Packers' special teams may finally be turning the corner after years of misery

During the Green Bay Packers' preseason victory against the Denver Broncos, fans got to see something they rarely do with the Packers. Following a Denver Broncos field goal, on the subsequent kickoff, running back Pierre Strong Jr. took the ball 68 yards, up to the Broncos' 32-yard line.

Packers fans are used to seeing the opposite happen, but Strong's return, along with other factors, might signal that the team has finally stepped one inch closer to solving a huge issue.

It's no secret that Green Bay has had a special teams problem for years. They've gone through countless coordinators, players, and more, but nothing seems to have clicked. With the hiring of Cam Achord, though, there is hope this can change for the first time in years, and over the past two preseason games, we've seen signs of that happening.

Packers' special teams inching closer to becoming better under Cam Achord

The work of a good special teams unit is often hard to see, but really easy to see when it isn't. This has been the case for the Packers for some time now. Boneheaded penalties on kickoffs, botched field goal and punt operations, and just general poor play have maligned the Packers for years now.

At least for two games in the preseason, though, we're seeing progress.

In the team's Week 1 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was Pittsburgh getting called for a handful of special teams penalties, including a roughing-the-snapper call that gave Green Bay a fresh set of downs on a field-goal attempt.

This week against the Broncos, the team played well yet again. Beyond Strong's big kick return, Skyy Moore also added his own 30-yard kick return at the start of the night. Although they did commit a penalty in the game on a subsequent kickoff, the success is beginning to pile up for the special teams.

The other crucial part of a team's special teams unit is its kicking operation. Punting hasn't been an issue for the Packers thanks to star Daniel Whelan. However, the field goal unit has been rough for years, and that, too, may be better if rookie kicker Trey Smack's preseason so far is any indication.

Whether it be the players finally tired of the poor standard they've set, Achord's new style and energy he's brought to the team, or some combination of the two, the Packers look like they've finally begun rounding the corner on special teams.

They'll have to prove they can do it in real games, though, but for the first time in years, fans are beginning to have hope.

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