Have The Jets Finally Found A Kicker?
In the 2018 season, Jason Myers was probably the Jets offensive MVP. His production at his position earned him a Pro Bowl invite.
Myers was Gang Green’s placekicker.
That offseason, Mike Maccagnan made the executive decision not to outbid Seattle for Myers’ services in free agency, which is one of many reasons why Maccagnan is no longer the Jets top football executive.
Ever since, while Myers has continued to thrive in his new home, going 24-for-24 on his field goal attempts last season, New York has had a cavalcade of kickers going in-and-out of Florham Park, none of whom have earned the organization’s trust. Since the team has had so many other more pressing deficiencies in this stench—I mean stretch—this circus has often flown under the radar.
After veteran Chandler Catanzaro was signed in March 2019--and retired in August, new general manager Joe Douglas reportedly was on the lookout for a young kicker to develop. Unfortunately, the best he could come up with was Sam Ficken, who, after two mediocre seasons, somehow was invited back to training camp—only to be unceremoniously released after one week, beaten out by Chris Naggar.
It turned out that Naggar couldn’t cut it either and he was waived after the first preseason game versus the Giants during which he didn’t come close on a 53-yard field goal try.
Enter Matt Ammendola, the undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State who failed to even latch onto an NFL team last season. However, the strong-legged kicker bought himself another week with Gang Green thanks to a perfect performance in the Jets 23-14 victory in Green Bay on Saturday, nailing three field goals, including a 54-yarder to open the scoring with at least a half-dozen yards to spare.
My guiding principle with regard to anything that happens in the NFL preseason is “What you see here, stays here.” Nothing, including another strong showing from Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson (9-for-11, 128 yards and 2 touchdowns), carries over into games that matter. Browning Nagle, anyone?
But maybe it’s different with kickers? I mean, would it have made any difference if the 32 players the Packers opted not to dress, including virtually all of their starters, actually played? It’s not like Ammendola was facing “vanilla schemes” like offenses and defenses do in the preseason. It’s always just the kicker versus the goal posts, no matter the season or venue.
Ammendola won Saturday’s battle, also pushing three of his six kickoffs into the end zone, though I’m curious if he was told to keep a few in play to give the coverage team some live reps.
Of course, consistency is what makes a kicker, so one strong preseason outing doesn’t cement anything for Ammendola. He’ll have to come back on Friday and do it again when the Eagles come to MetLife Stadium for the final preseason affair, and then every week thereafter when the pressure of regular season games mount.
Still, if you REALLY need to take something encouraging to come out of an otherwise meaningless event, after the doom and gloom from the season-ending Achilles rupture suffered by marquee free agent edge rusher Carl Lawson during the joint practice sessions with Green Bay in advance of the game, then maybe Ammendola’s potential will help you kickstart your week.
NewYorkJets.com