In 2007, I'd like to see the Jets bring in a kicker who can reach the goal line on kickoffs. It's obvious that Nugent just does not have the leg strength to kick the ball past the 10 with any sort of regularity. Yes, I know Nuge boomed one a couple of yards deep into the end zone versus the Browns only moments after kicking a 40+ yard field goal, but I attribute both of these anomolies to the favorable wind conditions during that period of play. I just don't understand how a team can draft such a weak-legged kicker in the 2nd round! I mean, there is alot of uncertainty surrounding NFL draft prospects, but if there's any position on the field where there should be NO uncertainty about the physical assets of the player, ITS THE KICKER. He either has the leg or he does not. A kicker is never a product of his environment. A kicker is never "only as good as the players next to him". A kicker plays a one-man game. He is what he is! How can this guy have been a supposed stud at the collegiate level?! I have no faith in the guy. I think its time to move on and go with a veteran kicker with a proven leg. What's Doug Brien up to these days? :smile:
In that same draft we threw away a 1st round pick on a TE that isn't even on the team anymore. Hell of a staff.
What's done is done and we can't change what Sperm and Badway did. I understand the frustration with Nugent and the unfortunate thing is they are either gonna have to do 1 of 3 things A) Teach Graham to do kickoffs, he has incredible leg strength but can he learn the dynamics of kicking off a tee? B) Waste a roster spot on a guy that is a kickoff specialist. It solves the issue of kickoffs but it eliminates a roster spot of a DL or OL C) Cut Nugent and sign a vet that can kickoff and kick FG's. The problem is all the good vet kickers are already on rosters. I was a bigger fan of Dave Rayner than I was of Nugent and last year he was a kickoff specialist for the Colts, this year he is one of the leading FG kickers in the NFL with Green Bay. I see B being the way we go because I don't think they are ready to quite give up on Nuge and I don't know if Graham is a feasible option.
I still think Nugent can be a good kicker, but that was just Herm's way of throwing Doug Brien under the bus and saying, look, it wasn't my fault, it was the kickers.
Not only is his leg weak on kickoffs, his field goal accuracy is sub par to say the least. 70% and thats only on 10 tries, plus the missed extra point.
Yeah, well we also got Cedric Houston out of it. People on this board love the guy so much, but a lot of them criticize the trade.
I would love to see us kick it to the end zone, but all i see is a kick off going to the 10 and they run it back to the 30 sometimes 40 yard line.. ughhhhhhhhhhh
Can someone explain to me why Nugent was so highly thought of coming out of college? He has a terribly weak leg and his accuracy is average.... What was so good about him coming outta school? Nugent is probably the worst 2nd round pick in history of our franchise.
He was the top kicker in college football in 2004. The scouts said he had the power, accuracy, athleticism, and ability to hit from 50+ yards. He was an All-American and was the Team MVP in his senior year as well as a Captain, I believe.
you're right, he was highly touted. he equates to an nfl weak legged inconsistent kicker though. I just don't see how he can improve
Ahhh..not quite. Do the names: John McGraw, Darian Boose, Rick Terry, Alex Van Dyke, Ryan Yarboroguh, and Kurt Barber ring any bells?? Yep - all recent Jets second round picks and that's not even bothering with the 70's and 80's.......
I rather not see Ben Graham kicking FGs and Kickoffs. I like him punting the way he does. I have a feeling if he started kicking Field Goals and the Kickoffs, that he wouldn't do so well. He'd have to get used to kicking off a tee and whatnot. As far as Nugent goes, I don't really think he is as a bad as a lot of people are making him seem. He's still young, so maybe his leg strength hasn't developed in full yet.
And didn't he also play for Ohio State, which required him to kick through alot of rough weather conditions? I remember being happy with the pick at the time. I mean, who can resist a K that's supposedly accurate from long range and can potentially handle the swirling winds of the Meadowlands...especially after that Doug Brien mess? However, he is clearly not the kicker as advertised. The Jets can practically pick up any kicker off of FA and not see a significant dropoff. His KOs are just plain horrendous, but even that would've been somewhat bareable if he could at least kick FGs with some consistency. He's far from automatic.
So how come Stephen Gostkowski can blast kickoffs consistently inside the 5? Including 7 or 8 touchbacks. Nate Kaeding can boom kickoffs as well, and he's young. Nugent kicked a ball out of bounds, only 1 kick reached the endzone, which I bet shocked Josh Cribbs. The others were consistently at the 15 yard line, that's pathetic. He did a stronger offseason program to improve his leg strength on kickoffs, I see no difference.
The only way we get a kicker in the off-season is if Mangini finds somebody he likes down under. This way it does not cost us any draft pick. The ultimate solution is to get Graham kicking off if he can. Nugent is OK for FG's, but not great, and not worth what we paid for him.
