I don't think that will fully be the case. The Packers have a ton of information on Mason and know what he offers. Eberle is a wild card, he is really going to have to totally shine for the Packers to decide to save a few million by going with someone they aren't fully confident in.
I agree.
Yes. He could just be a contingency plan. It’s rare, but if a K misses any contest (e.g. Family death, illness, Covid protocol, suspension, injury on or off the field etc..) we should always have an alternate plan.
I know, Eberle is the favorite (by you) to make the roster, so I want the 5-2 odds.FWIW in a competition among two players the one with the odds at 5-2 of winning the job is the underdog
I meant to compare the last 4 years of each kickers' career, but F'd up the stats, anyway. Since 2017 Crosby has averaged 64.2 yds. Eberle's average since 2017 was just over 61 yds, spanning 3 collegiate seasons and one in the NFL (the 8 kicks you referred to). Those 3+ yds per kickoff is very concerning, as that would be a significant change in field position unless hang-time is more (which I don't have any info).
Yup....a very important stat for sure. The only reason I wished Crosby could have kicked balls out of the EZ, was because our coverage teams were so bad. If our ST unit improves, the shorter, but higher kicks, that must be returned, can actually be a good thing. Forces the opposing team to return the ball and if you have good coverage, you may stop them short of the 25, have them take a penalty or the best case, turn the ball over.
True that. Until we field a Return guy that can average considerably higher than 25.0.
If Mason has consecutive years where his stats go down that's not a decline
Or just been another guy. As much as people, myself included, love to play the "had we just done this" game, there are too many unknowns at the time of the decision in question, as well as all the variables that change, with a changed decision. Nobody can say with certainty, picking another player, improves the team. Nor can one say it made the team better. It is what it us.
Supposedly he's got some small "mechanics" flaws which affect accuracy. Apparently Minnesota didn't or couldn't fix them so they cut him. He needs a kicking guru in his face for a few weeks...or a desperate team willing to live with those flaws.
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