Railbird Central Podcast: Is Mason Crosby Back? Or Is It Too Little, Too Late?
With news that the Buffalo Bills have released veteran Rian Lindell, discussion has turned to the Packers' kicking game.
With news that the Buffalo Bills had released veteran kicker Rian Lindell on Monday morning, discussion turned to the Packers' kicking situation and whether the Packers might have any interest in signing Lindell. As part of our continuing series, we have Colleen Brenton of PocketDoppler.com to weigh in on the issue and to talk about the Packers' preseason win over the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.
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Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America" and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (9)
August 19, 2013 at 11:05 am
I dont know the exact number but if I remember correctly Mason has missed but 1 kick since Family night. Given how much competition they have been going through I'd say that's pretty darn reliable and "out of the slump". Keep him on the hot seat through camp but unless he misses a bunch more between now and end of season I think he is our kicker.
August 19, 2013 at 11:36 am
So what if Crosby's out of his slump? He was subpar before it. He usually hits somewhere between 75-79% of his kicks. This in a league where guys like Walsh & Janikowski are making 90% & available replacements are hitting more than 80%. Crosby isn't good enough even when he's on his game.
(& for you but but but Lambeau is a tough place to kick people: Robbie Gould. Tons better than Crosby. In Soldier Field. Even Olindo Mare outkicked Crosby in the cold last year.)
August 19, 2013 at 11:45 am
Walsh and Janikowski kick in nearly or perfect conditions the vast majority of the time. Crosby has to kick in the most difficult kicking environment in the NFL at least 1/2, then Chicago. When taking all things into consideration Crosby was rated just outside top 10 in the NFL after adjusting for all conditions. He's not elite, but above average before last year. The article I read was prior to last year btw.
August 19, 2013 at 03:43 pm
What would be interesting to me is how the opposition kickers fared over Crosby's tenure in the same games Crosby played in. Since the sample size is fairly consequential, you would in large part take out the climate argument.
Plus, it wasn't just that Crosby was barely missing them last year. Some of his kicks were horrific shanks that had no chance. He had either mechanical and/or head problems last year. He earned the worst kicker in the league designation last year.
I think the Pack are going to stick with him and from time-to-time you're going to see those odd-knuckleball type kicks again, even in good weather. Hope they're not with the game on the line.
August 19, 2013 at 10:41 pm
2012:
Week 1@GB
Akers 3/3 Crosby 0/0
Week 2@GB
Gould 1/1, Crosby 3/3
Week 3@Seattle
Hauschka 0/0 Crosby 2/2
Week 4@GB
Hartley 2/3 Crosby 0/0
Week 5@Ind.
Vinatieri 3/4, Crosby 0/2
Week 6@Houston
Other guy 1/1, Crosby 0/0
Week 7@StL
Zuerlein 2/2, Crosby 3/4
Week 8@GB
Scobee 3/3, Crosby 1/2
Week 9@GB
Feely 1/1, Crosby 1/2
Week 10
Bye
Week 11@Detroit
Hanson 2/2, Crosby 1/3
Week [email protected] NJ
Tynes 1/1, Crosby 1/2
Week 13@GB
Walsh 0/1, Crosby 3/4
Week 14@GB
Hanson 2/3, Crosby 2/3
Week 15@Chicago
Mare 2/2, Crosby 0/2
Week 16@GB
Bironas 0/0, Crosby 2/2
Week 17@Minn
Walsh 3/3, Crosby 2/2
Wild Card@GB
Walsh 1/1, Crosby 1/1
Divisional@SF
Akers 1/1, Crosby 1/1
Opponents@GB
13/16
Crosby@GB
13/17
Crosby on the road
10/18
At least last year, Crosby was on par with the other guys at Lambeau -- not better, just about the same. But he was really rather crappy on the road.
August 19, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Went back through 2005-2012 Packer-Bear games to look at the kicker matchups. (Note: Gould played 2 years before Crosby came up & missed the Chicago game last year with an injury)
Gould@Lambeau:
12/12
Crosby@Lambeau, (in Bear games)
13/15
Not too surprising. But then look at this:
Crosby@Soldier Field:
6/12
Gould@Soldier Field, in Packer games:
11/13
August 19, 2013 at 11:41 am
Even when things are going well for Crosby he's a below average kicker. I'm not one for making changes too quickly, but I've seen enough of Crosby's work. Bring in Lindell, Carpenter or when there available Kickalicious, Quinn Sharpe or any number of other competent kickers.
Even at his best, Crosby was never that good.
August 19, 2013 at 01:40 pm
Quality kickers don't miss 12 kicks in a season. Crosby seems to go through a slump every season. Some kickers don't go through a slump in their entire careers.
August 19, 2013 at 02:02 pm
Its time to move on. I was hoping Tavecchio would shine bright and take the job from Crosby but that probably won't happen now.