STS*: Pat on the Back to Folk’s FG Protectors
Posted by on October 8, 2011 – 1:58 pmUpdated, 5:32 p.m. ET
Nick Folk is off to the fourth-best placekicking start in franchise history. (For the three better starts he’s trying to surpass, see below.) He’s striking the ball well out of Mark Brunell’s hold.
Yet Folk is not one to talk up himself. But who would he like to talk up?
“My offensive line, from my perspective, is doing a great job keeping guys out of the way so we have a clean operation,” Folk told me this week. “And it’s not just offensive guys. Bo’s in there, Mike DeVito — those guys are doing a fantastic job for me, and I can’t thank them enough for doing what they do.”
So we should talk up the field goal protect team? Yes, yes, we should. After all, the placekick protectors are among those groups in football that fans really don’t notice. “But you see the block if it happens,” reminded Sione “Bo” Pouha.
Folk said the time from Tanner Purdum’s snap to his foot into the ball is about 1½ seconds. And Pouha, who’s turned around from D-lineman to O-lineman for this chore, says there are a lot of things a human being can do in 1.5 seconds, “but the 1.5 seconds of kick protection is like an eternity because it’s all sacrificial. You kind of have to give your life for that 1.5 seconds.”
The procedure to prepare for those series of 1.5 seconds of mayhem actually begins the Wednesday before the game when the FG Protect/FG Block teams hold their short meeting with ST coordinator Mike Westhoff and assistant coach Ben Kotwica to go over video, printouts and a game plan just for their small slice of the pie.
If you think that’s overkill, just be thankful each time the Jets line picks up an overload without incident. Keep in mind that the Wednesday meeting before the Sept. 11 season opener against Dallas may have prepared Folk’s protectors so that he could get off his game-winning 50-yard field goal with 27 seconds to play.
“You can take the meetings lightly and not pay attention,” said Moore, “but Mike went over the point that this particular team likes to jump over you at the line. I think they kind of got us a little on our first kick on the right side. So we made an adjustment and got our hands up to keep them from doing it. That was mentioned in the meeting. That was something you’ve got to be in tune with. You’re in that meeting 15-20 minutes and there are some nuggets in there that guys have take and take care of on Sunday.”
Then on Sunday, the process on the field is triggered each time with Purdum’s snap.
“If I’m not mistaken, we got a snap off in 1.19 seconds,” Purdum said. “It actually takes me less time to snap it to Mark than it does for Nick’s kick to occur. I can snap it as fast as you want but the point is to get the laces to Mark just so. The consistency of speed is the real important thing.”
As soon as Tanner makes his move, the opponents cry havoc.
“Matt Slauson and Brandon Moore, they hold me up once I get hit. I kind of go into their legs and just try to get as low as possible,” Purdum said. “It’s just the blink of an eye and I’m either on the ground or pushing against somebody else. It’s less than a breath, it really is.”
“My experience with Bo and Slauson are they’re some good guys to have on your side,” said Matt Mulligan, another member of the unit. “I just enjoy the group of guys we have. They’re just good teammates to have for this job.”
“You gotta hold ‘em,” Pouha said, describing the mentality of surviving the brief period of controlled chaos. “I don’t care if I get pancaked, as long as I disrupt the flow of the rush. If I’m on my back and Nick makes that kick, there you go.”
One placement, Folk reminded in case we forgot, can mean a game.
“They have to be on top of their game with every extra point, every field goal attempt,” said the man with the hot foot. “Every little ounce of effort counts in this game.”
As for Folk’s start, he’s hit his first seven field goal attempts this regular season and takes that streak into New England on Sunday with a chance to catch the players with the three longer streaks in franchise history ahead of him. Pat Leahy hit his first 10 tries in 1986, Jay Feely also converted his first 10 in 2009, and Cary Blanchard made his first nine tries in 1992.
Saturday Transaction
The Jets announced late this afternoon announced that they have signed LB Eddie Jones from their practice squad to their 53-man active roster and have placed LB Bryan Thomas (Achilles) on injured reserve.
*Special Teams Saturday
Tags: Brandon Moore, FG protect, Mark Brunell, Matt Mulligan, Matt Slauson, New England Patriots, Nick Folk, Sione Pouha, Tanner Purdum
Posted in Randy Lange | 21 Comments »
By wayne on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Rest in Peace Al Davis…..Visionary……..He did it HIS way…..Gotta respect that.
By wayne on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Hold your breath on this one. Mangold is coming back early from an injury which usually requires significantly more time than he took to heal……He going up against a whole lota beef. Haynesworth coming back aft being out last 2 games….If Mangold gets thru this without setback, it will be big……Have Revis chase Welker, have Maybin, when not rushing, chase TE…………….Obviously if not getting any consistent rush, Maybin will have one assignment….Nothing that happened the previous 3 games matter when these 2 meet. Stats are out the window….We’ll all know more aft Q1…..It will be fun………Enjoy the contest, celebrate the victory, never sweat the loss. Remember you won’t be suiting up.
By Clarke W. Griswald on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Maybe Westy can take over on offense.
P.S. Fire Schottenheimer yesterday.
By Karan on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Jets have lost too much protection over the last year. Damien woody was released/retired. Ben Hartsock who was pretty darn good blocker was released. Unfortunately, Rob Turner went on IR, he was our best back-up OL. T-Rich is gone even though I think Conner does a good job, still miss the old man at times. Wayne Hunter did a really good job filling in for Woody last year but has been atrocious so far this season. Mulligan is not blocking as well as he should be. Honestly, we need to get more beefed up and get experience at the O-line. Need more tight ends and veteran OL like Seubert. Should have picked up Brian Waters guys! Come on!
By Karan on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Mr. T has been really disappointing this offseason. Woody doesn’t like to spend money. I agree with Clarke W. Griswald, please fire Schottenheimer, its time to stop catering him, 5 years or however the heck long he as been here is long enough, I’m so sick of that man.
By Arte Olde School on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
It’s going to take a little time for our young troops to succeed on the field. We’ve already seen the likes of Joe McNight, Kyle Wilson, and even Mo Wilkerson had a sack/safety in his first game. Don’t fret JetNation.. Look at how old the Patsies got this year. Hayneworthless, Ellis (1 great game last year- really), Waters, Ocho-No-Cho.. All the pressure is on NE.. if they win they’re supposed to. Their regular season @ home record is flawless – they should win. But NOOOOOO! The Jets smell blood. This is like last year’s playoff game. Catch me in December when our young studs are still smoking with speed and stamina come winter time playoff time. I don’t care about last week w/o Nick, if and when we win this, the AFC-E division is ours!!!!
By Ray on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Is it Sanchez’ fault? Yes. Is it Shottenheimers fault? Yes. Is it the O Line? Yes. Is it Mr. T and Rex? Yes. Is it Cro and our thin def backfield? Yes. Is it no pass rush from the DL? Yes. Name any quarterback you can think of (Marino, Brady, Montana, Unitas, Big Ben, Brees, Rodgers, Manning) and if they only get two seconds to make a play they aren’t going to be very good. Sanchez clearly was gun shy by the second half. That doesn’t mean he has helped himself with good decisions and accurate throws. Schotty is not an imaginative or adaptable playcaller, so he doesn’t help Sanchez. And Mr T. and Rex get a D for kidding themselves thinking this team wasn’t dangerously thin at almost every position.
By Ray on Oct 8, 2011 | Reply
Schotty is a masterful playcaller when things are working, but among the worst when they aren’t. He has shown ZERO ability to adapt. In Oakland early on the playaction roll out worked, but after awhile Oakland linemen weren’t even looking at the runner anymore and just headed straight for Sanchez. Yet Schotty continued to call that play again and again. I think after all these years the WR screen fools no one anymore. And he is the MASTER of calling third down plays designed to get one yard LESS than we need for a 1st down.
By Karan on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
We need depth at Tight End, the entire Offensive line and at Safety. Safety depth wouldn’t have been an issue if Dwight Lowery wasn’t traded, still scratching my head over that. And another OLB wouldn’t hurt us, I hear the Jets are still in contact with Tully Banta-Cain.
By SCfromNY on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
Should have tried to pick up Cuury. He was a first round pick for some reason so maybe just needed a change of team.
I hope Shotty learns from mistakes. Perhaps he could be inactive for the game?
By wayne on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
GQ needs to exhibit some PRIDE and POISE today……………………
By Karan on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
When our 3 starting wide receivers are upset with the system of the offensive coordinator, you know somethings gotta change, come on rex! pull the trigger and get rid of Schotty! It’ll be the best decision you ever make, please!
By carl on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
Hey Sanchez, Just Win Baby, Just Win!!! Go Jets!!
By wayne on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
THEY say you have “IT”. We know your line hasn’t been doing its job, but great player with “IT” do special things when things get bleak. SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT GQ.
By mike hymie on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
they arent going to win. they got no momentum
By GaryC on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
SCFROMNY makes a good point about shotty being inactive for game, then again hasn’t he been that all year long.
By Clarke W. Griswald on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
Wow the back cover of the paper says “mutiny” with a picture of Schottenheimer. He lost the faith of the players and is clearly now a cancer to the team. Addition by subtraction.
P.S. Fire Schottenheimer yesterday.
By Karan on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
Don’t worry about GQ wayne, he has “it”. Did you forget the last 2 AFC Championship appearances? Those losses were not his fault btw.
By Jet Fan Tom Since '64 on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
Best news I’ve read in weeks is that the WRs are upset and each met with Rex. It’s not only great that they spoke up, it’s great that they spoke up to Rex and not Schotty. Rex’s inability to coach this whole team has me as concerned as anything else. I’m tired of listening to him, tired of his limited imagination, tired of his coaching-as-PR approach. In the same way we’re not making enough adjustments at the half, Rex isn’t making enough adjustments as a HC 3 yrs in and I don’t see why he doesn’t get that, he seems to have a strangely irresponsible streak. As for Schotty, Occupy Wall Street is a waste of time but Occupy the OC’s Office? Now THAT’S a protest I can get behind! RIP Al Davis, one of the greatest if not the greatest AFL man.
By john on Oct 9, 2011 | Reply
I could not agree more with Tom, jets fan since 64 , I am a jets since 68 , Jets brass just does’nt get it ,start with changing offensive coordinator. The defense needs a break from the same old predictable play calling!
By Jet Fan Tom Since '64 on Oct 10, 2011 | Reply
What a long strange trip it’s been, huh, john? (I remember being shocked in my youth to hear Meredith quote that line on Monday Night Football!)