Packers release K Brandon McManus

[El Guapo]

I am sure that McManus was on a short leash due to his prior legal situation. The way that he handled his injury last year was unusual. I'm sure that and his poor play in the playoffs lead to the drafting of Smack. However, it doesn't make sense to get rid of McManus now. There are no guarantees about Smack but we are pretty sure that a healthy McManus was very good.

I hope that we don't regret this come December/January....or worse, in early September.

What other position would we draft someone in the 6th round and anoint a rookie as the starter?

 

[milani]

I am sure that McManus was on a short leash due to his prior legal situation. The way that he handled his injury last year was unusual. I'm sure that and his poor play in the playoffs lead to the drafting of Smack. However, it doesn't make sense to get rid of McManus now. There are no guarantees about Smack but we are pretty sure that a healthy McManus was very good.

I hope that we don't regret this come December/January....or worse, in early September.

What other position would we draft someone in the 6th round and anoint a rookie as the starter?

One way or another we must fix special teams including the kicker position.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

I was hoping for a kicker competition in camp this year...The old, grizzled veteran vs the promising young rookie, but apparently it was not to be. All our eggs in one basket, betting on the rookie from Florida.

I am hoping it goes well, but I can see how it wouldn't...the names Carlson and Narveson come to mind.

 

[OldSchool101]

I was hoping for a kicker competition in camp this year...The old, grizzled veteran vs the promising young rookie, but apparently it was not to be. All our eggs in one basket, betting on the rookie from Florida.

I am hoping it goes well, but I can see how it wouldn't...the names Carlson and Narveson come to mind.

Yeah those guys didn’t instill much conference. Although I always wondered why we were so hot on Carlson. Due to his brother? Idk.

Carlson had a 98.3% XPM, but was nothing to be impressed by at 71.8% FGM. He had a ton of kicks (wanna say 180?) I didn’t look at his length breakdowns though that does impact %

Breyden Narveson was better, but also not exactly super clean with a 78.3% FGM through College. He did possess a good 9 iron with 100.0% XPM

Trey Smack easily has them all beat at 82.8% FGM. Backing that up with a solid 99.0% XPM

Now if these were 1 season #’s it might be more speculative. But with all having more than 90+ attempts in College (3yrs+ worth) I feel like the sample is substantial there.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Yeah those guys didn’t instill much conference. Although I always wondered why we were so hot on Carlson. Due to his brother? Idk.

Carlson had a 98.3% XPM, but was nothing to be impressed by at 71.8% FGM. He had a ton of kicks (wanna say 180?) I didn’t look at his length breakdowns though that does impact %

Breyden Narveson was better, but also not exactly super clean with a 78.3% FGM through College. He did possess a good 9 iron with 100.0% XPM

Trey Smack easily has them all beat at 82.8% FGM. Backing that up with a solid 99.0% XPM

Now if these were 1 season #’s it might be more speculative. But with all having more than 90+ attempts in College (3yrs+ worth) I feel like the sample is substantial there.

His numbers over a significant stretch are impressive no question.

The thing that does give me a tad of concern is the inherit differences in kicking in Florida vs. kicking late season in Lambeau.

That said, I'm pulling for the kid all the way. Let's hope this turns out to be a draft day-three steal.

 

[Firethorn1001]

I've seen XPM on Smack brought up from college which seems pretty irrelevant given the difference in distances in NFL v college. Hopefully he does better in the 30-39 yard range because in college that was 15-18. He goes 83% on XP attempts for the Packers he will be crushed.

 

[gopkrs]

I've seen XPM on Smack brought up from college which seems pretty irrelevant given the difference in distances in NFL v college. Hopefully he does better in the 30-39 yard range because in college that was 15-18. He goes 83% on XP attempts for the Packers he will be crushed.

Good point

 

[El Guapo]

This whole situation is perplexing. I don't know which veterans are still out there, but something tells me that Gutekunst will bring in a veteran kicker for insurance and a true competition. It could be via free agency or a trade.

Fans can't honestly think that we have a realistic chance at the Super Bowl with our entire 2026 season built upon the hope that a rookie succeeds.

 

[milani]

This whole situation is perplexing. I don't know which veterans are still out there, but something tells me that Gutekunst will bring in a veteran kicker for insurance and a true competition. It could be via free agency or a trade.

Fans can't honestly think that we have a realistic chance at the Super Bowl with our entire 2026 season built upon the hope that a rookie succeeds.

Well, we went with a rookie in 2023 right after the Crosby departure. And did it again going into 2024. We had Joseph in for a tryout in 2024. I think Gute will go with the 2 kids and let them battle it out. If the one we choose flops he will be calling someone.
Remember this. In 2007 we took a chance on rookie Mason Crosby. He had a good season. And we made it to the NFC Championship Game. Crosby made 2 FGs in below zero weather. And had our ST recovered that Giant fumble that was there for the taking, Favre could have got us a first down or two and Crosby could have kicked us to the SB. And I believe he would have.

 

[OldSchool101]

Good point

Interesting. He was basically 83% overall at XPM and 83% 30-39. Now that’s consistency!

 

[milani]

Interesting. He was basically 83% overall at XPM and 83% 30-39. Now that’s consistency!

Kicking stats sometime get swept under the rug if your team wins games convincingly or if you score enough TDs that you don't need FGs.
In 1966 Don Chandler had an erratic year. But in only 1 game did his kicking cause us to lose. He missed 2 chip shots in a 21-20 loss to the 9ers.

 

[DoURant]

Maybe I'm just reading into a bunch of the posts wrong, but we do have 2 kickers on the roster still, with the release of McManus. The job hasn't been given outright to Smack. Lucas Havrisik is still on the roster, vying for the starting job.... the guy who set the all-time Packers record last year with a 61 yard FG, when McManus was injured. Don't get me wrong, Smack probably has the inside track, but he hasn't been given anything, and bringing another Kicker in at this point, makes no sense.

 

[gopkrs]

This whole situation is perplexing. I don't know which veterans are still out there, but something tells me that Gutekunst will bring in a veteran kicker for insurance and a true competition. It could be via free agency or a trade.

Fans can't honestly think that we have a realistic chance at the Super Bowl with our entire 2026 season built upon the hope that a rookie succeeds.

I very much doubt it. We have the competition already. imho

 

[gopkrs]

Interesting. He was basically 83% overall at XPM and 83% 30-39. Now that’s consistency!

I don't understand. College extra points are shorter.

 

[mradtke66]

I don't understand. College extra points are shorter.

He made 99% of his college extra points. The thread has started comparing his field goal percentage around the distance that NFL XPAs are made from.

Which still isn't 1:1 with college hash marks being what they are.

 

[Schultz]

I don't understand. College extra points are shorter.

Yes.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

I've seen XPM on Smack brought up from college which seems pretty irrelevant given the difference in distances in NFL v college. Hopefully he does better in the 30-39 yard range because in college that was 15-18. He goes 83% on XP attempts for the Packers he will be crushed.

We'll have to see how good he is when the temperature is 5 or 6 degrees with a strong wind in his face...I'm guessing there wasn't a lot of that at Florida.

 

[DoURant]

I'm not worried about the weather at this point. Practicing in the elements will help with his kicking in the cold and wind of December and January, at Lambeau.

 

[OldSchool101]

I don't understand. College extra points are shorter.

Correction I meant to say Smack was 83 FGM%. If he was 83% on XPM he’d be the worst PK Ever. Sorry about the confusion there

 

[El Guapo]

Maybe I'm just reading into a bunch of the posts wrong, but we do have 2 kickers on the roster still, with the release of McManus. The job hasn't been given outright to Smack. Lucas Havrisik is still on the roster, vying for the starting job.... the guy who set the all-time Packers record last year with a 61 yard FG, when McManus was injured. Don't get me wrong, Smack probably has the inside track, but he hasn't been given anything, and bringing another Kicker in at this point, makes no sense.

Great point. I guess that Havrisik is our veteran PK.

 

[milani]

We'll have to see how good he is when the temperature is 5 or 6 degrees with a strong wind in his face...I'm guessing there wasn't a lot of that at Florida.

Not even Pensacola.

 

[Schultz]

He made 99% of his college extra points. The thread has started comparing his field goal percentage around the distance that NFL XPAs are made from.

Which still isn't 1:1 with college hash marks being what they are.

Let me try and put a bow around this. Please correct me if I am wrong. He made 99% of his college xtra points which are equivalent to nfl 21 yard fgs. NFL extra points are 38 yards, so someone posted he was 83% from 30- 39 yards. It was then pointed out that it may be apples to oranges since college hash marks are so much wider.

 

[DoURant]

Let me try and put a bow around this. Please correct me if I am wrong. He made 99% of his college xtra points which are equivalent to nfl 21 yard fgs. NFL extra points are 38 yards, so someone posted he was 83% from 30- 39 yards. It was then pointed out that it may be apples to oranges since college hash marks are so much wider.

That would be correct, you have earned an "A" for the day, in deciphering threads.
I do agree with the wider hashmarks comment, there are some extreme angles when kicking FG's from the hashes, as the goalposts aren't wide, and College extra points are set up right down the middle.

 

[milani]

Let me try and put a bow around this. Please correct me if I am wrong. He made 99% of his college xtra points which are equivalent to nfl 21 yard fgs. NFL extra points are 38 yards, so someone posted he was 83% from 30- 39 yards. It was then pointed out that it may be apples to oranges since college hash marks are so much wider.

Thought they were 33 yards.

 

[Schultz]

33, 38 whatever it takes. I just assumed a 5 yard false start penalty.