Rosas embraces pressure of being lone kicker in camp
EAST RUTHERFORD » There is no one physically within the Quest Diagnostics Training Center able to take Aldrick Rosas’ spot as the Giants’ placekicker this summer. But no one needs to remind Rosas that his job is far from secure.
Those who occupy the position are traditionally viewed as expendable, and turnover is rampant. Nineteen of the other 31 NFL teams have only one kicker on their 90-man roster in training camp. There are 45 kickers in the league, which means close to a dozen could be cut by the end of the preseason and join the freeagent pool.
So if the 22-year-old Rosas fails to produce this month, the Giants will have plenty of options.
“The way I look at it is there is a lot of competitions going around with other teams,” Rosas said. “So every day it’s not just me kicking by myself out here. I’m looking constantly with every team, every competition keeping up with everybody. At the end of the day, I’m competing against 32 teams, 32 other spots.”
Rosas originally signed on with the Titans last year as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Oregon University. Tennessee cut him after its fourth preseason game in 2016, but in that scenario, Rosas was only an insurance policy and never actually kicked in a game.
Reportedly attracted to Rosas’ powerful leg, Jerry Reese and Giants brass signed Rosas to a reserve/ future contract in January, and he impressed throughout the offseason.
During the Giants’ third practice Sunday, Rosas saw his first live field goal action of camp and unofficially booted 4-of-4 attempts. The last one appeared to barely hook inside the right upright from about 44 yards out.
“I’ve been anxious to get out there. Today I thought went really well,” Rosas said. “The special times that I do get to go out there on the field I embrace it, I love it. I love the fans. At the end of the day I want to do my job and help this team win a Super Bowl.”
Kicking in front of several hundred fans with loudspeakers is one thing. Being successful in an actual game — the Giants begin the preseason Aug. 11 at home against the Steelers — is another.
“Put 80,000 people in the stands and watch him kick. That’s the best way to put pressure on him,” head coach Ben McAdoo said. “It’s a great environment out here. Our fans are tremendous, they’re out there and they’re yelling some things at him, too. That helps put the pressure on him, so we do appreciate that. But there’s nothing like kicking in games, even in preseason games.”
Although Rosas hasn’t kicked in a game since college more than two years ago, he says his make-up will simplify that moment when it finally comes again. He embraces pressure situations.
“It’s just how everything slows down in a way,” Rosas said. “I’m out there and it’s easier in the game because in the game I just see the line and I see my holder, my snapper and everything slows down for me. It’s easier.”
Veteran Robbie Gould, the Giants’ kicker last season, signed a two-year deal with the 49ers in March. Now Rosas has a chance to be the future at a position where the Giants have had only two other regulars over the last decade.
“Working with Coach (Tom) Quinn and the special teams guys, it’s a process,” he said. “I feel like I have the leg to kick any type of kick they want me to kick — if they need it short, if they need it out the back. I can do it all. So at the end of the day whatever they need me to do I’m going to go out there and perform to the best of my ability.”