There has been a lot of talk about the struggles of Stephen Gostkowski lately. He is currently 9 out of 12 on field goals, and 16 for 17 on extra points. For comparisons sake: he missed a total of 5 kicks over the course of 2014-2015, combined (35/37 and 33/36, respectively, on FGs. 103/103 combined XPs).

During Sunday's pregame on CSNNE, Patriots reporter Mike Giardi and radio host Micheal Felger were discussing the kicker's difficulties. Giardi made the point that the Patriots' kicker absolutely does not like the new field surface.

Apparently there was a new thicker, somewhat "slicker" surface that was installed this year. The soccer players "love it" according to Giardi, but Gost and other Patriots do not. I can't find the specific clip (it doesn't seem to be on their site), but I did find a clip from later on when former Patriots center Dan Koppen is referencing back to Gostkowski needing to get "comfortable with this surface...Giardi reported it..." (2:00). The way Koppen talks about it tells me that it was new information to him (watch and judge for yourself)

That, alone, would not to be enough to convince me that the field is actually that large of a concern, but then Patriots beat writer Tom E. Curran was on WEEI during the mid-days show doing an interview, and interrupted himself to mention "...they have taken a crap load of pellets off..." (8:50 "I'm gonna interject here too...") as the grounds crew was, quite literally, doing this within his view. Ignore Fauria's insanity, there is good information to me, and confirms what Giardi reported.

Apparently Giardi was 100% correct. It seems too convenient for this to be coincidence.

It will be worth watching, to see if Gostkowski suddenly feels more comfortable and starts drilling kicks again.