I despise John Hall, he was so inconsistent it was ridiculous. He'd hit 65 yards in practice then miss field goals 35 yards and under way too frequently. He did kick it through the uprights a few times on kickoffs though. Pat Leahy is out all time leading scorer.
It has to be Leahy. He was solid and consistent, but far from clutch (should have won the Blair Thomas fumble game in OT). He also had to kick at Shea Stadium for the first 9 years of his career. His accuracy numbers are skewed because of that. Weaker legged kickers like Feeley and Nugent wouldn't have had a prayer of being decent kicking in that stadium
Again, he kicked in an era where it wasn't uncommon for even the best of kickers to miss an extra point or 2 a season. The Jets never had a truly great kicker, the best might've been Nick Lowery though he was starting to decline when we got him.
Leahy is #1 overall, mostly due to longevity and the fact that I wasn't alive for the Super Bowl so I don't even know who the kicker was. Hall was the best KO kicker we've ever had. Between his booming kicks and his willingness to get downfield he was a great ST guy for us. His FG attempts were always interesting though. Feeley is our best in terms of hitting FGs. I'm sick and tired of people saying he can't hit from distance. He does. Whenever he's asked. He did it before the streak, and he did it at the tail end of it too. I'm the first to say he doesn't KO well though. He needs to put another second on his hang time, but I doubt he ever will at this point. With another second, maybe even .75 of a second, our ST could pin opponents within their 10 consistently. I'll take what he gives though, because it's still better than Nooge.
We really never had a great kicker I was not a big believer in either Turner or Leahy. Feely may well be the best all around kicker we ever had. Turner couldn't reach the 15 on kick offs and Leahy while decent on length and pretty accurate didn't exactly inspire confidence. I forgot about Curly Johnson.
If I had to win one game I'd select John Hall to be my kicker out of all the guys we've had. He had great range and made more big kicks than any Jet kicker I ever saw, only missing one real big one (Detroit, 2000). Feely has been great as well, not quite the range but I'm comfortable with him. Leahy was always an accident waiting to happen, I never saw Jim Turner.
I dunno what's with all the John Hall love. Sure the guy was entertaining, but steady he was not. Every kick seemed like an adventure with him. Leahy was before my time, so there's no point in me talking as if I've seen all his games. Nugent was a disaster. Feely is alright, and sorta wins by default for me. He's consistent, and that's what I want out of my kicker...not a frickin' heart attack machine.
Hall was clutch though, except the one kick I mentioned. Not an all-time great accurate guy but balls of steel (I've heard/no homo). If you want I could list a bunch of huge kicks he made for us, then junc can come and fill in the ones I forgot. Granted we were a good team when he was here so he got more chances at big kicks, but one of the reasons we were good was that he made the kicks.
there were also long field goals he made that either didn't count due to a timeout or a penalty..... feely has the leg to make the long kicks. he's never showed us that he hasn't. some of his longer field goals have been drilled and could have went much longer. he was pretty damn good in miami the year before too i love jay feely. definetely an underappreciated but incredibly steady aspect of our team. something we never really have to worry about
Some info on Pat Leahy. I'm not suggesting he was a great kicker, but to say he was not a good kicker is not correct when looking at him compared to other kickers of his era. From 1970 - 1990 Leahy was 16th overall in FG%. He is the only one in the top 16 to play significant time in the 1970's. Only Nick Lowery even played in the 1970's. Kicking began to be a specialized position in the 1980's. Code: Games Scoring Rk Player From To Tm Lg G GS TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% 1 Nick Lowery 1978 1990 TOT NFL 167 0 0 375 379 98.90% 259 328 79.00% 2 Gary Anderson 1982 1990 PIT NFL 133 0 0 292 294 99.30% 206 267 77.20% 3 Morten Andersen 1982 1990 NOR NFL 132 0 0 276 281 98.20% 192 249 77.10% 4 Eddie Murray 1980 1990 DET NFL 158 0 0 341 346 98.60% 225 297 75.80% 5 Donald Igwebuike 1985 1990 TOT NFL 80 0 0 153 160 95.60% 108 143 75.50% 6 Scott Norwood 1985 1990 BUF NFL 92 0 0 215 220 97.70% 115 155 74.20% 7 Kevin Butler 1985 1990 CHI NFL 92 0 0 231 238 97.10% 134 181 74.00% 8 Paul McFadden 1984 1989 TOT NFL 79 0 0 160 164 97.60% 120 163 73.60% 9 Dean Biasucci 1984 1990 CLT NFL 91 0 0 165 170 97.10% 103 140 73.60% 10 Chip Lohmiller 1988 1990 WAS NFL 48 0 0 122 123 99.20% 78 106 73.60% 11 Raul Allegre 1983 1990 TOT NFL 88 0 0 176 183 96.20% 132 180 73.30% 12 Mike Cofer 1987 1990 TOT NFL 50 0 0 133 138 96.40% 81 111 73.00% 13 Mike Lansford 1982 1990 RAM NFL 124 0 0 315 325 96.90% 158 217 72.80% 14 Rich Karlis 1982 1990 TOT NFL 120 0 0 283 294 96.30% 172 239 72.00% 15 Tony Zendejas 1985 1990 OTI NFL 81 0 0 197 204 96.60% 117 163 71.80% [COLOR="Green"]16 Pat Leahy 1974 1990 NYJ NFL 235 0 0 528 554 95.30% 278 389 71.50%[/COLOR] 17 Matt Bahr 1979 1990 TOT NFL 164 0 0 378 388 97.40% 199 280 71.10% 18 Jim Breech 1979 1990 TOT NFL 165 0 0 459 481 95.40% 201 284 70.80% 19 Rafael Septien 1977 1986 TOT NFL 151 0 0 420 433 97.00% 180 256 70.30% 20 Rolf Benirschke 1977 1986 SDG NFL 121 0 0 328 352 93.20% 146 208 70.20% 21 Mick Luckhurst 1981 1987 ATL NFL 95 0 0 213 216 98.60% 115 164 70.10% 22 Norm Johnson 1982 1990 SEA NFL 134 0 0 333 338 98.50% 159 228 69.70% 23 Ali Haji-Sheikh 1983 1987 TOT NFL 51 0 0 95 103 92.20% 76 111 68.50% 24 Garo Yepremian 1970 1981 TOT NFL 160 0 0 411 430 95.60% 195 285 68.40% 25 Toni Fritsch 1971 1982 TOT NFL 125 0 0 287 300 95.70% 157 231 68.00% 26 Efren Herrera 1974 1982 TOT NFL 106 0 0 256 268 95.50% 116 171 67.80% 27 Uwe von Schamann 1979 1984 MIA NFL 89 0 0 237 250 94.80% 101 149 67.80% 28 Ray Wersching 1973 1987 TOT NFL 206 0 0 456 477 95.60% 222 329 67.50% 29 Tony Franklin 1979 1988 TOT NFL 140 0 0 341 355 96.10% 177 264 67.00% 30 John Smith 1974 1983 NWE NFL 116 0 0 308 323 95.40% 128 191 67.00% 31 Greg Davis 1987 1990 TOT NFL 50 0 0 96 101 95.00% 67 101 66.30% 32 Don Cockroft 1970 1980 CLE NFL 160 0 0 341 364 93.70% 186 281 66.20% 33 Jan Stenerud* 1970 1985 TOT NFL 221 0 0 458 478 95.80% 295 447 66.00% 34 Rick Danmeier 1977 1982 MIN NFL 74 0 0 154 166 92.80% 70 106 66.00% 35 Mark Moseley 1970 1986 TOT NFL 213 0 0 482 512 94.10% 300 457 65.60% 36 Al Del Greco 1984 1990 TOT NFL 97 0 0 221 227 97.40% 101 154 65.60% 37 Benny Ricardo 1976 1984 TOT NFL 90 0 0 171 180 95.00% 92 142 64.80% 38 Bruce Gossett 1970 1974 SFO NFL 70 0 0 163 168 97.00% 99 153 64.70% 39 Jim Bakken 1970 1978 CRD NFL 128 0 0 276 292 94.50% 148 229 64.60% 40 Errol Mann 1970 1978 TOT NFL 121 0 0 285 303 94.10% 152 236 64.40% 1970-1980 Leahy was 8th in FG%. 12 spots ahead of HOF kicker Jan Stenerud. Code: Rk Player From To Tm Lg G GS TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG%*6 1 Garo Yepremian 1970 1980 TOT NFL 157 0 0 405 424 95.50% 193 281 68.70% 2 Efren Herrera 1974 1980 TOT NFL 87 0 0 222 231 96.10% 96 140 68.60% 3 John Smith 1974 1980 NWE NFL 91 0 0 253 262 96.60% 105 153 68.60% 4 Toni Fritsch 1971 1980 TOT NFL 104 0 0 247 257 96.10% 138 202 68.30% 5 Don Cockroft 1970 1980 CLE NFL 160 0 0 341 364 93.70% 186 281 66.20% 6 Bruce Gossett 1970 1974 SFO NFL 70 0 0 163 168 97.00% 99 153 64.70% 7 Jim Bakken 1970 1978 CRD NFL 128 0 0 276 292 94.50% 148 229 64.60% [COLOR="green"]8 Pat Leahy 1974 1980 NYJ NFL 86 0 0 168 183 91.80% 89 138 64.50%[/COLOR] 9 Errol Mann 1970 1978 TOT NFL 121 0 0 285 303 94.10% 152 236 64.40% 10 George Blanda* 1970 1975 RAI NFL 84 0 0 240 247 97.20% 95 148 64.20% 11 Horst Muhlmann 1970 1977 TOT NFL 107 0 0 213 224 95.10% 138 215 64.20% 12 Bobby Howfield 1970 1974 TOT NFL 63 0 0 127 134 94.80% 76 119 63.90% 13 Jim Turner 1970 1979 TOT NFL 144 0 1 311 329 94.50% 170 267 63.70% 14 Fred Cox 1970 1977 MIN NFL 112 0 0 262 279 93.90% 146 231 63.20% 15 Tom Dempsey 1970 1979 TOT NFL 113 0 0 219 247 88.70% 137 217 63.10% 16 Rafael Septien 1977 1980 TOT NFL 62 0 0 177 186 95.20% 64 102 62.70% 17 Roy Gerela 1970 1979 TOT NFL 131 0 0 322 336 95.80% 165 266 62.00% 18 David Ray 1970 1974 RAM NFL 69 0 0 167 175 95.40% 110 178 61.80% 19 Mark Moseley 1970 1980 TOT NFL 130 0 0 262 276 94.90% 170 275 61.80% 20 Jan Stenerud* 1970 1980 TOT NFL 148 0 0 275 289 95.20% 204 330 61.80% 21 Chester Marcol 1972 1980 TOT NFL 103 0 1 156 167 93.40% 121 196 61.70% 22 Ray Wersching 1973 1980 TOT NFL 109 0 0 159 174 91.40% 92 151 60.90% 23 John Leypoldt 1971 1978 TOT NFL 92 0 0 203 222 91.40% 93 154 60.40% 24 Bob Thomas 1975 1980 CHI NFL 90 0 0 167 184 90.80% 85 142 59.90% 25 Joe Danelo 1975 1980 TOT NFL 88 0 0 141 150 94.00% 79 133 59.40% 26 Toni Linhart 1972 1979 TOT NFL 82 0 0 200 213 93.90% 75 127 59.10% 27 Pete Gogolak 1970 1974 NYG NFL 70 0 0 142 148 95.90% 79 136 58.10% 28 Curt Knight 1970 1973 WAS NFL 56 0 0 137 139 98.60% 85 148 57.40% 29 Nick Mike-Mayer 1973 1980 TOT NFL 107 0 0 185 192 96.40% 100 176 56.80% 30 Chris Bahr 1976 1980 TOT NFL 76 0 0 171 183 93.40% 81 144 56.30% 1980-1990 From 1980-1990 Leahy was 7th in FG%. This is the point you see FG%'s improving. Code: Rk Player From To Tm Lg G GS TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% 1 Nick Lowery 1980 1990 KAN NFL 165 0 0 368 372 98.90% 259 327 79.20% 2 Gary Anderson 1982 1990 PIT NFL 133 0 0 292 294 99.30% 206 267 77.20% 3 Morten Andersen 1982 1990 NOR NFL 132 0 0 276 281 98.20% 192 249 77.10% 4 Jan Stenerud* 1980 1985 TOT NFL 77 0 0 186 192 96.90% 94 122 77.00% 5 Eddie Murray 1980 1990 DET NFL 158 0 0 341 346 98.60% 225 297 75.80% 6 Donald Igwebuike 1985 1990 TOT NFL 80 0 0 153 160 95.60% 108 143 75.50% [COLOR="green"]7 Pat Leahy 1980 1990 NYJ NFL 165 0 0 396 407 97.30% 203 273 74.40%[/COLOR] 8 Rafael Septien 1980 1986 DAL NFL 105 0 0 302 307 98.40% 127 171 74.30% 9 Scott Norwood 1985 1990 BUF NFL 92 0 0 215 220 97.70% 115 155 74.20% 10 Kevin Butler 1985 1990 CHI NFL 92 0 0 231 238 97.10% 134 181 74.00% 11 Dean Biasucci 1984 1990 CLT NFL 91 0 0 165 170 97.10% 103 140 73.60% 12 Chip Lohmiller 1988 1990 WAS NFL 48 0 0 122 123 99.20% 78 106 73.60% 13 Paul McFadden 1984 1989 TOT NFL 79 0 0 160 164 97.60% 120 163 73.60% 14 Ray Wersching 1980 1987 SFO NFL 113 0 0 330 342 96.50% 145 197 73.60% 15 Raul Allegre 1983 1990 TOT NFL 88 0 0 176 183 96.20% 132 180 73.30% 16 Mike Cofer 1987 1990 TOT NFL 50 0 0 133 138 96.40% 81 111 73.00% 17 Mike Lansford 1982 1990 RAM NFL 124 0 0 315 325 96.90% 158 217 72.80% 18 Matt Bahr 1980 1990 TOT NFL 148 0 0 328 336 97.60% 181 250 72.40% 19 Rich Karlis 1982 1990 TOT NFL 120 0 0 283 294 96.30% 172 239 72.00% 20 Tony Zendejas 1985 1990 OTI NFL 81 0 0 197 204 96.60% 117 163 71.80% 21 Jim Breech 1980 1990 CIN NFL 149 0 0 418 436 95.90% 183 257 71.20% 22 Mick Luckhurst 1981 1987 ATL NFL 95 0 0 213 216 98.60% 115 164 70.10% 23 Norm Johnson 1982 1990 SEA NFL 134 0 0 333 338 98.50% 159 228 69.70% 24 Mark Moseley 1980 1986 TOT NFL 99 0 0 247 266 92.90% 148 215 68.80% 25 Bob Thomas 1980 1986 TOT NFL 70 0 0 171 183 93.40% 79 115 68.70% 1974-1983 I also don't know how much of an impact Shea had on him as he kicked better at Shea during those years than he did on the road Code: 1974-1983 Rk Player From To Lg Tm G W L T TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% Home 2 Pat Leahy 1974 1983 NFL NYJ 54 25 29 0 0 120 132 90.90% 78 116 67.20% Away 22 Pat Leahy 1974 1983 NFL NYJ 51 25 25 1 0 117 125 93.60% 69 107 64.50% 1984-1990 But he did really well when they went to Giants Stadium Code: 1984-1990 Rk Player From To Lg Tm G W L T TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% Home 4 Pat Leahy 1984 1990 NFL NYJ 46 24 21 1 0 118 119 99.20% 66 79 83.50% Away 7 Pat Leahy 1984 1990 NFL NYJ 47 20 27 0 0 102 103 99.00% 73 97 75.30%
Turner is my choice. Leahy always made me nervous and screwed up a couple of seasons for the Jets seemingly on his own, as I vaguely remember. I also remember lots of missed PATs, as someone else mentioned. Lowery was solid for the Jets. That's about it for candidates.
FG% doesn't tell the whole story, what was the length? and I always heard about the Shea excuse but looking at those #s his % was bad at home and on the road in the 70s and he greatly improved in the 80s.
First and ten, Robinson hands off to Clark Gaines, 5, 6, 7 yards, a good hard slashing run by Gaines....second and 7! :smile:
