Ed Sheeran sings that his dangerous habits result in late nights ending alone and that he has nothing left to lose.
Greg Zuerlein’s “dangerous habits” led to the Jets and one thing to win.
After biking by means of 11 kickers over the previous three seasons — together with a outstanding seven in regular-season video games — the Jets signed Zuerlein to a one-year, $2.75 million contract in March. For the primary time in an 11-year profession beforehand spent with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys, Zuerlein is altering particular groups coordinators and studying beneath Brant Boyer as an alternative of John Fassel.
“After I first began completely different groups, Coach Boyer known as and I appreciated every little thing he was about,” Zuerlein informed The Put up. “From the skin, I knew the Jets’ particular groups have been actually good beneath him and that was interesting. He and Coach Fassel are comparable in the best way they each go about teaching guys in what is anticipated of them. I’ve been very impressed with what he’s educating and the way he handles kickers to date.”
The Jets’ particular groups have positioned within the high 13 within the NFL in Rick Gosselin’s industry-standard rankings thrice up to now 4 years (together with No. 1 in 2018), however kicking has been the weak hyperlink since Jason Myers left in free company earlier than the 2019 season. Signing Zuerlein appeared like a easy resolution … however not so quick.
The Jets had been trustworthy with the 34-year-old Zuerlein about their intention to additionally re-sign Eddy Pineiro — the transactions got here two days aside — and create a real place battle between two veterans, not like a 12 months in the past when Sam Ficken, Matt Ammendola and Chris Naggar (none of them on NFL rosters at present) had been up for the job.
Boyer mentioned the competitors was “neck and neck” with no “front-runner” by means of organized workforce actions. Pineiro transformed all eight of his area targets for the Jets late final season.
“It doesn’t matter who else is in camp: You're competing towards all different kickers within the league, all different kickers not within the league and most significantly towards your self,” Zuerlein mentioned. “You're all the time simply making an attempt to be the most effective model of your self. This spring is all about bettering. I really feel like I've rather a lot to show.”
Since he was named First Staff All-Professional in 2017 and kicked the Rams into the Tremendous Bowl on the finish of the 2018 season, Zuerlein has endured three inconsistent seasons and a second again surgical procedure.
“I haven’t been my finest for one purpose or one other, however these are all simply excuses,” Zuerlein mentioned. “I do know I could be a lot higher than what I’ve proven just lately.”
Nicknamed “Greg the Leg” for vary that included a 61-yarder in 2015, Zuerlein made 83.5 p.c of his area targets from 2012-18. He slipped to 79.8 p.c from 2019-21, prompting his launch from the Cowboys in March.
“Zuerlein suits proper into our room and has accomplished a improbable job to date,” Boyer mentioned. “I believe his again is okay. I don’t see any points that he’s had since he’s been right here. He’s accomplished every little thing I requested him to do.”
Actuality is that again surgical procedures in 2018 and 2021 performed a significant position in Zuerlein’s downturn.
“You get into dangerous habits kicking by means of ache as a result of for those who kick such as you usually do it’s going to harm, so you discover different methods to make the kicks,” Zuerlein mentioned. “I needed to have pictures to have the ability to play after I obtained harm mid-year [in 2020] and had two practices earlier than the primary recreation final 12 months. I really feel nice proper now. I’m making an attempt to get again to being my regular self, swinging with confidence and placing them by means of the pipes.”
That’s trickier within the Northeast than outdoor in Los Angeles or indoors in St. Louis or Arlington, Texas. Besides, as Boyer was nicely conscious, Zuerlein arrives with the consolation of getting gone 13-for-13 on area targets and 7-for-9 on PATs in his profession at MetLife Stadium.
“It’s all the time windy out right here,” Zuerlein mentioned from the follow area. “That’s the very first thing I observed. It’s not going to be preferrred on daily basis out right here and you'll most likely miss some kicks. Having this problem, I believe, will assistance on Sundays.”
If he wins the job.
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