Packers special teams play must be better

Through the first 10 weeks of the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers have had their issues in all three facets of the game. However the one area that doesn’t seem to be improving is their special teams play, and if they hope to make a playoff run it has to get better.

Although it is the part of the football game that most don’t talk about or pay close attention to, special teams can play a huge factor in deciding the outcomes of football games.

Unfortunately all too much in 2018 the Green Bay Packers have struggled mightily in this area of the game and continue to compound their mistakes. At this point there appears to be no signs of progression as we’ve seen from the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

The Packers have been a part of many close games this year and their special teams has played major roles in deciding the outcomes. If they hope to string together some wins down the stretch, something has to change.

Head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t the only one on the hot seat, special teams coach Ron Zook’s chair is on fire as well.

Questionable personnel decisions

There isn’t a season that comes to mind in recent years where just over half way through, there have been so many errors on special teams.

A lot of the questionable plays on special teams begins with Ron Zook and his coaching.

For example, on kickoffs, the Packers are one of the only teams that still have an offensive lineman back on returns. Most teams will put a more athletic player such as a tight end or linebacker in that position.

What this does is gives the opposing team the option to kick the ball in his direction. We saw against the Miami Dolphins how this can play out. Packers offensive lineman Lucas Patrick picked up the kickoff and proceeded to fumble the ball on the return.

Fortunately for the Packers, they recovered. Why put an offensive lineman in this position? He is being set up for failure.

Another personnel head-scratcher is the decision to have Tramon Williams returning punts. I understand he is back there because he is reliable with catching the ball, but for someone who plays such a key role in the secondary, they’re taking a big injury risk.

In addition it’s not as if Tramon is going to make too many more explosive plays at this point in his career, it’s as if the Packers and their coaching staff has conceded on every punt.

Even on kickoffs since Ty Montgomery‘s departure, Bashaud Breeland is the safe play but for a team that needs a spark, they aren’t giving themselves that opportunity on special teams.

Miscues on the field

Ron Zook and the coaching staff aren’t the only ones that need to be held accountable. The play on the field from the players has been poor to say the least.

As recently as the Dolphins game, the Packers gave up a blocked punt and Tramon Williams fumbled a return. In each instance they set the defense up for failure, but they were able to hold strong.

Against the Patriots we had Robert Tonyan roughing the punter. When facing the Rams we all remember the huge blunder from Ty Montgomery when he decided not to take a knee.

Even veteran kicker Mason Crosby hasn’t been immune to the special teams struggles, in which he missed four field goals and an extra point in Detroit and also missed a game-winner in Week 2 against Minnesota.

These are the big moments that stick out in our minds this season, but there have been numerous times where a fair catch pins the Packers inside their own 10-yard line.

Or deciding to let a punt go results in the offense beginning the drive pinned to the goal line as it did in the Rams and Patriots games.

And let’s not forget about the nauseating amount of penalties on any sort of return attempt.

After Week 9, Pro Football Focus ranked each team’s special teams units where they took into account all of the players involved and each facet that makes up the special teams. Not surprisingly, the Packers came in ranked 28th in the league.

Now what I’m about to say may not be a popular opinion, but the return of Trevor Davis could be a boost for the Packers return team, which has been lackluster up to this point. I understand he’s made some errors in this role, but he provides an explosiveness that this unit desperately needs.

For an offense that has not been firing on all cylinders this season, there is a huge difference between starting at the seven-yard line and the 31-yard line. At this point, what is there to lose?

There is no doubt that if the special teams unit was more buttoned up, the Packers would have another win or two. As they continue through a difficult part of their schedule, the games are going to be close and their special teams play could be the deciding factor between a win and a loss.