‘No Rush’ on Nugent
As I sat in the press box waiting for Jedis of Patriots Tech Support (seriously, not joking) to figure out why my laptop wasn’t connecting to their network, the Journal News’ Jane McManus, and Daily News’ Rich Cimini and I all noted that Mike Nugent was on the field, looking loose and kicking. While he was doing so in shorts, Jay Feely was in his pads and white jersey, with the #3 emblazoned across the front and the two were talking.
I have to admit that I was interested. Nugent had been practicing for the better part of the week, but Mangini clearly felt more comfortable in activating Jay Feely. When asked about Feely and Nuge, Mangini said that “Jay is kicking really well. He’s kicking with a lot of confidence and Mike is getting better each week, but there is no need to rush this process.”
As far as whether he would keep two kickers, Mangini was also mum. “I haven’t made a final decision on that. It’s nothing that I’d be opposed to. Jay has done a great job since he’s been here. He’s made some really clutch kicks. He has done a lot of good things. I’m really happy with him and I am not opposed to keeping two.”
Granted Feely got off to something of a wobbly start on the season, but he’s been as good as you’d hope, driving home 81.8% of his kicks. One thing is for sure, the kickoffs and kick coverage have greatly improved since last year. Feely’s leg is better able to place the ball deep and pin them into corners with good height … allowing for the coverage team to set up and stop long runbacks.
Watch how this plays out, but I doubt the Jets would bother to activate both players in a given game.
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Oh man , the only reason Nugent is still on the roster because he was drafted very for a Kickers standard , 2 kickers ? seriously just put the guy on IR and let them compete for the job next year ? Wouldn’t that be something , a Kicker controversy
I agree, this is no time to see if Nugent still has it. As long as Feely is doing well, keep him in there.
I don’t know about Nuge. I have a feeling that his injury is/was not that serious. He missed a pressure kick and still came back for two extra points after his injury. He knows he is in trouble and Mangini is just being Mangini, and being loyal to his player. The only way Feely gets cut is on a major screw up. If not, I believe Nuge will be traded or cut at seasons end.
Feely’s stats this season are barely better than Nuge’s worst year. This was only after he padded his stats by going 4-4 in a 44 point blowout. He missed a key kick against the Pats and the misses against KC and Buffalo almost cost the Jets dear too.
Had it not been for penalties and ill-advised timeouts he would have another 3 or 4 misses. And the game winner against the Pats gets closer to that goalpost every time I watch it. I simply have no confidence in the guy. However, you can’t argue with the results the last few weeks and since they are rolling, they should stick with the hot hand, ummm foot, for now as Nuge will probably have to shake off some rust.
Admittedly, I am partly bashing the guy because I hope he proves me wrong (and these last few weeks, it’s been working).
Bent -
44-point blowout or no, the guy made 46, 49 and 55-yarders. That’s impressive regardless of score. Add that to the game-winner on Thursday, the 4-for-5 against Buffalo and the 52-yarder against Oakland and he’s done well. I still don’t trust the guy much, but he’s been money the last three weeks save for one miss against Buffalo. I agree with the masses, ride him until he starts missing.
Bent:
You’re right about that OT kick in NE, five yds more and he misses it.
I don’t know about Nuge, I think something is going on with him.
Ps. Maybe in his head?
Feely’s Kickoffs may be really what is keeping him on this team. There really is no comparison there. I don’t trust his accuracy on PKs as much as Nuge’s, but I’d keep him right now if Nuge isn’t really showing enough to warrant a change. I’d also explore options for replacing Nugent long term.
BUT FEELY IS AN ATHLETE. I DONT REMEMBER THE GAME BUT HE LEVELED SOMEBODY TRYING TO GET AN ONSIDE KICK. HE’S HOT AND UNTIL HE COOLS OFF HE’S IN.. THE DUDE IS CHISSLED. HES HAD A COUPLE OF TOUCHBACKS THIS YEAR ALSO. NUGENT DOESNT KICK THE BALL TOO FAR. STAY WITH THE HOT MAN!!!
yea…stay with the hot hand – feely the rest of the year
have to agree. keeping 2 kickers on a roster just seems crazy to me. cut one and move on. declare one of them your guy and open up a spot for someone else. i think the only reason the jets are keeping nugent on the payroll is because they spent a 2nd round pick on him and it would look bad if they cut a kicker who went so high in the draft
This regime did not draft him, so they could say “adios” like they said to Justin Miller, but Nugent is much younger than Feely – and there is a reason why Feely was available – 32 GMs felt he was at best the 33rd best kicker. Puts Tangini in a tough spot – you activate Nug and cut Feely, they will be second guessed to death if Nug misses a big kick. But, he should not lose his job due to an injury.
he should lose his job because he sucks. Cut Nugent now. No one trades for a kicker. We fix the screw up of drafting him in the 2nd round. If feely doesn’t work we get another one next year. I love not dreading kickoffs anymore.
i’d let him ride the bench until next season and let him and jay feely compete for the job in training camp. the only thing that i would see as a problem is nugent winning the job and then the season rolls around and he can’t get the job done again. he did get drafted in the second round and his college career was pretty good a place kicker but his problem is the pressure in the nfl. getting drafted so high for a kicker is a lot of pressure too. he needs to settle in and just kick like he knows how to.
I’d say roll with Feely, but you can bet your arse that Nugent will be kicking for us come playoff time.
I dont think nugent will be kicking this season. At this point I trust Feely more than I trust Nugent. What if we need a 60yrd FG? Feely will give you a chance to make it. Nugent wont. Besides Feely is a Veteran. He’s been around longer than Nugent.
81 career TBs!!
Feely’s 55 yarder last week was a career best, whereas Nuge kicks 60 yarders in practice all the time. Given the choice, I think Nugent has more chance of making it.
Actually, I think I’d probably just throw the hail mary!
They’ll stick with Feely until he goofs up…so what DannyMazz says is probably true.