Taylor Bertolet points to one big reason why he will kick better this week than last week: practice.
The Jets kicker had just three practices with the team before taking the field last week in Atlanta, where he missed two extra points. Now, he has had two weeks working with holder Lachlan Edwards and long snapper Thomas Hennessy as he takes the field Saturday against the Saints, kicking for his job.
“I feel a lot better just getting more work,” Bertolet said. “We only had 12 field goals last week before we went into the game. I was here last year, so I got a lot of work and a lot of reps, but you have to get back into the groove of it. I had a great week of practice. I feel a lot more comfortable.”
Bertolet was with the Jets in training camp last year, but was cut before the season. This year, he is hoping to stick, but the Jets could be in the market for another kicker as teams cut down their rosters over the next week. Bertolet said he is not feeling any more pressure than he usually does.
“Our job is pressure. I’ve been in this position before,” Bertolet said. “I’ve had tough games in my career. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time but every single time I’ve bounced back and I’ve had a good game.”
Coach Adam Gase said he likes what he has seen from Bertolet this week in practice. Now, he has to do it under the lights.
“I think just keep doing what he’s been doing at practice,” Gase said when asked what he needs to see from Bertolet on Saturday. “He’s been consistent as far as how he’s been kicking the ball. When we get in the game just do the same thing.”
The Jets will be without starting tight end Chris Herndon for the first four games as he serves a suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. It looks like Ryan Griffin will get the majority of the snaps with Herndon out. Griffin was a late addition, just before training camp, but the Gase likes what he has seen from the former Texan.
“That’s been a great pickup for us,” coach Adam Gase said. “When him and Chris are in their together, you have two guys that can do everything. He can do all three phases you need a tight end to do. He has experience and he knows how to get open. He’s been a big, big part of what we’ve been doing in practice and we’ll just keep getting him reps and kind of see how it works out during the season.”