Robbie Gould unexpectedly put up 142 points last season.

1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE
Adam who? Last year Gostkowski was a risky pick. Coming from Memphis College, the rookie faced a lower tee and a different ball in the pros which can produce erratic results. However, a good year that culminated in Gostkowski hitting all eight of his playoff attempts keeps Coach Belichick relaxed, or at least as relaxed as Bill ever is. Combining the season with the playoffs, Gostkowski made 22 of 26 from inside the 40 yard line and six for eight beyond.

The Patriots once again have one of the most difficult schedules that places an even greater reliance on the kicker. Expect Gostkowski to be used more often and produce Vinatieri like numbers.

2. Robbie Gould, CHI
Gould was the kicking surprise as he led all kickers with 142 points in 2006. The Bears started very strong and Gould was a major part of it. He scored 93 points I the first half of the season. The second half was more pedestrian as Gould kicked more than one field goal only once in the last six games and had one attempt in four of the last five.  

The Bears’ schedule can be seen from two perspectives. On one hand, with two games against each of their weak division mates, the Bears should be in each game. On the other hand, the Bears play in windy, wintery Chicago.

3. Josh Scobee, JAC
Don’t be worried when you realize the Jaguars signed Aaron Elling to compete for the kicking job prior to summer practices. The Jags did not sign Scobee to a five year contract with a three million dollar bonus this past February just to release him. Scobee has been improving during the past two years. He hit 14-of-18 from over forty yards in 2006 and scored 119 points as one of the most underrated kickers.

Hopefully the Jaguar offense will be more productive. This may make Scobee one you watch for match ups. A kicker can’t score when their offense does not enter enemy territory. 

4. Mike Nugent, NYJ
Nugent may only have scored 106 points but it wasn’t the second year player’s fault. After a disastrous first game where Nugent missed two mid-range field goals and an extra point, Nugent missed only one field goal and np extra points the rest of the year. That single miss was from 52 yards away.

The Jets are improving and Nugent could easily be a top ten kicker. Probably his biggest stumbling block is the weather. Playing half his games in the swirling winds of New Jersey, Nugent only kicks in two warm weather sites (Dallas and Miami) in back to back weeks.

5. Mason Crosby, GB
Okay, he is a rookie. If he plays, he has to be on the rise. Crosby has a powerful leg. While Crosby’s statistics may look poor, with nine misses in 28 field goal attempts, until you realize seven of his failures were from 50 yards or more. Crosby was a perfect five-of-five from 40-49 and his longest score was from 56 yards away. In college at Colorado, Crosby kicked field goals of 70 yards or more in practice.

Crosby was a sixth round pick and he signed a multi-year contract with the Packers. If only for that reason, Crosby will beat out Dave Rayner for the job. Time will tell if the cold winds of Lambeau field reduce his range. Maybe he only will hit for 60 yards. 

Biggest Sleeper

None
Kickers are by definition streaky, so even if a street free agent led the league in scoring… would it really be all that surprising?

Biggest Bust

Mike Vanderjagt, FA
Perhaps it is the stadium, perhaps it is the team, perhaps it is his age (37),  perhaps it is the memory of that fatal miss two years ago, but Vanderjagt is not the same player he was with the Colts. That is why the Cowboys turned to Martin Gramatica. Vanderjagt may catch on with a team soon but don’t let it be yours. At his age, his leg will continue to lose its power and accuracy.