Rookie Report: Mason Crosby (K-- GB)

By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer

In looking back on Green Bay’s unexpected return to prominence in the NFC North this year, most fans will immediately point to Brett Favre’s dramatic comeback season or the defensive unit’s coming of age as key factors, but one component that’s been often overlooked is rock-solid kicking phenom, Mason Crosby who’s been delighting diehard cheeseheads with his pinpoint- accurate field goals and booming kickoffs.

Pegged by many to fall within the first three rounds of the 2007 NFL Draft, the University of Colorado placekicker was finally chosen with the 193rd pick of the sixth round on the heels of a collegiate career that saw him become the first player in the Big 12 to be named player of the week eight times.

During his four-year experience, the Lubbock, Texan dazzled fans by converting 138 of his 203 kickoffs into touchbacks. His accuracy, additionally, was also off the charts as he connected on 66 of 88 field goal attempts.

At the start of his first professional season, Crosby was faced with challenge of unseating incumbent kicker Dave Raymer who scored 109 points for the Green and Gold in 2006.
The 23-year-old wasted no time in making a case for himself by nailing a 52-yard field goal in his first preseason game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field---the longest field goal ever kicked in that stadium.

Upon claiming the starting kicker’s role, the former Buffalo began the regular season in grand style by going three-for-three on his field goal attempts which included a 53-yarder and a 42-yard kick with only seconds remaining as Green Bay outscored Philadelphia 16-13 in an early-season thriller.

The 6’ 1” 212-pound Crosby went on to become a very reliable contributor to a high-scoring offense and dispelled all concerns that his success as a collegian was nothing more than a product of the thin Colorado air.

A howitzer leg along with a perfect success rate on extra points have allowed Crosby to lead all NFL kickers in scoring with 131 points heading into the last week of the season.

Ranked first overall among placekickers by the 2007edition of the NFL Draft Bible , Crosby may very well be the best kicking prospect to enter the professional ranks since Sebastian Janikowski entered the league in 2000.

In the past, this special-teams marvel has proven to have the temperament to handle pressure when called upon to make game-deciding plays and is also versatile enough to handle punting duties if necessary.

In a league where field position is vital to the outcome of games, Crosby’s kickoff prowess is the ultimate secret weapon in forcing opposing squads to put together long drives in their hopes to generate points. Crosby’s exceptional ability in this area may prove crucial during postseason play, particularly in home games that may very well be played in less-than-desirable winter conditions.