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Web Posted: 12/02/2009 12:00 CST
Cowboys' Folk looks to give slump the boot
READcomments (1) SHARON ELLMAN/Associated PressCowboys punter Mat McBriar holds the ball for kicker Nick Folk to score the extra point after a touchdown against Washington on Nov. 22. The extra point was the difference in the Cowboys 7-6 win over the Commanders.
0 By Tom Orsborn - Express-News With its unforgiving, swirling winds, Giants Stadium can wreak havoc on slumping kickers like the Dallas Cowboys' Nick Folk.
But coach Wade Phillips is confident Folk will get the job done if asked to make a clutch kick in Sunday's NFC East showdown with the New York Giants.
“He hasn't missed what you would call a clutch kick yet,” Phillips said. “That's where he's always been strong. We just haven't had those games this year, where it's in the fourth quarter and he's got to make it, and I think he will.”
A third-year player from Arizona, Folk missed 7 of 53 attempts his first two seasons.
Through 11 games this season, he has missed 6 of 21.
Folk has missed four of his last eight attempts and has at least one miss in each of the last three games. But Phillips said he's not worried.
“A guy that has a strong mind-set like he does will improve and keep working and won't go into a slump where he's really kicking it bad,” Phillips said.
Offseason hip surgery prevented Folk from doing much kicking until the start of training camp, but he isn't using it as an excuse.
“Physically, I'm fine,” Folk said.
He also isn't blaming new holder Mat McBriar, although McBriar said poor holds caused two misses.
“I don't want to put blame on anyone else,” Folk said. “I just have to get it right ... and make a good playoff run.”
Phillips is confident Folk will regain the form from his first two seasons. Folk went to the Pro Bowl after making 26 of 31 attempts in 2007. Last season, he made 20 of 22.
“He's not kicking it bad,” Phillips said. “He's had some 40-yard kicks. You're not going to have the highest percentage on those.”
Indeed, Folk's last two misses were from 49 and 46 yards. He's 4 of 9 from the 40-49 range this season after hitting 17 of 18 from that distance his first two seasons.
“If you get shorter opportunities, it helps your confidence,” Phillips said.
Folk has attempted only one field goal at Giants Stadium, a 44-yarder he made in a 31-20 win in November 2007.
“Giants Stadium is hard to kick in,” Phillips said. “Nick made a 40-something-yarder that not many people make there.”
The National Weather Service predicts it will be mostly sunny with a high near 44 degrees Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
There have been some notable performances by Cowboys kickers at Giants Stadium this decade.
Billy Cundiff tied a then-NFL record with seven field goals, including the winner in overtime, in a 35-32 early-season win over the Giants in 2003.
Three years later, Martin Gramatica kicked a 46-yard field goal with a second left to give Dallas a 23-20 win over the Giants in early December.
Cowboys' Folk looks to give slump the boot
READcomments (1) SHARON ELLMAN/Associated PressCowboys punter Mat McBriar holds the ball for kicker Nick Folk to score the extra point after a touchdown against Washington on Nov. 22. The extra point was the difference in the Cowboys 7-6 win over the Commanders.
0 By Tom Orsborn - Express-News With its unforgiving, swirling winds, Giants Stadium can wreak havoc on slumping kickers like the Dallas Cowboys' Nick Folk.
But coach Wade Phillips is confident Folk will get the job done if asked to make a clutch kick in Sunday's NFC East showdown with the New York Giants.
“He hasn't missed what you would call a clutch kick yet,” Phillips said. “That's where he's always been strong. We just haven't had those games this year, where it's in the fourth quarter and he's got to make it, and I think he will.”
A third-year player from Arizona, Folk missed 7 of 53 attempts his first two seasons.
Through 11 games this season, he has missed 6 of 21.
Folk has missed four of his last eight attempts and has at least one miss in each of the last three games. But Phillips said he's not worried.
“A guy that has a strong mind-set like he does will improve and keep working and won't go into a slump where he's really kicking it bad,” Phillips said.
Offseason hip surgery prevented Folk from doing much kicking until the start of training camp, but he isn't using it as an excuse.
“Physically, I'm fine,” Folk said.
He also isn't blaming new holder Mat McBriar, although McBriar said poor holds caused two misses.
“I don't want to put blame on anyone else,” Folk said. “I just have to get it right ... and make a good playoff run.”
Phillips is confident Folk will regain the form from his first two seasons. Folk went to the Pro Bowl after making 26 of 31 attempts in 2007. Last season, he made 20 of 22.
“He's not kicking it bad,” Phillips said. “He's had some 40-yard kicks. You're not going to have the highest percentage on those.”
Indeed, Folk's last two misses were from 49 and 46 yards. He's 4 of 9 from the 40-49 range this season after hitting 17 of 18 from that distance his first two seasons.
“If you get shorter opportunities, it helps your confidence,” Phillips said.
Folk has attempted only one field goal at Giants Stadium, a 44-yarder he made in a 31-20 win in November 2007.
“Giants Stadium is hard to kick in,” Phillips said. “Nick made a 40-something-yarder that not many people make there.”
The National Weather Service predicts it will be mostly sunny with a high near 44 degrees Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
There have been some notable performances by Cowboys kickers at Giants Stadium this decade.
Billy Cundiff tied a then-NFL record with seven field goals, including the winner in overtime, in a 35-32 early-season win over the Giants in 2003.
Three years later, Martin Gramatica kicked a 46-yard field goal with a second left to give Dallas a 23-20 win over the Giants in early December.