Green Bay Packers: Final 53-Man Roster Predictions
By Kenn Korb
January 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) kicks a field goal against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Specialists
* = starter; + = roster spot
* Mason Crosby (kicker)
* Tim Masthay (punter)
* Brett Goode (long snapper)
To end, we have a group with zero change and little-to-no competition throughout the offseason.
After having a second strong season following his pre-2013 struggles, Mason Crosby’s spot on the roster was locked in a long time ago.
Aug 3, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers punter Tim Masthay (8) and kicker Mason Crosby (2) practice during training camp at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
This helps shine some light on Green Bay’s decision to continue on with Tim Masthay at punter despite his own struggles during last season. They did have Cody Mandell in camp for a little while, but that appears to have been mostly as a way to help push Masthay to show something more and return to a more reliable level of production.
Masthay hasn’t done much as of yet to redeem the Packers’ belief in him with a lackluster training camp and preseason, but he did at least end it with a decent showing in the final preseason contest versus the Saints. For all involved, there is some semblance of hope that he’ll show more of that during the oncoming season.
Last but not least, Brett Goode holds down the spotlight-averse position of long snapper yet again. His reliability has been one of the few consistent positive forces for a special teams unit that still looks to be a major problem area for the team and he should continue to act as such whether or not the unit as a whole improves under the leadership of Ron Zook and the freed-up attentions of Mike McCarthy.
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Hope you are all ready for the year; I know I am!
Even with the unfortunate injury to Nelson and disappointing showings by the non-offensive units during the preseason, this roster is jam-packed with talent.
No matter your allegiances, this team should be considered as one of the better across the league and has a great opportunity at a spectacular season.
All we have to do now is watch it happen and see how it ends up!