Rookie kicker Anders Carlson has missed 11 kicks during the first week of training camp, but the Green Bay Packers remain committed to patience with the ups and downs of a young specialist.
Carlson, a sixth-round pick, is 16-of-27 on field goals to open training camp.
“No concerns right now,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said Friday. “It is the National Football League, you have to perform at every position. At the same time, we went into this year knowing rookie kickers will have some struggles, with the thought process that there will be some patience.”
Carlson was a 71 percent kicker at Auburn. He’s made only 59 percent to start training camp, although the majority of kicks have been from 45 yards or longer.
Mason Crosby probably didn’t miss 11 field goal attempts during the majority of his training camps in Green Bay. So, how much patience do the Packers have in a rookie kicker?
Carlson’s leg power is not in question. He can boom the ball with his right leg; the Packers clearly saw enough pure kicking talent to take him in the draft. But consistently getting the ball through the uprights is the name of the game, and Carlson hasn’t been good enough to start camp.
It’s on the rookie and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia to get whatever problems exist corrected. So far, the Packers haven’t added competition, but adding a kicker will have to be considered if the misses keep adding up.
The pressure is going to start increasing. Carlson will do live kicking at Lambeau Field during Family Night on Saturday. He’ll kick in Cincinnati, either during the joint practice or during the opening preseason game. The next seven days are vital. In fact, by the end of next week, Carlson could either have the kicking job all but locked up or be sitting on the hottest of hot seats.
