a few thoughts from camp

[Merlin]

The Special Teams unfortunately have been an issue long before Thompson's arrival. We haven't had consistency at the punting position or the kicking position for as long back as I can remember, let alone good coverage teams. Here and there we have had return guys that could do the job but no one that could stay healthy long enough.

Even if Crosby stinks again, we should be fine in the regular season. We will again have a new, young punter and that is always scary - but nothing new to the Packers. We don't keep anyone at that position long enough to develop them. So with us having mediocre to poor special teams, we can still be successful. The difference is that in order to get to the Super Bowl, you need better than average Special Teams and that may be the roadblock we run into no matter how successful the regular season is. When the Packers went to the Super Bowl, we had good offense, defense, and exceptional special teams. Over the years since, we haven't had all 3 together.

Now, that doesn't mean we can't get there with crappy special teams, it just means that we have to be exceptional in other areas to make up for the poor field position situations our offense and defense will be in. I think we can keep up with anyone offensively as long as Rodgers isn't on his back, but the defense needs to seriously step it up if the special teams do not improve.

[get louder at lambeau]

Thanks for the update, red.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the special teams just yet, since they don't even have the roster set and 27 of those guys are gonna be cut pretty soon.

But that is true for all the teams. The Packers look pathetic compared to them. I think there is a problem with coaching - and Red's report seems to confirm this.

That might well be the case. I'm just not ready to jump to that conclusion quite yet. I read somewhere that the Packers have been keeping the standout STers like Bishop, Bush, probably Havner, etc. on offense and defense more while they sort out who else can play ST. Like I said, 27 of those guys won't even make the team, so I'll give it a week or two right now before I call for Slocum's head.

[hoosier]

I wouldn't worry now about the perceived disorganization on ST for the reasons mentioned by others. The three big litmus tests for whether or not the Packers have gotten their ST problems under control will be (a) penalties, (b) whether they can identify--and keep--a decent punter and (c) ditto for punt returner. They seem to have two decent punters on the roster right now, but the return position is another matter entirely. Right now there is nothing to suggest that they can count on Blackmon to stay healthy for an entire season, and behind him there are a bunch of mediocre and/or unreliable candidates. Slocum said on Monday that "we'll keep working and identifying what needs to be done. We'll have a solid return game. We just need to clean up the entire operation." But if they still don't know where their returner is going to come from with just three weeks till the regular season then I don't have much confidence in their ability to "clean up the entire operation"! This is the one area where TT and McCarthy have simply failed to put together a solid cast of players and assistant coaches.

[Fritz]

"We just need to clean up the entire operation."

Holy smokes.

Translation:

"It's a cluster f*ck out there. We're three weeks into camp and nobody knows what the hell they're doing. Including me."

[billy_oliver880]

Thanks for the update, red.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the special teams just yet, since they don't even have the roster set and 27 of those guys are gonna be cut pretty soon.

But that is true for all the teams. The Packers look pathetic compared to them. I think there is a problem with coaching - and Red's report seems to confirm this.

That might well be the case. I'm just not ready to jump to that conclusion quite yet. I read somewhere that the Packers have been keeping the standout STers like Bishop, Bush, probably Havner, etc. on offense and defense more while they sort out who else can play ST. Like I said, 27 of those guys won't even make the team, so I'll give it a week or two right now before I call for Slocum's head.

I got really worried when watching against the browns and seeing the returner dealing with 5-6 guys ready to tackle him...then they switch to a replay of the gunner getting stonewalled by two blockers. That is fine that he is blocked but why is no one else getting blocked?

[get louder at lambeau]

Hey red-

MikeVandermause (twitter) Jason Chery serving as backup return man behind Blackmon. #Packers

[Scott Campbell]

Thanks, Red. This is great stuff - better than any newspaper.

I am however sorry to hear that the ST looked so unorganized. I'm troubled that C-Wood felt the need to discuss ST (unless he was asking about where they were going for dinner or something) with teh coaches. It sounds like it looks bad, really bad.

Lord help us. Or Slocum, at least.

Finally, it sounds like the bloom is off the rose for Shields and Porter. Who will step up next to be the surprise All Pro in camp?

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss Shields. His eye popping plays at camp have been at CB, and I expect he could be a talented ST gunner.

[red]

Hey red-

MikeVandermause (twitter) Jason Chery serving as backup return man behind Blackmon. #Packers

nice, the kid just looked like a natural catching the ball

here's some info on him. this is from his scouting report last year

Strengths
Speed and work ethic. Outstanding special teams skills returning and covering kicks. Has good hands and had over 60 catches his SR year even though he does not play in a passing offense. Tough to bring down and gets good YAC. Has the ability to slither away from tacklers. Accelerates quickly. Strong for his size. Self made player who has great desire to become better. Can get up and compete for the jump ball.

he's a WR which might make it tough for him to make the team

[get louder at lambeau]

Hey red-

MikeVandermause (twitter) Jason Chery serving as backup return man behind Blackmon. #Packers

nice, the kid just looked like a natural catching the ball

here's some info on him. this is from his scouting report last year

Strengths
Speed and work ethic. Outstanding special teams skills returning and covering kicks. Has good hands and had over 60 catches his SR year even though he does not play in a passing offense. Tough to bring down and gets good YAC. Has the ability to slither away from tacklers. Accelerates quickly. Strong for his size. Self made player who has great desire to become better. Can get up and compete for the jump ball.

he's a WR which might make it tough for him to make the team

Tough to make the roster at WR for sure, but the #5 spot is still there for the taking. If he can be a good returner he'd certainly have a shot.

[swede]

Hey red-

MikeVandermause (twitter) Jason Chery serving as backup return man behind Blackmon. #Packers

nice, the kid just looked like a natural catching the ball

here's some info on him. this is from his scouting report last year

Strengths
Speed and work ethic. Outstanding special teams skills returning and covering kicks. Has good hands and had over 60 catches his SR year even though he does not play in a passing offense. Tough to bring down and gets good YAC. Has the ability to slither away from tacklers. Accelerates quickly. Strong for his size. Self made player who has great desire to become better. Can get up and compete for the jump ball.

he's a WR which might make it tough for him to make the team

Tough to make the roster at WR for sure, but the #5 spot is still there for the taking. If he can be a good returner he'd certainly have a shot.

+1

Swain won't keep a solid returner from making the team, and the current crop of TE's add depth to our receiving corps, or corpse as our President likes to say.

[Fritz]

Hey red-

MikeVandermause (twitter) Jason Chery serving as backup return man behind Blackmon. #Packers

nice, the kid just looked like a natural catching the ball

here's some info on him. this is from his scouting report last year

Strengths
Speed and work ethic. Outstanding special teams skills returning and covering kicks. Has good hands and had over 60 catches his SR year even though he does not play in a passing offense. Tough to bring down and gets good YAC. Has the ability to slither away from tacklers. Accelerates quickly. Strong for his size. Self made player who has great desire to become better. Can get up and compete for the jump ball.

he's a WR which might make it tough for him to make the team

Then let's call him a tight end, then keep four of those.

Seriously, would you rather have Crabtree (is that his name? The tight end?) who can block well but isn't much of a receiving tight end, or a guy who can field punts and kickoffs cleanly and get upfield?