Mike Vrabel is not making a change at kicker, and that is the right call. On Sunday, a 24-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins went to the Patriots, yet Andy Borregales failed to convert a critical 40-yard field goal attempt during the second quarter. It was his third miss from inside 50 yards this season. The coach could have cut him loose. He chose to stand by his man instead. That takes guts. It also shows Vrabel knows the difference between a bad day and a broken player.
Through eight games, Borregales has successfully made 10-of-13 field goals and 20-of-21 extra points. According to Yahoo Sports , his 76.9% field goal percentage places him 23rd among 32 qualified kickers. That is below the league average of 83.3%. The problem is not his leg strength. He hit a 50-yarder this year and nailed a 52-yard game-winner last October. The issue is consistency from the 40-to-49-yard range. He has gone just 3-for-5 there this season. That is a small sample size, but it is enough to make fans nervous. The coach sees something different.
When asked about the miss, Vrabel did not panic. He told reporters on Monday that the timing and approach just need to be in rhythm. "It doesn't seem like he has (missed important kicks). I mean, he has, and that needs to get corrected," said Vrabel. He added, "I've got a lot of confidence in Andy. I think when you see the timing and when the approach is in rhythm, it looks really good." The coach praised the kickoff placement too. He wants Borregales to hit extra points so the team does not have to rely on long field goals. That is a fair goal. He is still young. The team has not brought in competition since training camp last year. Per Pats Pulpit , Vrabel noted that everyone has a job to do, but he believes in his kicker.
Other teams would have fired a kicker after three short misses. The Los Angeles Rams cut Harrison Mevis after a shaky primetime game. The Kansas City Chiefs even signed Justin Tucker to the practice squad recently. But New England is not Kansas City. They are building something steady under Vrabel. The rain in Miami was heavy, but Vrabel said the field was good. "Rain came and went. We were okay, you know what I mean?" he told reporters. He refused to use the weather as an excuse. That is the standard. The kicker must make the shot. Borregales has the talent. He just needs to fix the timing. The next game is Sunday, Nov. 8 against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium. If the rhythm comes back, the Patriots will score more points. If it does not, the conversation will change fast. For now, the coach says the job is safe. That is a bold move, but it fits the team's new culture.
