I thought he had an excellent game despite playing with the flu. He has really showed the past few weeks that if he is given the opportunity he will come through. It is amazing how the sentiment on this thread has changed. After the first game of the year most people demanded he be cut, one called for him to be lynched (utterly disturbing), and pretty much everyone said it was the worst draft pick ever. There were a very very select few of us who stuck behind him during the worst game of his life. The Jets brought in other kickers to scare him, but he didn't bitch or moan. He went about his business. He worked hard and remained confident while everyone else called for his head. Mangini disrespected him on numerous occasions by not kicking fg's, but again he did not bitch or moan. I think he has played and carried himself with class the entire year. Well done Nuge.
Nuge has been having a fantastic year. He has made 19 out of his last 20 kicks after that game in week 1. And that one miss was a 52 yder in the wind against Cleveland.
At 88% he should be 5 or 6 in the NFL in terms of percentage. That should help everyones confidence in him.
His long one today would have been good from 65, and his KOs were a little better this week. Has definitely raised his game.
I've criticized him alot, but I'm glad to see he's finally coming around. He's proving to be a great indoor kicker, but Jets'll need more than that around January, when the weather conditions play a factor. One of the big positives about this guy coming out of college, was that he's supposedly a great kicker even through the wind and in horrible weather. Let's hope he shows it.
I love the way he has been kicking but this board tends to be a roller coaster as far as performances. So lets remember that this very good performance occurred in a dome. Not to take anything away from Nuge but lets keep some perspective. Something that tends to lack around here.
What ended up happening was he had that horrible game in week 1, and then only attempted one more FG over the next 4 games, so he never really had a chance to redeem himself. That bad game just sort of stook around, but since then he's been as solid as any kicker in the league. There's also the issue of his kickoffs, but our coverage unit is very solid, so he has to be doing something right.
He exuded confidence even in his post game interview on SNY. Talked about how he has changed his mind set during the game, which in turn has made him a better and productive kicker. HE talked about how at Tenn. his mind frame was all about "OK now it counts..." and how last year his thoughts were OK if I kick one here I've made 3 in a row and I will get on a streek. Since Week 2 his mind frame has been all about THE KICK and not what if scenarios...Just kick it and make it..Then move on.. Sounds like the philosphy the entire team should have this whole week. Win the game against MIami and MOve on...Don't worry about anything else, but the play and game at hand..
Gotta give him credit for picking up his game. Was he worth a 2nd round pick? Probably not, but at least he's starting to look like a real NFL kicker. Here's hoping it continues. By the way, did you see the hit he took when Graham threw the ball to him on that botched FG? Man, I thought he was going to be knocked out for sure....
He's had slow starts in his first game of teh season both years in the NFL, but besides that he seems like an 85%+ kicker in the NFL. He's fine.
uhh...yesterday was Nugent's first FG attempts in a dome in his NFL career. He didn't attempt a FG in his only other indoor game at Atlanta last season.
He may turn out to be a decent kicker after all, but worth an early 2nd rd pick (especially on a team full of holes)? HELL NO! and that's where his criticism will always stem from.
Kickers win and lose games for you, even end seasons, I don't think a 2nd round pick for a good one is too much. Yesterday made me wonder what Pennington and Nugent's numbers would look like if they played in a dome instead of the windy Meadowlands, for all the stat geeks out there. Just a thought.
You can't criticize the player for where he was picked. The front office of course, but not the player. If he doesn't go to the jets with that pick, he goes to tampa in a trade with cincy. So the front office probably didn't want to pick him that high, but wanted him bad enough to hope Miller was around with the second pick. Regardless, Nuge should be judged on his performance. Not where he was taken in the draft.
I'm still undecided about the worth of the pick because I still want to see more. I'm talking another 16 games, in adverse conditions and with a lot of pressure (game on the line, etc.) before we judge that. But is it all that important? If we've got a great kicker (which I hope he turns out to be), years from now are we going to be questioning 2nd Round...3rd Round, etc.? If his kicks get us into future playoffs, who really gives a sh*t?
I can say Ive had his jersey since after he was drafted, Ive taken abuse for wearing it to games. Now I wear it with pride. id never get a kicker's jersye but my last name is Nugent so I had to.
