BY ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO, Mass. -- After going just 6-for-9 on field goals at practice one day last week -- and then missing a 33-yard field goal against Tennessee last Friday when he also booted a kickoff out of bounds, drawing a penalty -- many Patriots fans started to lose confidence in Stephen Gostkowski, despite him going 20-for-26 on field goals last year and making 21 of his last 23 attempts.

Gostkowski has a message for those fans doubting him.

''You have nothing to worry about.”

He said today that he rushed both kicks Friday night and tried to boot them too hard. He has learned from his mistakes.

''When I was out there, I felt like I hit it good,'' Gostkowski said of the field goal. ''I hit it good in warmups this past week [but] in the game, I was kind of rushing myself. I was trying to kick too hard. I got to believe more in my leg strength, especially on a short field goal like that and just do the same thing every time.

''We watched it and tried to correct it. I got a whole week of practice to fine tune everything and I still got two games to get more comfortable. When those things happen you can take a positive away from it and I shrugged it off and made the next field goal.

''I was upset about it. We lost by three . . . Points are crucial. I’m going to work harder this week and try not to miss any.''

With punter Josh Miller gone, quaterback Matt Cassel will now be the holder for Gostkowski.

''It’s just a matter of getting enough reps in with they guy that you are going to have and being comfortable,'' Gostkowski said of switching holders. ''It’s all about rhythm. If you go out there and you expect the ball to be there and it’s not, your timing is going to be thrown off. We get plenty of reps and playing time in practice. I’ve been kicking too long to let one miss affect me.''