For the Patriots' first preseason game of the year, the focus was expected to be heavily on offense and defense, for obvious reasons, with special teams taking a backseat. Because the group is typically not very deep, there aren't any real battles to watch like at other positions.
But it quickly became apparent that it was something to pay attention to, mostly because kicker Andy Borregales struggled throughout the night after having a solid training camp so far.
What appeared to be a strength this summer became his weak spot again, as Borregales missed three field goals from 49, 52, and 56 yards out. Had he made just one, the Patriots would have avoided a tie with the Colts and gone into their next game against the Eagles with a win under their belt.
Instead, the second-year specialist is now dealing with an uncertain future, despite not having any competition on the roster right now, but Mike Vrabel noted after the game that there is a chance they will bring in some kickers over the next few weeks.
It was a straightforward message sent to Borregales that he cannot afford to ignore.
Mike Vrabel didn't mince words with his response to Andy Borregales's preseason struggles
In the immediate aftermath of the game, reporters asked the head coach if he had a message for his kicker after a down night.
Vrabel was candid in his response, making it crystal clear that there's no real excuse for missing three field goals, especially when he was pretty consistent with long kicks last season, making all four 50+ yard kicks, and he even noted how the Colts had strong kicks all night from both of their players.
“I don’t have a message [for him]. ... We’re expected to make them. That’s pro football. [The Colts] were banging them in from 60 yards and have two kickers on the roster. He knows he has to make those.”
Clearly, Vrabel wasn't pleased with his performance, and it would be fair to say that Borregales wasn't, either.
That prompted reporters to ask Vrabel about bringing in some competition over the next few weeks, which the Patriots had done earlier in the offseason but didn't sign anyone. He didn't shut down the idea, but still expressed some optimism that Borregales will bounce back from his poor performance.
“I’m sure we’ll talk about it and see where we’re at. I’m not going to make any decision tonight. But again, we’re going to have misses. We’re going to have mistakes. In everything we do, we just need to be able to come back.”
Because he has been a standout at training camp so far, his performance was a bit shocking, prompting many to wonder whether the long snapper they recently signed, Niko Lalos, might have had a rough night, which contributed to Borregales' struggles.
When the kicker worked with Julian Ashby, last season's long snapper, there didn't appear to be any problems. Whether his absence factored into Borregales' night is hard to say with any certainty, but it's something to consider when looking for answers.
No matter what, he needs to step up and prove he can be a reliable option for the Patriots on game day, because his misses can be the difference between a win and a loss in a winnable game, and they're not in a position to take that risk.
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