Mason Crosby - Keep or Cut? | Timesfour Green Bay Packers

PackLandVAMember

So what's it gonna be?

I think they should ABSOLUTELY NOT cut him. He's been too good in the past. I'd "fake" I/R him or sign a kicker for FGs until Crosby gets out of his funk. How often does the 53rd player on gameday play anyway?

I'm as frustrated as the next fan. But if the Packers get rid of MC, he's gonna be scooped up by another team at some point. And I think he has a lot of good kicking left in him. It's not like there are a ton of options out there anyway that are better than him. While it may seem like an obvious decision today (or even for the past couple of weeks), I think they'd be making a mistake in letting him go.

I trust Ted, though.

11/18/123:24 PM

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PackLandVAMember

Didn't see the other thread, but someone asked for a poll. Here it is, but 'delete' if necessary.

11/18/123:26 PM

michiganjoeMember

He's just got to work his way through the slump, I just hope it happens sooner rather than later and doesn't cost the team in the process.

11/18/123:27 PM

GratefulPackMember

He'll be fine eventually, he is not as consistant as Longwell, but be is stl a very good kicker and getting rid of him in the heat of the moment is not a good move. Thankfully, It's TT's decision and not MM's because IMO MM has shown more erratic behavior this year than normal.

11/18/123:32 PM

FandameMember

He has to figure it out and I'm running out of patience and worried it will cost us a game soon, but I don't see anyone better out there. As good as Slocum has the STs playing this year, I wonder if he hasn't screwed up MC. Didn't they say something about changing his mechanics/approach? If so, why? Now it's in his head and that's the most difficult place to get it out of.

11/18/123:33 PM

YATittleMember

Why the hell did mm let Slocum alter his kicking style? That's malpractice he had a good swing leave well enough alone

11/18/123:34 PM

Boston JimMember

quote:
Originally posted by GratefulPack:
He'll be fine eventually, he is not as consistant as Longwell, but be is stl a very good kicker and getting rid of him in the heat of the moment is not a good move. Thankfully, It's TT's decision and not MM's because IMO MM has shown more erratic behavior this year than normal.

Hey, Longwell is available.

11/18/123:40 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

The kick to go up 4 likely had more pressure to it than either of the previous kicks... Has to be a confidence boost.

11/18/123:42 PM

PackLandVAMember

I also think the fact that GB won, despite his misses, should hopefully help his confidence. Can't pin a loss on him.

11/18/123:44 PM

GratefulPackMember

I don't think Longwell has the range anymore.

My roommate in college was a kicker who even tried out in the NFL several times. I think the golf analogy is the best. You can get in a funk. Mm sent him the wrong message by passing on the 48 yarder ealier, then getting in his face was even stupider. Jennings was great, Harras him and take his mind off it.

11/18/123:46 PM

Pack-ManMember

He earned at least another week on the roster. Maybe this will be the one to get him out of the funk he's in.

11/18/123:46 PM

PackLandVAMember

quote:
Originally posted by GratefulPack:
Mm sent him the wrong message by passing on the 48 yarder earlier...

I don't have a problem with MM passing on the long FG in the first half. I really think MM thought the offense would be able to move the ball better than they did, and I actually thought they'd get a first down there. I more annoyed at the horrendous clock management at the end of the first half. They had plenty of time to call a TO after the sack and still run a play (pass or run). It would've been third down (or first) and there's was plenty of time to spike the ball if necessary. It forced Crosby to try a long one and he missed them both.

MM and/or AR botched that one.

11/18/123:53 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

I don't really see anyone better out there. He's not as bad as he's played and he's in a bad slump. He still has the support of his team mates and it has to be factored in that Slocum messed with his mojo. He'll come out of it. I would ask for a renegotiation on his contract after the season.

11/18/124:03 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

You can't keep a kicker who misses a 38 yarder. You could find a high school kicker to do that.

11/18/124:08 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

‏@WesHod
McCarthy: We will continue with Mason. We will not blink as far as our commitment to him.

11/18/124:08 PM

PakrzFREEZE!

Keep him.

11/18/124:12 PM

PackLandVAMember

So far the "board" says keep him - 66% to 34%.

11/18/124:14 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Originally posted by GBFanForLife:
You can't keep a kicker who misses a 38 yarder. You could find a high school kicker to do that.

Oh good that means we can sign Gotskowski since he just missed a 36 yarder. I'm not going to say Crosby is playing well because he's not, but you can find yourself in a bigger hole by trying to fix something you shouldn't. Releasing Jon Ryan comes to mind. Slocum needs to get out of Crosby's way and let him do it on his own.

11/18/124:15 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

McCarthy and Crosby will cuddle on the plane ride home. All is good.

11/18/124:15 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

quote:
Originally posted by titmfatied:
Releasing Jon Ryan comes to mind.

Yep. The Packers still need Ryan.

11/18/124:17 PM

PackLandVAMember

What was the punting like between Ryan and the ginger?

11/18/124:18 PM

EsoxMember

Packers need to keep him - he'll get out of his slump

11/18/124:19 PM

oshbaulUltimate Member

He's back on track.

quote:
Originally posted by Pakrz:
Keep him.

11/18/124:21 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

quote:
Originally posted by oshbaul:
He's back on track.
quote:
Originally posted by Pakrz:
Keep him.

He almost missed the last field goal. Not sure what he is doing but he appears to be putting some sort of "english" on the ball.

11/18/124:23 PM

Pack-ManMember

Longwell had a season worse than this one back in 2001, and he snapped out of it the next season and got back to playing quality football. Crosby will get past this, and I have a feeling it will happen before this season is over.

11/18/124:27 PM

PakrzFREEZE!

You can only judge Longwell from 35 yd kicks and in... He can't kick it far enough to evaluate longer distances.

11/18/124:30 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

Just a hunch but part of me thinks what's been a contributing factor in screwing up Crosby is all those ridiculously long kicks they used to like giving him a shot on.

I get a feeling Slocum made some adjustments with his swing to correct some of those misses and it threw him off. [/speculation]

11/18/124:35 PM

oshbaulUltimate Member

Either fix it or risk being tickled to death by your teammates.

11/18/124:38 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

They have been screwing with the kickoffs. Instead of just kicking the **** out of it they are playing games with a pop up kickoff.

11/18/125:05 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

I agree with that GBFFL. They've proven time and again that their kick coverage is excellent. There's no need to get cute. I also think this guy has a lot more to do with the special team's improvement than anyone realizes.

edited for wrong link

11/18/125:24 PM

WolfPackMember

keep him. I tend to think its just a mental slump.
you know if he went to another team hed go on a tear

This team isnt built around kicking field goals.
If we had a stout defense and a ball control offense,
FG are more important. In our offense, we need and usually get TDs.

hopefully he works through it in December.

Close playoff games in bad weather scare me with a shaky kicker

11/18/125:27 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Originally posted by WolfPack:
Close playoff games in bad weather scare me with a shaky kicker

...or one who's never kicked in Lambeau or Chicago at the end of a season. Sometimes the devil you know is better...

11/18/125:34 PM

ShebPackFanMember

quote:
I don't think Longwell has the range anymore.

He doesn't have the range anymore but he is consistent from 45 yards and in. Crosby is less than 50% in his last 14 attempts and the weather will worsen. I really don't want Crosby with a game on the line this season.

11/18/125:40 PM

Green and GoldMember

At least Crosby isn't blaming the holder.

11/18/125:44 PM

Point BrewmasterMember

Right now I have absolutely no confidence in Crosby. Slump or not, his misses are making the games much closer than they need to be. He almost even missed the extra point following the interception return for TD.

I think TT should bring Kaeding in for a workout. Despite his reputation for not being clutch, he is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. My biggest concern with him is if he is healthy. If nothing else, it could light a fire under Crosby. If Crosby can't handle the pressure, he shouldn't be on the roster.

11/18/126:07 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Laxen column: Longwell's departure paved way for Blair Walsh's breakout
sctimes.com
Written by Jacob Laxen on 11:45 PM, Nov 17, 2012

Even with the kickoffs being moved up last season, Longwell had only 19 touchbacks all season. There were 21 NFL kickers last season who had 30 or more touchbacks.

Walsh replacing Longwell also likely had to do with age.

While kickers can stay on longer than any other position, Longwell is 38. continue

This is the kind of problem, if it continues, that you correct in the offseason. The FG situation is terrible right now, but I think the Packers are doubly conscious of the pitfalls after their punter fiasco. TT isn't the kind of guy that gets emotional and makes a rash decision. Mason might bomb out but he'll be given every opportunity to recover.

11/18/126:10 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Originally posted by Point Brewmaster:
If Crosby can't handle the pressure, he shouldn't be on the roster.

That sounds perfectly reasonable but Nate Kaeding is not the answer. Keep in mind the conditions the Packers play in make this a trickier decision.

11/18/126:19 PM

PackLandVAMember

In addition to the poor kicking on FGs (and the TD return), anyone also notice the pretty horrible squib kick at the end of the game. While the TE made a decent play on the ball, Crosby has to be able to get that sqibber to go past the 30 yard line. It ended up giving Detroit too good of field position for a few shots at the end zone.

11/18/127:00 PM

Green CrustaceanCrabby Member

Bunch of freakin' kicking experts on this thread. I'm effin' impressed. Can you send me links to your kicking camps?

Point is, not one of you were bitching last year. This isn't Brett Conway. Let the coaches fix it the way they want to.

11/18/127:23 PM