Mason Crosby

[Noodle]

I wonder if he's a guy who relies on a lot of body torque for his kicks. Patler says he has a punchy swing, and that that's good, but it seemed to me his style relies on a rock solid plant with lots of body twist.

I like the idea of him practicing for the rest of the year outside on a filed soaked in 10W-40. If he's going to play here, he's got to get a style that will work with the footing problems we always have, especially late in the year. I'm a little surprised the coaches haven't already exposed him to that.

And Patler is dead on about the kid being a player. He can cut an angle and bring some wood. The kid never got the props he deserved in the Philly game for his hit that caused the fumble on Philly's last possession. Kid's a baller. I just hope he's not a twister.

[CaliforniaCheez]

I can see why his kicks were aimed left.

[The Leaper]

Re: Mason Crosby

So far this season I am not convinced he was the one to keep.

So what has Rayner done so far this year? Did he win a game on the opening weekend? Is he 12 for 12 somewhere?

The guy missed one FG by about 5 feet...and doinks another one off the upright...and you are ready to label him a failure?

He has all the tools to be a very good kicker in the NFL for a long time. If you can't see that, you aren't looking.

[Patler]

I didn't see the first miss, I had to take a phone call and they didn't replay it. The second hit the upright. It had plenty of height, plenty of distance, just a little bit off line. Six inches over and no one even raises a question about Crosby.

He's 10 of 13, with crucial kicks having been made. Yes, he still has to prove himself, but I don't think we should be concerned yet.

[MJZiggy]

I can see why his kicks were aimed left.

Maybe he can make that adjustment for the next game...

[Sparkey]

Brave guy to not wear a cup whilst on the gridiron.......


BTW, part of him knew he would miss it left..... lol

[MJZiggy]

Ryan doesn't either. Must get in the way or something.

[Little Whiskey]

talk about a tough player. the guy has made a few tackles on SP and wears no pads or cup.

[Merlin]

Does anyone else have the same concerns?

That is the question.

If anyone can show me where I said we should dump they guy, he sucks, and all of that, please feel free to show me.

Also, if anyone can show me where I deserved to be called a "clown" for stating my opinion I would like to see that to.

Like I have always said, when people don't read or don't have a valid argument, they resort to distorting what was written and name calling.

[MJZiggy]

My concerns lead more toward the idea that he is exactly like Rayner than that he might be worse than Rayner.

[run pMc]

Well, I'm not saying you're a clown.

Long-term I have no concerns. He seems to have the right demeanor and a strong leg for a K. I think he'll put this game behind him and he'll be fine.
Short-term I do have some concerns, if only because the next time he lines up in bad weather I'll be holding my breath. The weather at Lambeau is nasty for kickers...that's a big reason why Longwell, Bidwell, etc., left.
(insert your favorite Appleby's joke here)
Once he gets thru a full season I think he'll have a better idea for what he has to deal with. In the meantime I hope the coaches prep him as much as they can and that he does well.

[Merlin]

My concerns lead more toward the idea that he is exactly like Rayner than that he might be worse than Rayner.

Interesting thought, Rayner and Crosby are similar kickers. Normally with a strong leg you lose accuracy to some degree. Crosby seemed to be a better kicker from farther out then Rayner but Rayner looked better closer in. Kick off -wise I don't think Rayner put his whole body into it like Crosby does so I am sure that is why he was slipping on some kick offs. When Rayner would miss, it would be all over the place. That's what my concern was with him. With Crosby, he was pulling them to the left and it didn't look like he was making an adjustment to change it. I wouldn't have wanted to make the decision between the two but I would have liked to see how Rayner would do for us after a season under his belt.

[Patler]

Does anyone else have the same concerns?

That is the question.

If anyone can show me where I said we should dump they guy, he sucks, and all of that, please feel free to show me.

Also, if anyone can show me where I deserved to be called a "clown" for stating my opinion I would like to see that to.

Like I have always said, when people don't read or don't have a valid argument, they resort to distorting what was written and name calling.

Of all the responses to your post, it appears all but one simply respectfully disagreed with your concern. I wouldn't worry too much about the one response.

That being said, your initial post didn't come right out and say it, but there was a confrontational overtone seemingly indicating a strongly negative feeling on your part about Crosby. It seemed more than just a "concern".

You wrote:

So far this season I am not convinced he was the one to keep. His first poor weather performance in Lambeau and he misses two of three. His kick offs were shaky as well. All I heard before the kicker decision was made is that he is a cold weather kicker and how much better then Rayner he is and that he was younger and youth is the better way to go. It wasn't proven in camp that he was the better kicker, it was a tie. His first cold weather game he chokes, and he is only a year younger then Rayner. So before I get all of the "sky is falling" bs from the people who support 3T and think we are all that and a bag of chips (basically those of you who like to take shit out of context), does anyone else have the same concerns?

He didn't look confident at all out there to me and that is a regression as far as I am concerned. I am not looking for anyone to jump off their bandwagon here but if your kicker in a close game at Lambeau in the weather chokes, that isn't a good thing.

So you are upset because one poster referred to you as a "clown"
But you pre-emptively categorized others opinions as "bs"?
I think you could have anticipated one or two strong reactions.

Personally, I think you over-reacted to one game. Maybe it will be a pattern and he will not be suited for GB. I won't be concerned until it is repeated.

[The Leaper]

Also, if anyone can show me where I deserved to be called a "clown" for stating my opinion I would like to see that to.

You are a clown for suggesting a rookie kicker, who was 9-for-10 coming into the game including a game winner, should be viewed as not having much potential after one game where he wasn't quite on.

Where's your diatribe about Jones? His mistakes actually contributed to a loss.

If Crosby was taking out fans sitting on the goal line with duck hooks, I could see your concern. The fact of the matter was that both of his misses were damn close to being makes. It was the first poor footing game he had in Lambeau. He'll make adjustments and move on. Maybe you'll have reason to yap about your concern if he continues to struggle. Until that point, you are most certainly a clown...the kid won our opener, which helped give this team a lot of confidence.

The kid's leg is too strong and his technique too sound to worry about his potential at this point. Rayner couldn't even get on the field to kick as a rookie, so Crosby is clearly way ahead of Rayner at similar points in their careers.

[Patler]

With Crosby, he was pulling them to the left and it didn't look like he was making an adjustment to change it.

But he did, didn't he? As I said I did not see the first miss, as I was called to the phone. I heard it was wide left by some amount. The second miss hit the upright, so he did bring it back right, just not quite enough. Six inches more and it goes through and we probably aren't even having this discussion.

Many kickers have said that wind in Lambeau is very tricky to deal with. Crosby will likely be learning about it for several years before fully understanding it.