The Patriots are holding all choices on the desk as they determine their kicker competitors for the 2023 season.
Rookie fourth-round choose Chad Ryland is in a heated battle with veteran Nick Folk. Ryland, 23, has the larger leg and extra potential, whereas Folk, 38, has remained a gradual and constant presence. The Patriots kicked only one subject purpose in the course of the preseason, a 44-yarder knocked via by Folk. Both Folk and Ryland every made two further factors.
“Very competitive,” head coach Bill Belichick stated Saturday morning on a video convention name earlier than incorrectly stating that the Patriots didn’t kick a subject purpose in the course of the preseason. “We’ve had plenty of them in practice, and that’s what we have to go off of. They’ve both had really good camps, so that’s a pretty tight competition. Same thing with the punter situation; Corliss [Waitman] had two huge punts last night, one out of the end zone, so we’ll see how that goes. It looks like we’ve got a very good competition at both of those spots.”
Belichick stated that “generally speaking,” the Patriots would kick extra subject targets in the course of the course of three video games, however “it didn’t (work out), so it is what it is. Nothing we can do about that.”
The special-teams-minded head coach did entertain the chance that the Patriots may maintain each kickers on their 53-man roster.
“Yeah, we had two kickers last year on the roster for one game,” Belichick stated. “Again, there’s a number of things to consider when you look at the whole roster makeup. We’ll get into those this weekend and do what we feel is best for the team. That’s all I can tell you.”
Folk, who’s been with the Patriots since 2019, wouldn’t must clear waivers since he’s a vested veteran. That means the Patriots may minimize him after which carry him again to their 53-man roster (after inserting one other participant on injured reserve) or apply squad. But a group just like the Dallas Cowboys, who’ve had kicking points this summer time, may scoop him up when accessible. Folk was initially drafted by the Cowboys within the sixth spherical of the 2007 NFL Draft.
The Patriots have already got tough choices to make in trimming their roster to 53 gamers. Rostering two kickers would trigger much more complications however doubtlessly give Belichick peace of thoughts with insurance coverage at a key place.
As Belichick famous, the Patriots additionally should determine whether or not to maintain Waitman or rookie Bryce Baringer at punter.
Source: www.bostonherald.com