The Green Bay Packers are looking to upgrade their special teams this offseason. In light of the new rules for kickoffs, there is a great deal that they need to consider. Last year, they made the decision to move on from franchise leading scorer Mason Crosby. Instead of bringing him back, they handed the job to 2023 NFL Draft pick Anders Carlson.
The results of this move were inconsistent at best. Carlson struggled from training camp onward, making just 87.8% of his extra point attempts. His 81.8% made field goal percentage, however, was slightly higher than Crosby’s career percentage (81.2%).
Anders Carlson’s Inconsistency Cost the Green Bay Packers Multiple Wins
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
Including the Packers’ two NFL Playoffs games, Carlson missed at least one kick in 11 of 19 games played. Going into the season, Green Bay’s coaching staff knew that there would be growing pains with their rookie kicker.
That being said, the Packers, as a whole, were a lot more competitive than many believed they would be. They finished with a 9-8 record and upset the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round. Had Carlson been even a smidge more reliable, their record (and their season) could have looked even better than it was.
Of course, there is never just one reason why a team loses any given game. It is a combination of multiple factors. However, it is hard to ignore the fact that the score differentials in multiple Packers’ losses could have been improved (and, thus, resulting in wins):
- Week Six- Denver Broncos 19, Packers 17: Carlson missed field goal
- Week 13: New York Giants 24, Packers 22: Carlson missed field goal
- NFC Divisional Round: San Francisco 49ers 24, Packers 21, Carlson missed field goal
Again, there were multiple reasons why the Packers lost these games. However, the unreliable kicking game did not help.
The Green Bay Packers Signed Former Minnesota Vikings Kicker Greg Joseph
Due to Carlson’s struggles in 2023, the Packers decided that they would not just give him the job again in 2024. He very well could be the starting kicker again, but he is going to face competition in camp.
According to Greg Joseph’s agent, the Packers signed his client to a contract and a chance to compete for the starting job:
The Green Bay Packers are signing my client Greg Joseph who kicked for the Minnesota Vikings the past 3 seasons. Holds the NFL record for game-winners in a season (5), Vikings record for longest FG (61 yds), & led NFL in TB% in ’21. Had other interest but liked this opportunity.
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) March 26, 2024
As Tessler notes, Joseph has some significant NFL accomplishments; however, earning the job over Carlson may not be the slam dunk some may think it is.
How Greg Joseph Compared to Anders Carlson in 2023
Last season, Joseph had a field goal percentage of 80%, which was lower than Carlson’s (listed above), but missed just two extra points. In terms of field goals of 40 yards or longer, both kickers were 7/13.
In 2022, Joseph had just a 78.7% field goal percentage missed six extra points, good (bad?) for a 87% conversion rate on those attempts.
In other words, Joseph’s 2022 season was even worse than Carlson’s rookie season, albeit not by much.
The main takeaway here, though, is that the Packers are not giving the job to anyone and both kickers will need to show improvements in order to win it.
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