As the Packers try to find their way in the the post-Mason Crosby era, the kicker position has been highly scrutinized. Anders Carlson entered this training camp on shaky ground after a rookie season where he made 81.8% of his kicks, but missed at least one kick in each of the final five games. Critical misses in key moments have colored his early tenure. But by following the model of Mason Crosby’s career, the Packers can still extract the value from Anders they hoped to get when they drafted him in the sixth round last year.
A Slow Start, But a Strong Finish
Anders Carlson’s 2024 training camp was a rollercoaster. He started poorly, missing 6 of his first 31 kicks in the early weeks. This left many questioning his fitness to keep the job. However, as the weeks progressed, so did Carlson’s performance. His accuracy improved significantly, making 35 of his next 42 attempts. This steady improvement underscores Carlson’s potential to grow into the role.
Comparing to the Legend: Anders Carlson vs. Mason Crosby
It’s almost unfair to compare Anders Carlson to Mason Crosby, who had a long and storied career with the Packers, ultimately becoming their all-time leading scorer. Yet, when we look at the numbers, the comparison becomes intriguing. During training camp, despite frustrating misses like Saturday vs. Baltimore, Carlson’s overall success rate (81.6%) is actually better than Crosby’s career average (81.3%).
In 2012, Crosby hit a career-low 63.6% of his field goals, but the Packers stood by him, a decision that paid off as Crosby returned to form in subsequent seasons. This historical context suggests that patience with a kicker, especially one with Carlson’s potential, is a sound strategy.
The Path Forward: Trusting the Process
For Anders Carlson to help propel the Packers to the Super Bowl, consistent improvement is key. The kick he missed last week is actually the first 30-39 yard miss of his career. He has been really solid from that range, so those issues are unlikely to persist. The 2024 season will likely have its ups and downs, much like his camp performance. Packer fans will each say a silent prayer every time he goes out to kick.
But Carlson has actually improved throughout camp, and just as the Packers once stood by Crosby during his struggles, they should extend the same patience to Carlson.
The investment in him, both in terms of draft capital and development time, should not be hastily abandoned. If Carlson continues improving on his current trajectory, the Packers may yet find the long-term solution at kicker is already on the roster.
