Cory's Corner: Confidence Is Rising With Anders Carlson
The rookie kicker had a spotty preseason, but he has shown plenty of promise halfway through the regular season.
I wasn’t exactly sure about handing the reins off to a rookie kicker.
Especially when he’s stepping into size 24 shoes after following the franchise career scoring leader.
The Packers will be going to Pittsburgh on Sunday as they face off against one of the best pass rushing teams in the league. (Is it too soon to bring up T.J. Watt?)
This game will likely be close. Four games have been decided by one score this season — including two by one point.
That’s where Anders Carlson comes in. The Packers will need their rookie kicker this Sunday when the Steelers defense is driving Jordan Love and the Packers offense nuts.
Carlson has carved out a solid rookie season after many were ready to write him off after he struggled so mightily in the preseason. He’s 11-for-13 this season, including 2-for-2 from 50 yards and longer and he’s also a perfect 15-for-15 on point after kicks.
That’s pretty solid for a rookie campaign. He’s made 84.6 percent of his kicks, which is surprisingly ahead of Justin Tucker’s 84.2. I’m not saying that Carlson is a Hall of Fame kicker, but he is doing a solid job as a freshman kicker in the NFL.
I’ll be honest. When the Packers took him in the sixth round this past spring, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Solid kickers can usually be found as undrafted rookie free agents and the Packers decided that Carlson was a warranted pick.
But then he hit a 57-yard field goal vs. Seattle in preseason — which technically is one yard longer than Mason Crosby’s team record boot of 56 yards. But since it was preseason, it didn’t count.
Carlson’s biggest issue was the extra point. He was 6-for-9 and many people were wondering why the Packers decided to move on from the reliable Mason Crosby.
The Packers will be seeing more close games the rest of the season. But I am very confident about how things will go bases on Carlson’s rising confidence and his impressive leg.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (13)
dgtalmn
November 11, 2023 at 06:32 am
No matter who is kicking, it always has me sitting on the edge of my seat and praying. LOL. Crosby was ruining the average age for the players.
HawkPacker
November 11, 2023 at 07:14 am
So very happy for Anders Carlson and for that matter, all of us Packer fans!
Boneman
November 11, 2023 at 07:36 am
He's doing what he is supposed to do. Nothing more and nothing less. I'll wait till the end of the year for a final review but so far so good. Let's see a few more pressure kicks to gage his nerves and resolve.
Oppy
November 11, 2023 at 07:44 am
Let's wait for freezing temperatures. Championship football takes place in the months of november and December, and the Packers play in Green Bay, WI in the elements.
You can be great in warmer weather, but for a kicker to succeed in Green Bay, you've got to be able to kick it when the ball is slick and hard as a rock.
PackerBO
November 11, 2023 at 09:34 am
So far so good. I am thinking the same thing, when winter comes to town let us see what happens. J.k. Scott didn't do well in the cold. Just saying
stockholder
November 11, 2023 at 08:00 am
Why doesn't his uniform fit?
He always had a loose uniform at Auburn.
The tales were tucked in.
And it looks like he’s wearing sliding pants.
The guy should try going Commando.
I think if there is a accuracy problem.
It will start with what he's wearing first.
Since'75
November 11, 2023 at 08:30 am
Well....that is just weird....lol
The fashion Police! 😲
LeotisHarris
November 11, 2023 at 08:38 am
One of your best posts, sh. Enthusiastic thumbs-up! It's good to remind the fanbase that football is 5% Xs and Os, 10% effort, and 85% fashion.
I had no idea Mason had such big feet! I know Rex Ryan always wanted to make a trade for Crosby; that must have been the driver. Man, to think of Mason in the company of Carl Hairston, Bob Lanier, and Shaq blows my mind.
PackerBO
November 11, 2023 at 09:36 am
LMAO, good one
dobber
November 11, 2023 at 09:56 am
Apparently it's at least a couple percent underpants (or lack thereof).
SicSemperTyrannis
November 11, 2023 at 03:19 pm
This makes me wonder about Rich Bisaccia
NFLfan
November 11, 2023 at 09:58 am
@ LH:
I appreciate your levity and wit. (during these trying times)
Ferrari-Driver
November 11, 2023 at 11:00 am
I was pulling for the Packers to draft Jake Moody who was the kicker for Michigan last year. He was a cold weather kicker with a strong leg and just struck me as a guy who would be good under pressure. However, he was drafted by the 49ers. While I was caught off guard when the Packers drafted Carlson, he has turned out excellent so far. Both Moody for the 49ers and Carlson for the Packers have both been solid so far. Moody has made 80 percent of his field goal attempts and all extra points and Carlson made 84 percent and all extra points as well. Both showed off a strong leg with Moody making a long of 57, followed closely by Carlson with one of 56 yards. The biggest difference so far is that the 49ers spent a 3rd round draft choice for a good looking rookie kicker and the Packers used a 6th round draft choice for a different good looking rookie kicker.