Hartley used to overcoming adversity

08-16-2011, 08:03 AM

Sheldon Mickles
Advocate Sportswriter

METAIRIE - In just 2-1/2 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, kicker Garrett Hartley has experienced more highs and lows than a 25-year-old could ever imagine.

He’s made game-winning kicks, including one that sent the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV, and has missed kicks that would have won games in the closing seconds.

He’s also the only player in NFL history to boot three field goals of 40 yards or longer in a Super Bowl after making kicks of 46, 44 and 47 yards in a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Because of that, Saints coaches and management view the diminutive Hartley, who has an exceptionally strong right leg, as a valuable asset despite an occasional hiccup.

Aside from leg strength, another thing that sets Hartley apart is how he responds to adversity. Both times the former Oklahoma star missed a game-winner, he’s shaken it off and bounced back with a string of successful kicks.

“It’s really just believing in yourself and your own abilities,” Hartley said of the tough times he’s been through. “As much as you strive to be perfect and want to be perfect, sometimes that’s not the case. And it’s really about how you battle through it.

Full article below.
Highs and lows | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Saint_LB · 08-16-2011, 08:52 AM

Unfortunately, the missed kick last year haunted him/us all year and ultimately cost us a division and home-field advantage. As good as he is, he is in a situation where another miss like that could overshadow so many good kicks that he is expected to make.

dizzle88 · 08-16-2011, 08:57 AM

after the missed kick last season didnt he go perfect all the way to the end of the season? like a string of 17 kicks or something

Maverick2299 · 08-16-2011, 09:29 AM

He is a good Kicker, the miss against Atlanta sucked. But kickers sometime miss easy ones and hard ones....even Adam Vinatieri.

I fell a little bad for kickers because when they mess up...the loss is always on them.

In that Atlanta game Brees had 2 interceptions and Ivory a fumble he lost. But Hartley will always be remembered for why they lost it, because he could have made the (easy) play to win and failed.

Crusader · 08-16-2011, 09:58 AM

I'm so glad we have him. It could have been so much worse. I mean Olindo Mare is still kicking for some other poor team.

alexonfyre · 08-16-2011, 11:32 AM

I think kickers' popular opinions are even more skewed than Quarterbacks. When a quarterback's team screws up, he gets the blame, but at least as a player he is evaluated over a season, or even over a number of games. For a kicker, they could make 39/40 kicks in a season, and if the 1 miss was for a playoff berth or something like that, then everyone is calling for their head, despite the fact that he wouldn't have been in a "must-make" situation without the rest of the team putting him there.
By the same token, a kicker might miss 20% of his kicks, but if he puts one through to get you in the playoffs, he is the hero of the season. It's completely absurd.

crawgator · 08-16-2011, 11:45 AM

As with any kicker they have there up's and down's... It just seems we notice
when they mess up more often then other things... Mostly because they are put in the game at a crucial moment.. Hartley is a good kicker..

homerj07 · 08-16-2011, 12:00 PM

Kickers are on the field so in-often that it magnifies any mistake!!

Srgt. Hulka · 08-16-2011, 12:39 PM

This is my defense of Hartley from back in January when everybody was trashing him. I'm still going to give him some slack.

Originally Posted by Srgt. Hulka

In my opinion, we won a Superbowl last year, in a big part, because of Hartley. He got us into the game with a super high pressure kick in overtime against the Queens. The Saints Scored 6 times in the Superbowl, 3 of those scores belonged to Hartley, and two of them were in the second quarter just to keep us alive in the game. He wasn't 100% this year, but who on our team was? We were 11-5, and I believe, the way we played this year, we were doing good to reach that number. Hartley was 1/2 in our loss against Atlanta (the third game of the season). He did not play in our loss against Arizona. He was 1/1 in our loss against Cleveland. He was 1/1 in our loss against Baltimore. He was 2/2 in our loss against Tampa Bay. Hartley was 3/3 in our loss against Seattle. Overall, he missed one kick in all of the games that we lost this season. Me, I'm going to give the kid some slack.

QBREES9 · 08-16-2011, 10:34 PM

He's our Kicker.

08-16-2011, 08:03 AM	#1
Threaded by papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744 Rating: (0 votes - average) Sheldon Mickles Advocate Sportswriter METAIRIE - In just 2-1/2 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, kicker Garrett Hartley has experienced more highs and lows than a 25-year-old could ever imagine. He’s made game-winning kicks, including one that sent the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV, and has missed kicks that would have won games in the closing seconds. He’s also the only player in NFL history to boot three field goals of 40 yards or longer in a Super Bowl after making kicks of 46, 44 and 47 yards in a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Because of that, Saints coaches and management view the diminutive Hartley, who has an exceptionally strong right leg, as a valuable asset despite an occasional hiccup. Aside from leg strength, another thing that sets Hartley apart is how he responds to adversity. Both times the former Oklahoma star missed a game-winner, he’s shaken it off and bounced back with a string of successful kicks. “It’s really just believing in yourself and your own abilities,” Hartley said of the tough times he’s been through. “As much as you strive to be perfect and want to be perfect, sometimes that’s not the case. And it’s really about how you battle through it. Full article below. Highs and lows \| Saints \| The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA Last edited by papz; 12-24-2011 at 07:46 PM..
Views: 3169

08-16-2011, 08:52 AM	#2
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Unfortunately, the missed kick last year haunted him/us all year and ultimately cost us a division and home-field advantage. As good as he is, he is in a situation where another miss like that could overshadow so many good kicks that he is expected to make.
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894

08-16-2011, 09:29 AM	#4
Maverick2299 100th Post Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: VA Posts: 368	He is a good Kicker, the miss against Atlanta sucked. But kickers sometime miss easy ones and hard ones....even Adam Vinatieri. I fell a little bad for kickers because when they mess up...the loss is always on them. In that Atlanta game Brees had 2 interceptions and Ivory a fumble he lost. But Hartley will always be remembered for why they lost it, because he could have made the (easy) play to win and failed. ALLSAINTS66 likes this.

08-16-2011, 11:32 AM	#6
alexonfyre Site Donor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Black Pearl University Posts: 799	I think kickers' popular opinions are even more skewed than Quarterbacks. When a quarterback's team screws up, he gets the blame, but at least as a player he is evaluated over a season, or even over a number of games. For a kicker, they could make 39/40 kicks in a season, and if the 1 miss was for a playoff berth or something like that, then everyone is calling for their head, despite the fact that he wouldn't have been in a "must-make" situation without the rest of the team putting him there. By the same token, a kicker might miss 20% of his kicks, but if he puts one through to get you in the playoffs, he is the hero of the season. It's completely absurd. ALLSAINTS66 likes this.

08-16-2011, 12:39 PM	#9
Srgt. Hulka 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 4,417	This is my defense of Hartley from back in January when everybody was trashing him. I'm still going to give him some slack. Originally Posted by Srgt. Hulka In my opinion, we won a Superbowl last year, in a big part, because of Hartley. He got us into the game with a super high pressure kick in overtime against the Queens. The Saints Scored 6 times in the Superbowl, 3 of those scores belonged to Hartley, and two of them were in the second quarter just to keep us alive in the game. He wasn't 100% this year, but who on our team was? We were 11-5, and I believe, the way we played this year, we were doing good to reach that number. Hartley was 1/2 in our loss against Atlanta (the third game of the season). He did not play in our loss against Arizona. He was 1/1 in our loss against Cleveland. He was 1/1 in our loss against Baltimore. He was 2/2 in our loss against Tampa Bay. Hartley was 3/3 in our loss against Seattle. Overall, he missed one kick in all of the games that we lost this season. Me, I'm going to give the kid some slack. Crusader and ALLSAINTS66 like this.

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08-16-2011, 08:57 AM	#3
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,208	after the missed kick last season didnt he go perfect all the way to the end of the season? like a string of 17 kicks or something

08-16-2011, 09:58 AM	#5
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	I'm so glad we have him. It could have been so much worse. I mean Olindo Mare is still kicking for some other poor team.

08-16-2011, 11:45 AM	#7
crawgator 100th Post Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ridgecrest, Ca Posts: 187 Blog Entries: 1	As with any kicker they have there up's and down's... It just seems we notice when they mess up more often then other things... Mostly because they are put in the game at a crucial moment.. Hartley is a good kicker..

08-16-2011, 12:00 PM	#8
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Kickers are on the field so in-often that it magnifies any mistake!!

08-16-2011, 10:34 PM	#10
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	He's our Kicker.