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Green Bay Packers: Week 9 special teams recap

By Kenn Korb

Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Ron Zook against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Ron Zook against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers punter Jacob Schum (10) during the game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers punter Jacob Schum (10) during the game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Punter

Punts:

  1. 54 yards (IND 20); 3 yard return (IND 23) *IND Penalty* (IND 13)
  2. 61 yards (IND 14); *Muffed punt* (IND 10)
  3. 43 yards (IND 4); Fair Catch
  4. 31 yards (IND 24); Out of Bounds

I don’t know how we got here, but somehow Schum is becoming a mostly competent performer. Not only that, but he put in yet another week where he challenged to be the best piece of this entire unit.

His first two kicks were monster showings, flipping the entire field.

His first took a failed possession inside Green Bay’s 30 and put it into Indianapolis’ 25 (and it got even better with a Colts’ penalty). His second was also inside Green Bay’s 30; it went 60+ yards to put the Colts inside their own 20 (eventually at their 10 after a muffed catch).

This drastic change of field position worked out for Green Bay in both instances. The first one saw Andrew Luck throw an interception in his own territory; the Packers would score from there. The second one became a punt forced by the defense, getting Green Bay the ball back in touchback-level starting field position.

His third punt may be the best one of the game, and second-best of his season. This one didn’t go nearly as far distance-wise, but it let him do what he was seemingly brought in to do: enact his ability to place the ball well and pin the opponent deep. This punt was fair caught at the Colts’ 4 yard line, giving the Packers an excellent chance to make a stop and get the ball back in great field position. Unfortunately, much like his best punt (pinned Dallas at their own 2 in basically this same exact position), the defense could not make something out of the opportunity provided. That can’t be put on him though; he gave them everything he could, and they just didn’t capitalize.

The final punt was a return to the Schum we saw most of the early season (short kick, out of bounds, hands over easy starting yardage), and the Colts turned decent starting field position into a TD to go up 31-13.

Still, what he did in the early going was more than enough to consider this a very positive game for him. He still needs to get rid of the underwhelming attempts, but he’s done far less of those as the weeks have progressed.

Somehow, the Packers may have actually ended up with a decent punter; it just took some time for him to prove it. With the turmoil surrounding what else is happening with this team, that’s at least one somewhat bright spot to point to in this 4-4 start.

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