Pat McAfee missed a chip shot field goal last week that could have given WVU a chance to win. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that the 'Eers needed his leg to help secure a win. Now many can argue that there are many reasons WVU did not win last week and they would be correct. However, one of those reasons is that Pat McAfee choked... again. The most troublesome aspect of McAfee missing the field goal last Thursday was his reaction. He was clearly surprised after the kick wasn't successful. He thought he had hit it good. My take on this is that if you are kicking from <30 yards out and the hold is good and you think you hit it good, and you miss, then you weren't focused. Good teams rely on their kickers to come in when they are needed at the end of games and be clutch performers, not nonchalant additions to the squad.
Now McAfee has talked to the press about his performance last week. He is obviously disappointed in himself for letting down his teammates. He also says that he is getting hate mail on his Facebook account, though fans aren't going as far to vandalize his car like last December. He refers to the hate-mailers as "idiots" that he'd like to meet in person. Well Pat, personally, I'd like you to spend less time on your facebook account reading hate mail and more time practicing your mental approach to kicking field goals. There is no doubt that McAfee is a tremendous talent as a kicker and a punter. (He still holds the record at Heinz field if I'm not mistaken.) Unfortunately, that just doesn't cut it. Ask Mike Vanderjagt how quickly your talent is forgotten when you can't seem to make the clutch kicks. McAfee says he's replayed the missed kick last week 5,000 time in his head. Maybe if he had envisioned the kick 5,000 times before the game, he wouldn't have had to replay it at all.
Weezie
2 comments:
I guess I agree and I disagree. I believe that Pat needs to put the game behind him. However, I do think the hate-mailers are idiots. Pat is going to have a great season and will be one of the most prolific kickers in WVU history. He has made some huge kicks in his career. He missed some huge kicks. Such is the life of a kicker. One is either the goat or the hero. Being the goat is a lot less fun. Anyway, I too wish for him to regain some perspective and hit what will be 8 extra points against MU.
All in my humble opinion,
DaGeek
The people who took the time to find McAfee on Facebook and hate mail him may be idiots. However, the criticism is well founded. McAfee's lackadaisical mental approach to kicking has already been a contributing factor in the departure of one WVU head football coach and now is a contributing factor to the irate feelings that fans are piling on Stewart. McAfee's prolificness is only evident in games that haven't been close, and that is no measure of prolificacy at all.
(note: Though the criticism of Stewart is certainly not related to McAfee's failure, the temperature of the hot water that Stewart has found himself in would not be nearly as high had McAfee made that kick last week combined w/ WVU finding a way to win in multiple overtimes.)
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