New coordinator Rich Bisaccia has a lot to improve upon with this Green Bay Packers special teams unit.
This was arguably the worst unit in the entire NFL last season. However, if there was a man for the job, it would be Bisaccia.
The New York native has been coaching the sport of football for nearly 40 years. He has experience coaching offense, defense, and special teams.
The Packers will be his fifth NFL team where he has been a special teams coordinator. Also, his latest head-coaching experience with the Las Vegas Raiders and guiding them to the playoffs amid a very difficult season is proof that he is a leader of men and respected league-wide.
He is the man for this job. All Packers fans need to both be excited and have faith in him.
In terms of improving the special teams, Green Bay started at punter.
They let Corey Bojorquez loose and signed former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell. The reason this was the move is because O’Donnell has been punting and holding kicks in Chicago, a cold-weather city, for eight seasons.
Like Mason Crosby understands how to kick at Lambeau Field when the weather turns, O’Donnell knows how to be a successful punter and holder in the cold.
As Bojorquez starting punting and holding kicks for Crosby when the weather changed, his play dipped. Also, the blocking up front was poor. If Bojorquez gets that punt off against the San Francisco 49ers late in the fourth quarter last January, the Packers win that game.
O’Donnell will elevate the punting unit. His career average is 45.1 yards per punt. Very solid.
With Crosby and the kicking unit, most of the struggles came with the snap, hold, and blocking up front.
It was long snapper Steven Wirtel’s first season in Green Bay after the team cut ties with four-year veteran Hunter Bradley. Some snaps were high. Some were a little wide. Couple that with Bojorquez’s inability to get the ball down soundly and face the laces out.
It doesn’t help when the line can’t hold its own.
We could very well be sitting here celebrating the Green Bay Packers as Super Bowl champions if they don’t get that field goal blocked before halftime.
Crosby did not have his best season (eight missed kicks, tied for the second-most in his 15-year career), but a lot of that had to do with the hold, the snap, and the blocking up front.
As the Packers look to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy, know that no one in the history of the NFL knows how to kick at Lambeau Field like Mason Crosby does.
In terms of kick and punt coverage, GM Brian Gutekunst drafted possible impact players in last week’s draft.
Wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, and linebacker/safety Tariq Carpenter could all help out on coverage.
Ford would be more of a blocker on punts. The Packers were one of the worst teams at opponents’ starting field position. Green Bay need players who can fly down the field, get off of blocks, stay in their own lanes, and make tackles.
Other veterans that could play a big role on special teams include linebacker Krys Barnes, running back Patrick Taylor, linebacker Ty Summers, wide receiver Amari Rodgers, linebacker Randy Ramsey, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, safety Innis Gaines, safety Vernon Scott, and cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Make no mistake about it, Bisaccia will have his eye on who he wants on kick coverage. Again, trust him.
Probably the biggest question Packers fans have about special teams is who will be the one(s) that will be returning kicks/punts.
Rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs had experience in college returning kicks. Amari Rodgers and Kylin Hill were predominantly the returners last season. Randall Cobb also has had plenty of punt return experience in his career.
None of those last three players have the size and speed to blow past defenders in the open field. If Green Bay wants speed and electricity in the return game, Watson might be the prime option in both the kick return and punt return game.
He has 4.3 speed, takes long strides that make it seem like he’s jogging, and he had multiple return touchdowns at North Dakota State.
The Packers will be much improved on special teams in 2022. It is because of Rich Bisaccia.
What a ridiculously smart move it was by head coach Matt LaFleur to go get Bisaccia while at the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas. Those are the Super Bowl-winning moves that you love to see.
The signing of O’Donnell will instantly improve the punting unit.
Crosby is one of the most experienced and clutch kickers in NFL history.
The Packers’ recent draft picks will have an important impact as well. Younger, stronger, faster, and more physical players are what’s going to make the difference.
It’s also players like Allen Lazard, who has asked to play on special teams in the past, that make a difference. Players that want to do whatever it takes to get that win.
Bisaccia will find those players. If last year was any indication, the biggest flaws will come back to bite you. That flaw was special teams for Green Bay. It caused them to fail in the postseason vs. San Francisco.
It will not be much of a flaw next season. Bisaccia will have his unit ready to roll. There will be some bumps and a learning curve along the way, but the 40-year coach will have this entire team in a better place in the long term.