A nice article from the AP:
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Jets look for rookie kicker Mike Nugent to strengthen special teams play
ANDREA ADELSON
AP Sports Writer
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Jets rookie kicker Mike Nugent knows how to kick in front of screaming fans, in the cold, with winds swirling and the game on the line. The All-American from Ohio State made plenty of winning boots while with the Buckeyes. Now the question is whether he can he do the same in the pros, especially with the scrutiny that will follow him no matter what he does after going in the second round of the draft.
Special teams coach Mike Westhoff is sure Nugent is prepared for the NFL. Though the Meadowlands notoriously is a difficult place to kick because of tricky winds in the end zones, Westhoff pointed to the games Nugent played at Ohio State.
"I'm going to put him in every pressure packed situation I can," Westhoff said on the second day of minicamp Saturday. "I believe he's done that his whole career. He's been in big, big games at Ohio State. He's had to perform, up north, outdoors under those conditions. That is close as possible to emulate what we're going to do."
Nugent has never been to the Meadowlands, but has heard about the difficult conditions. He also has been kicking with an NFL football since January, working out on his own at Ohio State to get himself prepared.
The Jets targeted Nugent months before the draft, hoping he would be available to replace Doug Brien, who missed two field goals in the final two minutes of regulation of a 20-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh in the playoffs. When the second round began, the Jets heard the Minnesota Vikings also were interested in the kicker.
With two picks in the round, the Jets decided to use their first one, No. 47 overall, on Nugent. His resume speaks for itself. Nugent holds or shares 22 Ohio State records and became the first kicker in school history to earn team Most Valuable Player honors during his senior season.
"There were a lot of teams after the draft, a lot of head coaches called me and told me that, 'We were going to take him if you didn't pull the trigger,'" coach Herman Edwards said. "That kind of makes you understand how the league felt about this guy. Hopefully he can live up to that."
Nugent said he has no superstitions just before he gets ready to make a kick, which could be a welcome change for the Jets — Brien went through a long mental checklist before each kick. Against the Giants two years ago, the Jets missed a chance to win the game in overtime because Brien wasn't ready for the snap.
"I'm not one of those people who can't talk to anyone right before a field goal," Nugent said. "I try to keep it casual and have a good time while I'm doing it."
He already has been challenged in his first two days of minicamp. On Friday, Westhoff had him kick a 43-yarder right away. Though he missed, he settled down and made four of his next five. On Saturday, he made all six of his attempts from between 40-45 yards.
Aside from Nugent, Westhoff got two other players he coveted in the draft: his No. 1-rated return man, Justin Miller, and his No. 1-rated special teamer, Andre Maddox.
Miller caught Westhoff's eye with his performances against Florida State and Miami last season. Against the Seminoles, Miller returned six kickoffs for an NCAA-record 282 yards and two touchdowns. He will return kickoffs and punts for the Jets, who struggled in both departments last season.
At punter, veteran Micah Knorr and Australian Rules Football player Ben Graham are vying for a job. Graham held on kicks Friday for the first time in his career, and Westhoff said he has a realistic shot at sticking with the team.
Nugent definitely is making the team, and is ready for whatever criticism may come his way.
"You're only as good as your next kick," he said. "If you miss three in a row you're only as good as the next one. You have to be able to throw those last ones out and be able to do your best one the next one." </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
