The Packers Still Don’t Know If Anders Carlson Is the Answer at Kicker
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers gambled this season when they said goodbye to veteran kicker Mason Crosby and turned the kicking position over to rookie sixth-round pick Anders Carlson. Now, after a full season with Carlson, the team still doesn’t know if he is the long-term answer at the position.
The decision by Gutekunst to move on from Crosby was a calculated one. Crosby turned 39 just before the season started. His leg strength on kickoffs was not what it used to be nor was his accuracy on long field goals.
Moreover, the Packers saved a few million dollars in cap space by moving on from Crosby. This was important in a year where the team had a lot of dead cap money on the books and was clearly in transition from a veteran team designed to win now with Aaron Rodgers to a young team that wasn’t sure what it had under center in Jordan Love.
Enter former Auburn star Anders Carlson. His brother, Daniel, started his career as an inconsistent kicker with Minnesota before getting a second chance with the Raiders. After working with special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, Daniel became an All-Pro kicker. Now the Packers were hoping Bisaccia could repeat that trick with Anders.
The scouting report on Anders Carlson was straightforward. He possesses a very strong leg but needed to improve his consistency. That was immediately evident during the preseason as he struggled with his accuracy on field goals and extra points.
Once the regular season got started, Carlson seemed to find his game. In his first five games, he made all seven of the field goals he tried and went 10-for-10 on extra points. Two of those field goals were from 50-yards out or more including a season-high 53-yard boot. His extra point in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints provided the winning margin in the Packers 18-17 comeback win.
But after that perfect start, things got shakier for Carlson. He missed at least one kick in 10 of the Packers final 12 games. That includes missing a league-high five extra points and missing six field goal tries.
He wasn’t helped by the inconsistent performance of Packers long snapper Matt Orzech. His failure to provide good snaps didn’t help Carlson get more comfortable and confident.
The Packers made it clear they had no intention of replacing Carlson heading into the postseason. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Yeah, you’d like him to make every kick, no doubt about it, but I think it’s part of the growth process. A lot of young [players], especially kickers, go through some trials and tribulations, unfortunately.
“The one thing that’s been so great that you cannot coach is just the resiliency he’s shown because every time he misses one, he comes back, and he’s made them. We’d like to get through it without any hiccups but, again, I think it’s part of the process. He’s still learning how to refine his game and there’s still a lot more out there, obviously.”
In the playoffs, Carlson missed an extra point in the win over Dallas that kept the Cowboys within two scores in the fourth quarter and gave them a ray of hope. Then, he missed a field goal in the loss to San Francisco that would have put the Packers ahead by seven points in the fourth quarter and would have changed the dynamic of the game’s closing minutes.
During the playoffs, a sideline reporter for Fox quoted LaFleur as saying, “Every time he [Carlson] goes out there, I just pray.” While LaFleur said after the game he was taken out of context, that’s a damning thing to say about your kicker even in jest.
Once the season ended, GM Brian Gutekunst wasted little time in signing free agent kicker Jack Podlesny. The Georgia alum doesn’t have the leg strength that Carlson does but has been more consistent over his college career than the Packers kicker. He was in training camp this past summer with the Vikings but did not win the kicking job.
After one season, the Packers still don’t know if Carlson is their placekicker beyond 2023. The talent and leg strength are still there, but unless he shows progress and becomes more consistent, he may be one and done in Green Bay. His future is in his hands.
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Comments (24)
Packerpasty
February 01, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Had to move on, he was great while he was here but watching him "try" to kick for the Giants this year, the old duffer could hardly raise his leg...
MitchAnthony
February 01, 2024 at 12:31 pm
During the playoffs, a sideline reporter for Fox quoted LaFleur as saying, “Every time he [Carlson] goes out there, I just pray.” While LaFleur said after the game he was taken out of context, that’s a damning thing to say about your kicker even in jest.
A damning thing to say about your kicker, even in jest. That's right up there with being completely honest with the old lady when she asks, "Do you think this outfit makes me look fat?"
Kickers are just as big of a head case as the most insecure females we know.
Coldworld
February 01, 2024 at 01:43 pm
After which LaFleur apologized publicly for intended sarcasm that was missed. Still is it appears.
Cheezehead72
February 01, 2024 at 02:19 pm
I tell her it not the outfit.
And if you believe that I have a bridge for sale.
splitpea1
February 01, 2024 at 12:33 pm
"Every time he goes out there, I just pray." MLF said it was a joke, and was taken out of context, and wasn't happy about the reporting. But it looks like he was caught in an unguarded moment and couldn't help but blurt out the truth.
It wasn't a gamble to move on from Crosby because you can't hold on to guys until they turn into fossils. We just have to find the right guy; maybe it's Carlson, maybe it isn't. He'll be on trial starting in preseason.
I'm not familiar with every special teams unit in the league, but does any other team have such difficultly finding quality long snappers? It's a revolving door year after year for the Packers with these guys.
T7Steve
February 01, 2024 at 01:06 pm
"difficultly finding quality long snappers? It's a revolving door year after year for the Packers with these guys."
I was wondering the same thing. You should be worried.
Is it just a reliable excuse that masks their error (errors) in judgment?
GregC
February 01, 2024 at 01:06 pm
Yeah, I don't get it. I remember when they had Rob Davis for something like 10-12 years, and you didn't even know he was there because he almost never had a bad snap. I think they had someone for awhile after him too. But it's been a revolving door for about six years now at least. They even drafted a long snapper, and he wasn't much good either.
Cheezehead72
February 01, 2024 at 02:25 pm
We had rob Davis from 1997 to 2007 and then we had Brett Goode 2008 to 2017. Those were the good years. Pun intended.
Since then I have lost count.
13TimeChamps
February 01, 2024 at 03:57 pm
Didn't they cut Goode several times to find someone better only to bring him back because the "better" guy couldn't cut it? I'm not sure if I'm remembering that correctly, but it would be nice to find that consistency again.
Bitternotsour
February 01, 2024 at 12:33 pm
I think the Packers know that Carlson is their kicker. He was their kicker on day 1, and he was their kicker at the end of the season. He's under contract, and he's the guy the Special Teams Associate Head Coach wanted. Anders Carlson is the kicker. That they signed an inferior leg to have in camp doesn't change that narrative.
LambeauPlain
February 01, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Carlson was all Bisaccia's guy and so far Rich is getting a failing grade. But it is not how you start but how you finish and while the young kicker can turn it round, his grace period is over. Both Biscaccia and Carlson are on thin ice sitting on a hot seat.
STs promising 2022 returned to the "mean" of being below average again in 2023. The league leading penalties are a head scratcher and point to coaching breakdowns. The Assistant HC needs to do better.
EnemyTerritory
February 01, 2024 at 01:04 pm
Don’t forget that the strength of the 22-23 ST was return game after Nixon caught fire. Rule changes dampened that strength so the drop off isn’t unexpected. Carlson may be better this year, maybe not. He is another year out from a leg injury (ACL?) which may help…
Leatherhead
February 01, 2024 at 01:22 pm
How can the mean, which is the average, be below the average?
And why is it a head scratcher when the league's youngest team also leads in penalties? I mean, inexperienced guys make more mistakes than experienced guys in most things. This is no exception.
There is a simple solution. We could virtually eliminate penalties on special teams if we'd make a few strategic decisions about how we want to do business. Kick the ball out of the endzone. Punt to the sidelines. Never return kicks or punts.
Leatherhead
February 01, 2024 at 01:15 pm
A missed FG is essentially a turnover. So is a turnover on downs. A FG attempt is worth something like 2.77 points, since some get missed. So you're gambling a turnover against 2.77 points, essentially.
Those three guys...the snapper, the holder/punter, the kicker, have to work like a machine, even under big pressure and bad weather.
As an aside, I'd be reluctant to kick FGs. From far, there's a risk that you end up turning the ball over at midfield if you miss. From close, it's better to try to convert the 4th down and get 7 instead of 3, and if you don't you've at least left them inside their own 20. But that's just me.
Crosby had some rough stretches, too, but he worked out all right. Most kickers make most kicks, but very few never miss. If Carlson can't do that, there's about a hundred guys who could be in Green Bay tomorrow.
golfpacker1
February 02, 2024 at 10:45 am
Leather, while I don't agree with you on all things, your last two posts are spot on. Kickoffs and punts are disasters looking for a place to happen. Allowing returns opens the door for nothing good. Either you give away better field position or points is #1. There are always penalties which is #2. And Kickoffs out of the end zone or punts out of bounds can eliminate most injuries. I sure wouldn't want to give a guy like Nixon a chance to change a ballgame.
I don't get the "Carlson has a really strong leg" analysis. Other than the one long field goal, I would give the "strong leg" a failing grade all year. And its not by design as some posters have tried to argue. Nobody in the NFL kicks short on purpose. That theory is crazy. Lengthwise, the Georgia kicker has been equal to Carlson, and he doesn't miss easy extra points or FGs.
Two college kickers we could target, with stronger legs and better accuracy than Carson or Podlesny, are Josh Karty-Stanford with a 60yard FG this year, and Harrison Mevis-Missouri, who had an SEC record 63 yarder. Both kick the ball out of the end zone. WE should be in on both early as UFDAs.
Carlson deserves a chance in training camp, but competition will be good.
T7Steve
February 01, 2024 at 01:16 pm
I believe it will help him to have another kicker to work and compete with. It might help the other guy just as much and allow more long snappers to work out.
I hope they see great improvement or make the decision one way or the other. This is something you can't just kick down the road.
For what it's worth, which isn't much, I think he'll come around and be the long-term answer. Kickers are quirky. Remember the times like in Detroit or Cincinnati that we all thought Crosby was done or hurt? Miss after miss, and the next try you thought that he'd make it for sure, and he missed it again.
HarryHodag
February 01, 2024 at 02:21 pm
I chuckled a bit when I saw the article. This isn't the gnashing of teeth over a once-in-a-generation quarterback. It's a kicker. There are plenty of them who are looking for work and more in the pipeline.
What you look for in a kicker is accuracy and consistency. Carlson is shaky in both areas, so why bother fussing about it? Gute already found someone to compete. I would cut Carlson and let some other team watch him hit the crossbars or miss entirely. Missing extra points is inexcusable. The kick is dead center to the crossbars at about 33 yards total. Most guys in a bar can kick a football 30 yards.
Carlson is alleged to have a very strong leg, yet toward the end of the season many teams were returning his kicks. Mason Crosby had his hiccups but you knew he would come back strong. Sorry this is one of those decisions that is easy to make.
Cheezehead72
February 01, 2024 at 02:32 pm
I would like to say it is the yips but that would require him to be a reliable kicker at one time which has not happened.
I hope the best for him and that he figures it out. This is why I did not like the Packers drafting him in the 6th. Almost all kickers should be drafted late in the 7th or a UDFA.
Crosby was just too expensive for the Packers. We had to move on.
golfpacker1
February 02, 2024 at 10:54 am
Amen. Crosby was a great Packer, but it was time. I agree on not spending a 6th round pick on a kicker. There would be someone I would rather take a chance on in the 6th round. A 7th round late pick would be ok with me for a really good kicker, like Harty-Stanford or Mevis-Missouri. UFDA would be better but tracking UFDAs has not been a strong point for GB for some reason.
Starrbrite
February 01, 2024 at 05:16 pm
It was time to move on from Crosby and Carlson let us down. But whataya do?
relleum61
February 02, 2024 at 12:05 pm
The Carlson brothers both struggled as rookies. Hopefully Anders follows the same path as Daniel. As another commentator pointed out, Anders will be another year removed from his ACL injury and that helps the overall path to improvement. And remember that Ryan Longwell got his job because he was the competition, not the favorite….so keep bringing in competitors for the job
MitchAnthony
February 01, 2024 at 05:28 pm
Holy cow, I'm getting down voted over a little joke. Tough crowd.
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Make sure to at least tip the waitresses.
Qoojo
February 02, 2024 at 12:00 am
I think they are getting an answer. Just not listening to it.
golfpacker1
February 04, 2024 at 09:50 am
My question before we drafted Carlson is why he didn't improve in 5 years as a college kicker. Only over 72% on all kicks one year. Mevis-Missouri and Harty-Stanford, UFDA kickers after the draft.