Packers Still Not Sold on Anders Carlson As Their Kicker
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers entered OTAs with three kickers on their 90-man roster. This unusual arrangement was designed for GM Brian Gutekunst to get some competition for Anders Carlson who led the NFL in missed kicks during his rookie season. He also missed a key field goal in the Packers playoff loss to the 49ers. So, the Pack signed veteran Greg Joseph and undrafted free agent Jack Podlesny as competition.
After the offseason program concluded, the Packers released Podlesny. But that doesn’t indicate that Gutekunst now has more confidence in Carlson or Joseph to be the team’s kicker in 2024. Almost immediately after the Packers released Podlesny, it was announced that the team tried to sign Jake Bates who was the All-UFL kicker. Bates instead signed with Detroit.
Then, the following day, the Packers announced they had signed James Turner who the Lions placed on waivers after they signed Bates.
Turner kicked for the national champion Michigan Wolverines last season after transferring from Louisville where he served as the team’s primary kicker for three seasons.
Turner made 65-of-66 extra points for Michigan last season while connecting on 18-of-21 field goals.
Like Carlson, Turner has a strong leg. He hit on 3-of-4 field goal tries from 50 or more yards last season. During his pro day earlier this year, he hit a field goal of 63 yards.
Now he has a chance to prove he can kick in the NFL as the Packers prepare for training camp.
Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia already indicated before OTAs started that the team could bring in more kickers before training camp started. His words turned out to be prophetic.
“It might be those three. It might be three other ones. I don’t know. It might be six,” Bisaccia told reporters. “We’re appreciative of Brian [Gutekunst] getting it to the point where it’s at right now, having a three-man competition. We’ll see how long we can keep that going. There are some things going on in a bunch of different leagues, so we’re going to keep investigating to try to end up with the best player we possibly can.”
Joseph survived OTAs and minicamp although clearly the Packers are not sold on him just yet either. The former Florida Atlantic star has put up solid numbers with the Vikings. Over the last three seasons, he made 82.6 percent of his field goals. Of course, all of his home games were played indoors so he never had to worry about the cold weather and swirling winds that he would face at Lambeau Field in the second half of the season.
The battle will continue into training camp and may even last into the regular season. The Packers invested a draft pick in Carlson, so ideally, they would like him to succeed, but they aren’t confident enough in him to stop bringing in more candidates for the job like Turner.
At the conclusion of minicamp, head coach Matt LaFleur said that Carlson had a “pretty solid spring.” That’s praise, but hardly a full-throated endorsement. “I think all these guys have kind of had their moments, but I think particularly of late, he’s done a really nice job,” LaFleur added.
Carlson is trying to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Daniel. The older Carlson brother was released by the Minnesota Vikings after missing several kicks in his rookie season against the Packers. He later signed with the Raiders and developed into an All-Pro kicker after an inconsistent start. His special teams coach with the Raiders was Bisaccia.
Anders Carlson has certainly spoken to his brother about his growth from an inconsistent rookie to one of the better kickers in the NFL. “He talked about his rookie year and things he’s learned from that,” Carlson said. “I think I have a lot to learn as well. It’s about learning from it, but also just kind of moving on and focusing on where you’re at now, being present where you’re at.”
Carlson hopes to follow in his brother’s footsteps. Meanwhile, the Packers hope to find the right kicker to help the team contend for a Super Bowl this season and beyond.
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Comments (12)
Oppy
June 22, 2024 at 01:05 pm
For whatever reason, I was blasted last year when I stated that straight up missing extra points - that is to say, misses that aren't tipped or blocked or botched holds- is absolutely unacceptable for an NFL kicker. You can't have it. The extra point is the closest thing to a given score in the NFL. You have to make that kick.
There's great reason for the Packers to continue to make Carlson prove himself and earn his roster spot. Last year wasn't just "not it", it was an abysmal failure.
I'm all for giving young talent you believe in an opportunity to turn a corner- the Packers did it with Crosby (much to Al's chagrin :) ) and it paid off big time in the grand scheme of things. However, Carlson has not demonstrated any spectacular traits that make me feel he's worth extra patience.
I'm rooting for him, but I'm absolutely not attached to him. Prove you've got it figured out or you're gone. You've got all of preseason to make your case, but the Packers shouldn't cut him any slack for being incumbent.
GregC
June 22, 2024 at 01:41 pm
The extra point is a 33-yard kick. Therefore, any kick of less than 33 yards is closer to a given score than an extra point is. And there are lots of attempts that are closer than 33 yards.
Kickers are not expected to make every extra point as they were when it was a 19-yard attempt. That's why the distance was increased--so it would not be an absolute gimme. Mason Crosby missed several of them.
Obviously Carlson missed more than he should have, even if you take away the one that was blocked through no fault of his own. It's unacceptable to have the kicker who misses the most of anyone in the league. But missing maybe two or three per season, depending on the number of attempts of course, is not a big deal.
Oppy
June 23, 2024 at 06:23 am
One difference is every PAT is kicked from the exact same position on the field. Every time. It's never left hash, right hash. It's always right down the middle. It's always the exact same distance. All the variables are minimized, unlike any short FG which is an unknown distance and angle until the kicker steps on the field to make the attempt.
That's why missed PAT's are considered unacceptable- it's the NFL equivalent of the free throw. With exception to the elements, you know precisely where that kick will be attempted from every single time. You can prepare for that kick.
dekan31
June 23, 2024 at 10:50 am
"One difference is every PAT is kicked from the exact same position on the field. Every time. It's never left hash, right hash. It's always right down the middle."
I don't think that's true. Teams (kickers), get to choose where to place the ball pre-snap. So some kickers like one side over the other.
Oppy
June 23, 2024 at 11:23 am
You are absolutely correct, I mispoke.
However, the point still remains- the kicker has 100% control of the placement of the ball, therefore, can always kick the extra point from the same position on the field.
GregC
June 23, 2024 at 11:46 am
"That's why missed PAT's are considered unacceptable- it's the NFL equivalent of the free throw."
Even the best free throw shooters are only around 90%. Many good basketball players are a lot lower than that. Athletes are not machines.
Oppy
June 23, 2024 at 10:52 pm
If Basketball featured a designated Free throw shooter who's specialty was shooting free throws and he wasn't on the court except to "pinch hit" and shoot free throws, you can bet they will be expected to hit 90 or more percent or get fired.
For what it's worth, the league average for extra points in 2023 was ~96%. Carlson was nearly 10% below that average and was among the worst in the league in terms of success rate for PATs. 10% might not sound like much, but when your contemporaries are less than 5% from perfect, and you're 10% less successful than them, that's a big swing.
I understand they "are not machines". That being said, almost every other kicker in the league was better. I'm not sure what you're trying to defend, here. I'm not holding this young man to impossible expectations, considering pretty much every other team has a kicker who is doing a better job of it. Carlson was shit on PAT attempts in 2023, and it has and will cost the Packers wins if he doesn't get it fixed. Get it fixed, or be replaced. You must make extra points.
ricky
June 22, 2024 at 01:28 pm
My biggest wish would be for Carlson and Stokes to tie for most improved players on the Packers at the end of a SB winning season.
LLCHESTY
June 22, 2024 at 01:55 pm
I don't know about kickers, I'm just glad to see Mark Murphy took the time to answer Stockholder's letter. I bet Gutey doesn't!
https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1755957870544195955?t=dyyiylr7QuLcOT...
PatrickGB
June 22, 2024 at 04:04 pm
With the new rules on kickoffs, my concern is “Can he tackle”?
PhantomII
June 22, 2024 at 06:53 pm
I thought we learned how being cheap on ST is a disaster waiting to happen. Get a good VET kicker and PAY HIM. Half of Carlsons problems are the snapper and holder as well. Get the right ST personnel. This is our year...unless we do something dumb AND CHEAP.
Matt
June 23, 2024 at 06:47 pm
I am not as harsh on Carlson as some of us. His numbers are far from impressive, maybe not even good, but at least acceptable for rookie. But there are several problems that stick in my mind:
1. His problem is that misses came mostly in important times, I mean especially this one against SF. It is hard to forget misses like this. Is it a problem with stress or just corelation?
2. Late Crosby was said (and actually was close to this) to be automatic from short to mid distance but having a weaker leg. Carlson was advertised not as accurate (as a young man on his path for perfection) but with stron leg. Unfortunately I didn't see this strong leg in a game - no matter FGs or kickoffs.
3. Overall Carlson's field goals were not bad in my opinion but undeniable problem with XPs is a big red flag.
I was against letting Mason go. Except total points scored, his metrics might not be elite but many people forget where he kicks. It is open, windy, frozen tundra. If I had a 45 yarder to win the game in December I'd go with Silver Fox 10 out of 10 times. My respect for him grew even more during this crazy Bengals game. After many misses he found the curage to go out once again and finish the job. The Man, the character. I wish Anders to follow him.