Pack All Set on Special Teams

For the first time in many years, the Packers appear set at special teams heading into the season. With the recent news of a lucrative (at least in terms of punters) extension for Tim Masthay, all five key special teams positions are filled for the foreseeable future. The Packers have had all kinds of problems on special teams in the 2000’s which included an 11 year kick return touchdown drought, awful punting, shaky kicking and poor personnel decisions. It seems that Ted Thompson has finally heeded the warnings of head coach Mike McCarthy and dedicated some significant resources to getting special teams back on track. Each of the five key positions have been addressed as follows, listed in increasing order of importance in my opinion.

Long snapper Brett Goode was brought in at the beginning of the 2008 season to replace the venerable Rob Davis. He has provided excellent continuity at the position following Davis’ 12 year stint, and has maintained a perfect record of zero wild snaps. The only reason I consider this position to be the least important of the five key special teams positions is because it’s likely the easiest to find a replacement for. If you don’t think a long snapper is important, ask yourself how comfortable you’d be snapping a ball 30 feet behind you, in the snow, as time expires, with the season on the line, 80,000 people watching, each one fully EXPECTING you to execute flawlessly. I’m a little nervous just thinking about it.

The aforementioned 11 year drought of kickoff returns for a touchdown was a painful one to live through. It was the longest such streak in the league the day it was broken. It was 21 year old Randall Cobb that took a ball out from eight yards deep in the endzone (in direct opposition to his coaches’ orders), barrel rolled a would-be tackler, and out-legged the coverage for six. Though the spectacular play elicited nothing more than a wry smile from Mike McCarthy, he was no doubt excited at the possibility that he had finally found a difference maker in the return game. Back-up return man Sam Shields has electrifying speed to be sure, but lacks the vision and instincts Cobb showed all season last year. It’s safe to say we’ve come a long way from sending our third string running back onto the field simply because he likely wouldn’t fumble.

It takes balls to be a punt returner. Plain and simple. The reason I feel a reliable punt returner is slightly more important than a kick returner is because there is more risk involved. If a kick returner muffs the catch, the play likely ends in a touchback or poor field position. If a punt returner muffs his chance, he’ll be hit HARD, will have at best a 50 percent chance at recovering the ball, and will potentially give great field position to the opposing offense. A punt return for a touchdown is certainly exciting and a huge boost for the team, but fielding punts is more about field position and ball security. Greg Jennings and Charles Woodson have both shown that ability in the past, but eventually proved too important in their respective full time roles to risk injury on special teams. Once again, the precocious Randall Cobb has proven fearless and reliable with punt coverage gunners bearing down on him. Quick side note on punt returners, am I the only one who thought Charles Woodson should have been returning punts all along? Yes there is some injury risk, but the guy has sure hands, has proven he can find the end zone and has not blood but ice coursing through his veins. He’s said he’d like to play offense, special teams always seemed like a nice compromise to me. Anyway…

On the heels of a franchise record setting season both in terms of average yards per punt, and net average yards per punt, Tim Masthay has been signed to a four-year, $5.45 million extension. This may seem like big money for a punter (and it is), but I think he’s worth every penny. Field position is absolutely crucial in the game of football, and the punter plays nearly as big of a role in determining that as anybody. Masthay has proven to be consistent, unfazed by the often inclement Lambeau weather and quite capable of punting with both power and accuracy. It’s refreshing to see solid punting rewarded instead of taken for granted in Green Bay for a change. Keep it up Ginger Wolverine.

Now I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that Mason Crosby is the next Adam Vinatieri, ok? I’m just not. But here’s the deal, kicking field goals in Green Bay sucks. A cold football travels differently than a room temperature football, it feels different on your foot (kind of painful, but this ain’t the freakin ice-capades) and snowy, soggy turf makes your plant foot a fickle friend at best. Crosby has five years of experience doing it, has made just about four out of five kicks in his time in Green Bay and has enough leg to kick 58+ yard field goals in real game situations. The shorter kickoffs make touchbacks a breeze for the strong-legged Crosby and he’s not afraid to stick his nose in on a tackle or two. He’s not the best kicker in the league, but we could do A LOT worse at the most important special teams position.