Crosby - an 83% kicker.

[Patler]

Yup, on kicks less than 50 yards he hits on 83%,(88 made in 106 attempts under 50 yards) which, per the following article, is very similar to Longwell's success under 50 yards.

http://m.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101118/PKR07/101118139/-1/WAP&template=wapart

Crosby is second only to Janikowski on the number of 50+ attempts since 2007. In his career, Janikowski is 27/53 on kicks over 50 yards, showing that Crosby's 10/21, or around 50% is all that can be expected from a guy who tries a lot of the long ones. I assume they try more at 50+ because they try the longer ones, from about 54 yards and farther, which many kickers have no hope of ever hitting and so never try except maybe in ideal conditions.

Interesting that Longwell calls Crosby a victim of his own leg strength, making his percentage appear worse than it really is.

I'm satisfied with a kicker who hits 83% of his kicks under 50 yards, with the leg strength to routinely try anything under 60 and having a 50/50 chance of making it from 50-60 yards out. Especially when he also gives you the strength to try from beyond 60 when the situation allows for it.

[Fritz]

I'm satisfied, theoretically speaking, but if he misses a potential game-winner from 51 yards out in a dome I'm going to want them to cut him immediately.

[Bretsky]

I'm surpirsed more don't see Crosby as an above average kicker

[Patler]

It's really interesting to compare Crosby and Janikowski. Very similar numbers.

Janikowski's attempts at 50+ make up 16.5% of his total attempts (53/321).
Crosby's attempts at 50+ make up 16.5% of his total attempts (21/127).

Janikowski has made 83.6% of his kicks under 50 yards (224/268).
Crosby has made 83.0 of his kicks under 50 yards (88/106).

Janikowski has made 78.2% of his kicks overall (251/321).
Crosby has made 77.2% of his kicks overall (98/127).

Janikowski has made a 61 yard kick.
Crosby came up just short on a 69 yard attempt in 22-degree weather on 12/28 outside in Green Bay.

[3irty1]

Fans give more weight to the intangible "clutchness" characteristic of a kicker rather than leg strength. The guy has yet to make a "game winner" in a clutch situation but has missed a few in those situations. Personally I absolved him of all sins after the onside kick against Arizona which was the most beautiful onside kick I've ever seen.

[3irty1]

Wasn't Janikowski a first round pick? That's impossible to comprehend.

[mmmdk]

Mason Crosby and his career stats:
FG: 0-19, 3-3, 100% - what you expect.
FG: 20-29, 33-33, 100% - what you expect but really good too.
FG: 30-39, 29-36, 80,6% - Average.
FG: 40-49, 23-34, 67,6% - Below average.
FG: 50+, 10-21, 47,6% - Average.

I think Crosby has the potential to be an above average kicker when he gets more accurate from 30-49 yard range and more clutch. The leg is there but accuracy shaky beyond the 30-something range which is 71,7% of all his kicks!!!!

Surprised that's not obvious but Crosby ain't the worst you can get.

Conclusion:
Mason has reached the average level & he's hopefully ready to jump to the above average level.

[3irty1]

Fans give more weight to the intangible "clutchness" characteristic of a kicker rather than leg strength. The guy has yet to make a "game winner" in a clutch situation but has missed a few in those situations. Personally I absolved him of all sins after the onside kick against Arizona which was the most beautiful onside kick I've ever seen.

I might take that back... In his first game ever, and ugly game against PHI in 2007, didn't he kick a game winner?

[Patler]

Fans give more weight to the intangible "clutchness" characteristic of a kicker rather than leg strength. The guy has yet to make a "game winner" in a clutch situation but has missed a few in those situations. Personally I absolved him of all sins after the onside kick against Arizona which was the most beautiful onside kick I've ever seen.

Actually, he has made a clutch kick. He made a game-winning 42 yard kick with 2 seconds left in his first regular season game as a rookie against Philadelphia. He was 3/3 that day and made his first ever attempt in a regular season game, good from 53 yards.

I read another article that said he has only had four game-winning opportunities, and has made one. The one game that really kills me was against the Vikings, when he made a "game winner" with a little time left in the 4th, the defense gave it right back to Adrian Peterson in just a handful of plays, the Packers then drove steadily, only to have MM pull in his horns, run down the clock and try a 52 yard FG to win. Crosby just missed. Another few yards could have made a big difference.

[mmmdk]

I just checked several NFL kickers Crosby and his stats resemble ex-Steeler Jeff Reed but even he's slightly better than Crosby. Longwell is on another level than Crosby and the elite kickers through history is something Crosby can only dream of. Crosby might, I said might, reach 1 pro bowl in his career but that's a reach - unless he improves accuracy & clutchness. Big task ahead, I'd say.

[Scott Campbell]

Wasn't Janikowski a first round pick? That's impossible to comprehend.

Guys with that kind of leg strength seem like a once in a decade opportunity.

[pbmax]

Its the numbers from 30-49 that are bothersome. There is no question his total accuracy is affected by McCarthy's penchant for trying 50 yarders with him. But he should have better numbers in the mid-range. The right hash mark issue covers many of those mid-range misses.

[mmmdk]

FGs from 0-29 Crosby is deadly - 100%! FGs from 30-49 only 74,3%.

What a homer article.

Jeff Reed kicks 80,3% from 30-49 yards out.

Actually, it's kind of homer-like to even call Crosby average yet I did but only 'cos he's improved...slightly.

[Fritz]

Hasn't his right-hash problem been corrected this year?

[channtheman]

Anything with Crosby from 40 yards and farther is hardly a guarantee. Also, his clutch kicking (though yes, he has had to attempt really long field goals) leaves something to be desired as well. I would prefer Crosby miss the no pressure 56 yard field goal against Philly and then make the total pressure win the game kick against Washington. He almost always misses those game winners and something tells me that if we had the ball 5 yards closer he would still miss it by a yard.