but-hes-also/