Five moves that will send the Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl 50
By Josh McPeak
Green Bay Packers special teams coach Shawn Slocum. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Special teams … anything but special
Shawn Slocum and Brad Jones may need to become roommates after this season. Slocum’s special teams ranked the worst in the entire NFL.
The glaring statistic that jumps off the page is the fact Mason Crosby was 34-of-40 on field goals while Micah Hyde enjoyed a great season as a returner and yet they still ranked last.
Three blocked field goals, 2 blocked extra points and 2 blocked punts were only part of the foundation of this dismal group. Tim Masthay may have played his last game in the green and gold as just today the Packers signed first-year player Cody Mandell to open up the competition at punter.
Masthay only averaged 44.1 yards-per-punt. In a year that saw him have two games where he never had to punt and three more games that saw him only punt once, is pretty poor. His playoff numbers are even worse.
Against Dallas, Masthay punted twice for an average of 37.5 yards. In
Green Bay Packers punter Tim Masthay. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports photograph
the NFC Championship Game Masthay punted an unusual five times. It showed, as he only averaged 37.5 yards-per-punt.
Green Bay also gave up a fake field goal for a touchdown and botched an onside kick recovery for the ages against Seattle for a chance to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 49.
Championship teams consider special teams an afterthought. The special teams for the 2014 Green Bay Packers had the flies swarming and it ultimately cost them everything.
The Packers should be the odds on favorite to win Super Bowl 50 if they capitalize on these 5 moves.