1) Introduction: The 2010 season would be Mason Crosby’s fourth as a Packer. Coming off of a disappointing 2009, where Crosby regressed a bit rather than improved, he had some work to do to justify the incentive clause he earned, doubling his salary.
For anyone who doesn’t know, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Mason Crosby. If I’m an NFL coach, my placekicker needs to at least hit 80% of his attempts, which Crosby has never done. I’ve ranted about what I perceive as the unwarranted confidence the Packers show in Crosby ( Mason Crosby: Mediocrity Rewarded). I’ve lampooned Crosby (Mason Crosby Finds the Answer to His Problems). But despite all of this, I promise to try to stay objective in this evaluation.
2) Profile
Mason Walker Crosby
Position: K
Height: 6-1 Weight: 212 lbs.
Born: September 3, 1984 in Lubbock, TX
College: Colorado (school history) (Crosby college stats)
Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 6th round (194th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft.
3) Expectations coming into the season for that player: Be a more consistent kicker. The Packers brought no other kickers into camp, allowing Crosby to totally focus on correcting his right hashmark and confidence issues from 2009. Mike McCarthy expressed full confidence that Crosby would be “just fine” and expected as much.
4) Player’s highlights/lowlights: Crosby came out on fire in the Packers’ first game against the Eagles. He hit field goals of 49 and 56 yards, had 3 PATs and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. His proudest moment was surely in the Super Bowl, hitting a 23-yard field goal with 2:07 remaining for the Packers’ final points. His biggest disappointment was probably hitting the upright with seven seconds left and a chance to win the game versus the Redskins. It was a 53 yarder with plenty of distance, and his second miss on the day.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Average. Crosby did not have many game-winning opportunities in 2010. He was called upon to salvage three points when the Packers offense sputtered, and did so at 78.6% average, an improvement over 2009’s 75%, but still below the 80% magic number.
6) Player’s contributions during the 6-win end-of-season run: Significant. Crosby made five of six field goal attempts over the Packers’ last six games, with his only miss a meaningless 4th quarter try against the Falcons. While he wasn’t called upon to hit a game winner, his late field goal in the Super Bowl insured the Steelers had to try to score a touchdown, rather than just get themselves in field goal position. Like the rest of the Packers, Crosby found his groove over those last six games.
Season Report Card:
(C+) Level of expectations met during the season
(C+) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(A) Contributions to team’s success during the playoff run (last 6 games)
Overall Grade for the year: B
——————
Follow Jersey Al:
Follow @JerseyAlGBP
Add to Circleson
Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
——————
Mason Crosby: the reason I keep Pepto Bismol in my house during football season
Did he have a relatively solid season? Sure. However, less than 80% on field goal completions for the 4th consecutive year is not what is expected of someone who definitely has the leg strength. Until he can get over this obstacle, he simply cannot be consisdered an elite kicker. Instead he is what he is-inconsistent
I agree ,but remember his percentage is low because he is asked to kick some long field goals that other kickers would not even attempt.Also don,t forget that he is very good on kick offs.I can easily live with Crosby as our kicker.
Crosby had 4 attempts over 50 yards and made 2. Looking at other kickers, 4 attempts is about the average. He had 10 attempts from 40-49 yards and made 8. Again, about average. So I wouldn’t use the argument that he takes so many more long attempts (at least not this year). But you could argue that his made percentage on those kicks this year was at least average, if not better. On kickoffs, however, Crosby had his worst season, average-wise. But I will give him this; the Packers did use more squib and pooch kicks this season to try to neutralize dangerous returners. Overall, I think my grade was pretty fair.