Why did Masthay Kicked Off Instead of Crosby?

[Passepartout]

As Crosby had a great TB percentage in the past couple of years? Just wondering out of curiousity!

 

[Forget Favre]

As Crosby had a great TB percentage in the past couple of years? Just wondering out of curiousity!

Because he can tackle?

 

[adambr2]

Because Masthay has a stronger kickoff leg.

 

[HyponGrey]

Because Masthay has a stronger kickoff leg.

This. We found that out thanks to Tavecchio. Not sure I like it since Ginger got a lot more work than Crosby last game.

Because he can tackle?

Crosby can tackle too, and has made more than his share of saving tackles. If I had to grade them though, Masthay would definitely grade higher.

 

[weeds]

I thought Masthay was going to launch that one kick into the first row. No question, boom the sucker out of the end zone and extend our S.T. coach's career.

 

[PFanCan]

Wasn't Crosby supposed to have a strong kick? Masthay puts him to shame. I love seeing the opposing team starting on the 20 rather than the usual 25-35 yard line as had become normal with Crosby's kicks and coverage...

 

[Bus Cook]

Carl Gerbschmidt over at Packer Planet might be better equipped to address this.

 

[7thFloorRA]

They should let Masthay kick absurdly long field goals in practice in case that rare opportunity presents itself. Could have sent him out there for a 70 yarder the other day!!!!

 

[Bensalama21]

Wasn't Crosby supposed to have a strong kick? Masthay puts him to shame. I love seeing the opposing team starting on the 20 rather than the usual 25-35 yard line as had become normal with Crosby's kicks and coverage...

Because Masthay has a stronger kickoff leg.

Crosby still is a top 3 or 4 kicker for kick power... The theory behind this move is that the kickoffs would throw off Crosby's field goal accuracy. I can actually vouch for that because I was the cornerback/field goal kicker back in high school and we had the punter do kickoffs since it's hard getting in a rhythm for one or the other.

 

[PFanCan]

Crosby still is a top 3 or 4 kicker for kick power... The theory behind this move is that the kickoffs would throw off Crosby's field goal accuracy. I can actually vouch for that because I was the cornerback/field goal kicker back in high school and we had the punter do kickoffs since it's hard getting in a rhythm for one or the other.

Makes sense to me. However, one would think that with Crosby's "strong leg", he would be able to kick out of the endzone during kickoffs, rather than his usual.

 

[gatorpack]

As Crosby had a great TB percentage in the past couple of years? Just wondering out of curiousity!

Because Tim can kick them out of the stadium? It is hard to believe that we never used him before after seeing what he can do.

 

[Rodgers in the House]

His tackling ability is superior to half those on defense.

 

[RockyRaccoon]

His tackling ability is superior to half those on defense.

Let's put him in at safety!

 

[Bensalama21]

Makes sense to me. However, one would think that with Crosby's "strong leg", he would be able to kick out of the endzone during kickoffs, rather than his usual.

Maybe because he doesn't do full power on kickoffs purposely for that reason. Crosby can kick it through the endzone when he wants to (saw it when I was watching some practices)... Maybe that's correlated to him not wanting to strain his leg.

 

[El Guapo]

If I remember, the Vikings signed Rhys Lloyd to do kickoffs for Longwell a few years ago. It occasionally happens in the NFL. I think that it makes more sense for the punters to do it in general

 

[adambr2]

If I remember, the Vikings signed Rhys Lloyd to do kickoffs for Longwell a few years ago. It occasionally happens in the NFL. I think that it makes more sense for the punters to do it in general

How so? Not saying I disagree, just curious why it makes more sense. For me it's just simply whichever one has the stronger leg. Accuracy is no real issue on kickoffs as long as you can put it in the field.

 

[Passepartout]

Also think that the KOs may have hurt Crosby in FGs last year. As the team may want to concentrate on him doing FGs and Extra Points. So that he won't have a disappointing season like last year.

 

[El Guapo]

How so? Not saying I disagree, just curious why it makes more sense. For me it's just simply whichever one has the stronger leg. Accuracy is no real issue on kickoffs as long as you can put it in the field.

My personal opinion of course, but FG kicking is a mix of accuracy/precision, art, and leg strength. Kickoffs are just brute force. Until last year's rule change, you still wanted someone to kick towards the sideline but not out of bounds, so you needed a little accuracy. Now it's just leg strength to kick it out of the end zone and avoid a return.

Therefore, I think that it's hard for some kickers to switch back and forth between the mentalities of kicking for accuracy and just kicking as far as you can. Some do it just fine, but maybe could even kick better if their sole focus is field goals. They are specialists....let them specialize