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Kicking Competition Barely Getting Started
During the last two organized team activities (OTAs) this past week, Green Bay kickers Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby took their first kicks in team (11-on-11) drills. Prior to that, they both had been kicking in individual drills only. So, in a sense, the competition for the kicking job officially "kicked off" this week. But don't read too much into it. Both kickers know there's a long way to go, and nothing will be decided in June, or anytime soon for that matter. "It's going to be a long process," Crosby said. Both kickers attempted four to five field goals outside on Wednesday, and then were part of some run-on field goals inside the Don Hutson Center on Thursday. The latter workout was open to the media, and Rayner missed two tries from 46 yards, while Crosby made his from that same distance.
Rayner isn't overly concerned, however, because he hasn't primed his training for OTAs. He'll soon will start the process of getting himself ready for training camp, when the repetitions become more frequent and the scrutiny more intense. "The month before I'm going to kick a lot so when I get into training camp, I'm in shape," Rayner said. "But I'm not going to have to kick a ton in training camp to get in shape." Rayner won the kicking job last year midway through the preseason schedule when the team released veteran Billy Cundiff. He went on to hit 26 of 35 field-goal attempts (74.3 percent) and 31 of 32 PATs. He won't be easy to unseat, but the competition from Crosby will be legitimate in every sense. Rather than simply bring in a veteran free agent to give the appearance of competition for Rayner this summer, the Packers drafted Crosby out of Colorado in the sixth round, later than many draft experts predicted he'd be available.
With a strong leg and a track record for making long field goals in college, Crosby has an advantage over perhaps another rookie trying to win a job in Green Bay because he encountered plenty of cold, windy days in Colorado, the kind of conditions he'll encounter plenty at Lambeau Field. "Everything is about the wind that you hear here," Crosby said. "I've noticed that on the practice fields. It's stuff you can't control, and I look at it as a good challenge and something to keep my focus up." At the same time, though, Crosby doesn't have a respectable NFL season under his belt like Rayner does, and there's a bit more pressure every time he kicks, even in a June OTA. Rayner certainly wasn't happy about missing two kicks on Thursday, but it was no cause for alarm. It wouldn't have been had Crosby missed, either, but any challenger trying to knock out an incumbent is in a slightly different state of mind. "Every time I step on that practice field right now I have to kind of have a game mindset and prepare for it just the same way," Crosby said. That said, Crosby feels he's settling in well and he's not about to let the challenge in front of him overwhelm him, either. "You can't make it more than it is," he said. "When I'm on the field, I feel comfortable, and you just have to kind of zone everything out."
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Mason Crosby | Kicker | Colorado | 6'1" - 212 lbs.
When it comes to the art of kicking off, few players in the collegiate or professional ranks boast the leg strength that Crosby has. The holder of thirty-one school game, season and career records, he closed out his tenure as Colorado's all-time scorer with 307 points. While some skeptics cite the thin air in the Mile High City for the success of kickers in the Denver area, Crosby has proven time and again that he can be just as successful at "sea level" and with his power and follow-through, records at the professional level could soon be in jeopardy....
Crosby has leg up on Rayner. With a resume like the Colorado rookie's, it doesn't take a physicist to see the sixth-round pick is the favorite to be the Packers' kicker this season.
Mason Crosby Q&A. Rookie kicker talks about experience thus far, competition, and preparations for training camp
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K Dave Rayner #16 6' 2" • 210 lbs. • Michigan State Exp: 3rd NFL Season, 2nd Packers Season Age: 24 Acquired: Waiver 2006 (Ind.) Current Status: Active Roster. Pro Summary: 15 of 23 field goals and 31 of 32 extra points last season. Third-year player enters training camp. Possessing a strong leg, originally was chosen by the Colts in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft Played in 14 games for the Colts in 2005 before being waived (Dec. 20). Re-signed by the Colts on Feb. 15, 2006, he was waived and picked up by the Packers.
Don't kick Rayner to the Curb.
While there’s no denying that big-legged rookie Mason Crosby has impressive credentials, it would be a mistake to underestimate incumbent kicker Dave Rayner. The ex-Michigan State star is coming off a pretty solid rookie season, and oh yeah, he’s no slouch himself when it comes to leg strength. “Rayner doesn’t have to take a back seat to anybody in that regard,” said a former scout. “The ball explodes off his foot. I doubt you’ll see much of a difference between the two once training camp begins.” Look for Crosby to get slightly better hang-time and distance on kickoffs and Rayner to be a bit more accurate on field goals. “It should be a spirited competition,” added the scout....
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Fan's view: "Dave Rayner:...one of the strongest legs in the NFL. He has great range...is consistant with the short ones...some accuracy problems with some of the longer kicks but converted 9 of 14 from 40+...Rayner was ranked 26th in FG % last year...displayed great ability to kickoff. Mason Crosby:...one of the strongest legs in the NCAA...showed outstanding range and good accuracy...kicking at high altitude helped him a lot...yet great kicks at lower altitudes...lack of late season consistency under pressure lead to fall in the draft."
Kicking Competition Barely Getting Started
During the last two organized team activities (OTAs) this past week, Green Bay kickers Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby took their first kicks in team (11-on-11) drills. Prior to that, they both had been kicking in individual drills only. So, in a sense, the competition for the kicking job officially "kicked off" this week. But don't read too much into it. Both kickers know there's a long way to go, and nothing will be decided in June, or anytime soon for that matter. "It's going to be a long process," Crosby said. Both kickers attempted four to five field goals outside on Wednesday, and then were part of some run-on field goals inside the Don Hutson Center on Thursday. The latter workout was open to the media, and Rayner missed two tries from 46 yards, while Crosby made his from that same distance.
Rayner isn't overly concerned, however, because he hasn't primed his training for OTAs. He'll soon will start the process of getting himself ready for training camp, when the repetitions become more frequent and the scrutiny more intense. "The month before I'm going to kick a lot so when I get into training camp, I'm in shape," Rayner said. "But I'm not going to have to kick a ton in training camp to get in shape." Rayner won the kicking job last year midway through the preseason schedule when the team released veteran Billy Cundiff. He went on to hit 26 of 35 field-goal attempts (74.3 percent) and 31 of 32 PATs. He won't be easy to unseat, but the competition from Crosby will be legitimate in every sense. Rather than simply bring in a veteran free agent to give the appearance of competition for Rayner this summer, the Packers drafted Crosby out of Colorado in the sixth round, later than many draft experts predicted he'd be available.
With a strong leg and a track record for making long field goals in college, Crosby has an advantage over perhaps another rookie trying to win a job in Green Bay because he encountered plenty of cold, windy days in Colorado, the kind of conditions he'll encounter plenty at Lambeau Field. "Everything is about the wind that you hear here," Crosby said. "I've noticed that on the practice fields. It's stuff you can't control, and I look at it as a good challenge and something to keep my focus up." At the same time, though, Crosby doesn't have a respectable NFL season under his belt like Rayner does, and there's a bit more pressure every time he kicks, even in a June OTA. Rayner certainly wasn't happy about missing two kicks on Thursday, but it was no cause for alarm. It wouldn't have been had Crosby missed, either, but any challenger trying to knock out an incumbent is in a slightly different state of mind. "Every time I step on that practice field right now I have to kind of have a game mindset and prepare for it just the same way," Crosby said. That said, Crosby feels he's settling in well and he's not about to let the challenge in front of him overwhelm him, either. "You can't make it more than it is," he said. "When I'm on the field, I feel comfortable, and you just have to kind of zone everything out."
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________
Mason Crosby | Kicker | Colorado | 6'1" - 212 lbs.
When it comes to the art of kicking off, few players in the collegiate or professional ranks boast the leg strength that Crosby has. The holder of thirty-one school game, season and career records, he closed out his tenure as Colorado's all-time scorer with 307 points. While some skeptics cite the thin air in the Mile High City for the success of kickers in the Denver area, Crosby has proven time and again that he can be just as successful at "sea level" and with his power and follow-through, records at the professional level could soon be in jeopardy....
Crosby has leg up on Rayner. With a resume like the Colorado rookie's, it doesn't take a physicist to see the sixth-round pick is the favorite to be the Packers' kicker this season.
Mason Crosby Q&A. Rookie kicker talks about experience thus far, competition, and preparations for training camp
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________
K Dave Rayner #16 6' 2" • 210 lbs. • Michigan State Exp: 3rd NFL Season, 2nd Packers Season Age: 24 Acquired: Waiver 2006 (Ind.) Current Status: Active Roster. Pro Summary: 15 of 23 field goals and 31 of 32 extra points last season. Third-year player enters training camp. Possessing a strong leg, originally was chosen by the Colts in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft Played in 14 games for the Colts in 2005 before being waived (Dec. 20). Re-signed by the Colts on Feb. 15, 2006, he was waived and picked up by the Packers.
Don't kick Rayner to the Curb.
While there’s no denying that big-legged rookie Mason Crosby has impressive credentials, it would be a mistake to underestimate incumbent kicker Dave Rayner. The ex-Michigan State star is coming off a pretty solid rookie season, and oh yeah, he’s no slouch himself when it comes to leg strength. “Rayner doesn’t have to take a back seat to anybody in that regard,” said a former scout. “The ball explodes off his foot. I doubt you’ll see much of a difference between the two once training camp begins.” Look for Crosby to get slightly better hang-time and distance on kickoffs and Rayner to be a bit more accurate on field goals. “It should be a spirited competition,” added the scout....
__________________________________________________ _______________________________________
Fan's view: "Dave Rayner:...one of the strongest legs in the NFL. He has great range...is consistant with the short ones...some accuracy problems with some of the longer kicks but converted 9 of 14 from 40+...Rayner was ranked 26th in FG % last year...displayed great ability to kickoff. Mason Crosby:...one of the strongest legs in the NCAA...showed outstanding range and good accuracy...kicking at high altitude helped him a lot...yet great kicks at lower altitudes...lack of late season consistency under pressure lead to fall in the draft."
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