New England Patriots: 5 observations from Week 14 loss to Dolphins

Onside Kick, or?

Let’s address Monday night’s onside kick. It was terrible. For a team that’s known to practice rare situations more than anyone, this was shocking.

It looked like Gostkowski was told to close his eyes and walk in a straight line. It just so happens the ball found its way into his path. The ball traveled about 8 yards and was recovered by the Dolphins.

It’s more likely to become an internet meme than end up on SportsCenter. It probably already has. The internet works fast, my friends.

I’m not a coach, but I prefer the strangely bouncing, 10 yard traveling onside kick to the 8 yard rolling onside kick.

My best guess is that they were trying to draw the Dolphins in to touch the football and then they’d jump on it. Unfortunately it didn’t play out like that.

Oh well. Onside kicks are low-percentage plays but this one seemed like an even lower percentage play. Maybe there’s something I don’t know.

Overall, this simply looked like a poor effort. Normally when a kicker kicks one up the middle he chases it himself. SG3 kinda just stood there and watched the play develop.

Again, I’m no coach. But if next week’s game comes down to an onside kick, I would be much more comfortable with a different play call.