Special Teams

[Upnorth]

So Slocum gets credit for developing the best Packer kicking combo ever?

I will give him credit for mathsay, although I don't know who has developed his kicking. I would argue mister aim for the goal post held crosby back, and that shortly after a MM presser mentioned slocum would not be working on crosby's kicking he started getting better.

[vince]

Maybe Hentrich and Jacke were as good or better as a combo...

The "aim for the goal post" strategy may be a bit misunderstood. Slocum never coached Crosby to aim for the goal post when kicking within the field of play. He coached him to pick an aiming point in the middle of the post, and drilled it into him by having him kick from the side of the field where he could only see one post and had him try to hit the post - from the side of the post - if that makes sense.

[Smeefers]

Maybe Hentrich and Jacke were as good or better as a combo...

The "aim for the goal post" strategy may be a bit misunderstood. Slocum never coached Crosby to aim for the goal post when kicking within the field of play. He coached him to pick an aiming point in the middle of the post, and drilled it into him by having him kick from the side of the field where he could only see one post and had him try to hit the post - from the side of the post - if that makes sense.

What you're saying makes sense. What he had him do doesn't.

[vince]

I'm no Slocum apologist, but kicking obviously isn't an area in which the team is struggling at this point. Credit goes to Crosby, but whatever his coach has done working with him over the last couple years seems to have worked pretty well.

[Smidgeon]

It was time for an assessment and conclusion strategy three years ago. Now they're starting to get better.

Agreed. It seems like special teams have been making progress each and every year. They were awful three years ago. Now they seem adequate. No longer are there five penalties a game, constant fear of blocked punts, and enough shanked field goal attempts to worry everyone every time the kicker trotted out. Now it's better than that. I'll take it and expect continued improvement.

[vince]

I will give him credit for mathsay, although I don't know who has developed his kicking. I would argue mister aim for the goal post held crosby back, and that shortly after a MM presser mentioned slocum would not be working on crosby's kicking he started getting better.

I usually make it a point to listen to each of McCarthy's press conferences and have for years. I don't recall him ever stating that Slocum would not be working on Crosby's kicking. I'd be interested to hear that as that would indeed change the situation. It's hard for me to imagine McCarthy saying that the Special Teams Coordinator was no longer allowed to do a part of his job... Can you remember when this was or maybe link it up?

[vince]

I do wonder about Slocum as it pertains to the coverage and return schemes. I think the ability is there but the results have been inconsistent to say the least.

[sheepshead]

Maybe Hentrich and Jacke were as good or better as a combo...

The "aim for the goal post" strategy may be a bit misunderstood. Slocum never coached Crosby to aim for the goal post when kicking within the field of play. He coached him to pick an aiming point in the middle of the post, and drilled it into him by having him kick from the side of the field where he could only see one post and had him try to hit the post - from the side of the post - if that makes sense.

Masthey is better. Crosby is better taking these long kicks into account. The rest of these squads not so much.

[pbmax]

I usually make it a point to listen to each of McCarthy's press conferences and have for years. I don't recall him ever stating that Slocum would not be working on Crosby's kicking. I'd be interested to hear that as that would indeed change the situation. It's hard for me to imagine McCarthy saying that the Special Teams Coordinator was no longer allowed to do a part of his job... Can you remember when this was or maybe link it up?

I know Slocum gave Crosby a to-do list this offseason before the lockout and he said Crosby has nailed each of the points since early in camp.

[sharpe1027]

It is a bit of an apples and oranges comparison from last year. Changing the kick off rules has diminished the value of coverage and returns. I would imaging that Crosby's leg strength benefits the Packers more than most teams. One would expect the Packers to get better by virtue of the rule change alone. How much of the remaining improvement does Slocum deserve credit for?

[Upnorth]

I usually make it a point to listen to each of McCarthy's press conferences and have for years. I don't recall him ever stating that Slocum would not be working on Crosby's kicking. I'd be interested to hear that as that would indeed change the situation. It's hard for me to imagine McCarthy saying that the Special Teams Coordinator was no longer allowed to do a part of his job... Can you remember when this was or maybe link it up?

After one of Corsby's near misses someone asked if they would would be reworking Crosby's motion (or something along those lines) and MM responded that Slocum would not . I am not sure which game it was so, I wont be able to help there. Sorry.

Also I think we have a very good kicking game this year. My problem is with and has been with the coverage units. We have talented depth but nothing to show for it on special teams. To me that is scheme more than anything.

[RashanGary]

It is a bit of an apples and oranges comparison from last year. Changing the kick off rules has diminished the value of coverage and returns. I would imaging that Crosby's leg strength benefits the Packers more than most teams. One would expect the Packers to get better by virtue of the rule change alone. How much of the remaining improvement does Slocum deserve credit for?

Good point.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I do wonder about Slocum as it pertains to the coverage and return schemes. I think the ability is there but the results have been inconsistent to say the least.

That's where Slocum should be judged the most.