Last Chance on the Packers Sideline for Rich Bisaccia
It could be a hot-seat year for Bisaccia with the Packers' Special Teams remaining mediocre
By GregMeinholz
It's been a very long time since the Green Bay Packers Special Teams unit has been anything short of abysmal. In the last ten years, they've never ranked higher than 20th in the league for two consecutive seasons. Even ranking higher than 25th is a tall task considering in the last five seasons they've averaged a ranking of 27th in the league. Many of us still have nightmares of the 2021 Divisional playoff game in Lambeau Field essentially being lost due to a blocked punt. There was also a blocked field goal in that game that helped drive the nail in the coffin of the Packers' Special Teams costing them the chance to move on to the NFC Championship game.
Special Teams coordinator Maurice Drayton was released after the blunder and a week later, the Packers had decided that enough was enough as they hired Rich Bisaccia as Special Teams coordinator. They even made him the highest-paid ST coordinator, a sign of their major need for an overhaul of the unit. Bisaccia was labeled a slam dunk hiring for the Packers as he brought 38 years of coaching experience after leading the Las Vegas Raiders to their first post-season appearance since 2017 as interim head coach. The players loved Bisaccia in Vegas and he even brought a few of them with him including cornerback and return specialist, Keisean Nixon. There was no way the Packers' ST unit would be bad now right?
Wrong. Granted in 2022 Bisaccia's unit improved from a 32nd ranking in 2021 to a 22nd ranking, they regressed in 2023 to a 29th ranking. That's even with returner Keisean Nixon earning All-Pro honors. In 2023, Packers Special Teams were called for a league-leading 19 accepted fouls which resulted in 178 yards in their opponent's favor. Bisaccia is said to have been a major player in the drafting of kicker Anders Carlson who struggled his rookie season going 34/39 for extra points and 27/33 for Field Goals including another big miss in the playoffs.
What happened to Bisaccia's hiring being the cure the Packers needed for their lackluster Special Teams? It's hard to blame it on player personnel when the Packers have signed/drafted around five players of Bisaccia's choosing to help. Something's got to give, and quick.
Time of Judgment 2024
Matt LaFleur is known for giving his coaches more extra chances than they should receive to get it right. See Joe Barry. Perhaps considering Rich Bisaccia's track record of past success he could still receive one more mulligan from his boss, but I think in 2024, from day 1, his seat needs to be warm.
With the new kickoff rules being implemented in 2024, Bisaccia could already have a head start at improvement. With a new kickoff format that helps make kicks safer but also generates bigger returns, a specialist like Keisean Nixon could thrive. With the opposition unable to move until the kick is caught, and the blocking meeting them just ten yards off, this could open many extra lanes for returners. Someone like Keisean Nixon with the vision to find that free lane and step on the gas to hit it quickly, could see big returns all season long. Whether that's a result of Nixon's talent or not, it will make Bisaccia look good when his Special Teams unit is either getting in the end-zone or setting up Jordan Love and the offense with great field position on the regular.
With Anders Carlson having a direct effect on the negative results of 2023, his improvement or lack thereof could also be a big factor in Bisaccia's retainment. Veteran Greg Joseph has already been brought in to compete with Carlson. However, as I stated in an article last week about Joseph's signing, it could only be a fire to light under Carlson to give him some competition, and hope he responds well. If Carlson fails and Joseph ends up being the Packers' kicker to start the season, it's likely the knock on Bisaccia will be that he was wrong about Carlson being the future at kicker and he will have to hope Joseph performs better to make his unit look good. If not, his misjudgment could be received as another failure on his behalf that cost the Packers success.
As a fan, I try not to think about the dollars players or coaches are receiving. It's not my money, and it's not up to me to determine the worth of a player or coach. That's for the powers that be at 1265 Lombardi Ave to figure out. But when you realize that a coach or player is among the highest paid in the league at their position and they're not producing as such, that's when it becomes difficult to ignore. Rich Bisaccia is the highest-paid ST coordinator in the league. It's time his unit begins producing like it's receiving that big of an investment. He's set up for some success or at least improvement in 2024. The hope is that it's more than just a few spots up but still under 20. If it's not, I feel it will be time for the Packers to cut their losses and move on. They can have a mediocre Special Teams unit with a much cheaper coordinator who may even show more improvement after a year or two.
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Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings.
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Comments (60)
Matt
April 03, 2024 at 12:19 pm
By the time coach Bisaccia came to Green Bay it was like a wind of change. Refreshing breeze of experience and wisdom. I remember him having this nice run with Raiders as a head coach and I was surprised he decided to become ST coach right after that. Big roster moves, expectations and I think preliminary eye test passed. I would say we are not that bad but stats prove we are not far from what we were during SF game we can't forget. Is it the comfort of not expecting fumble during kick off reception that misleads me? Or is there a single stat that drag us down the sheet so much?
jannesbjornson
April 03, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Players, not Plays. Improve the bottom end of the roster, especially LB and safety.
Cheezehead72
April 03, 2024 at 02:36 pm
I agree. Last year we had a really young team and many of the ST players were very young. We need more experienced players on STs.
jannesbjornson
April 03, 2024 at 03:32 pm
More Aggressive players are needed. " Do your job," stay in your lane. Get Belichick to critique the Sp Teams over Summer Session. Let him hang out in the Packer HOF and crash in Lombardi's office diorama.
T7Steve
April 03, 2024 at 12:24 pm
In the "Not For Long" I didn't think any coach's job was secure.
I think the worst thing about our teams last season was the penalties. Aggression should be what causes the other team to penalize.
I'm one of the few here (I think) that think Carlson is going to be fine this season and into the future. A season kicking in GB, an offseason to work out the kinks, and one more year removed from injury. All kickers have some rough times and seasons.
There was no mention of the punting units. I wonder if they helped or hurt the overall score?
Is Rich B's pay only high because of STs or did it get a boost when they made him assistant head coach? Inquiring minds want to know.
GregC
April 03, 2024 at 01:13 pm
Our punter was last in the league in net yardage.
T7Steve
April 03, 2024 at 02:14 pm
Thanks. I didn't know it was that bad. I wonder if that was penalty related too. I thought he did a good job of downing it inside the 20.
Cheezehead72
April 03, 2024 at 02:34 pm
He was 27th in punts inside 20 and 20th in touchbacks
Coldworld
April 04, 2024 at 09:38 am
From what I can see that is incorrect Greg.
Whelan had a net average of 39.7. The league average was 40.5. The worst team in the league was Chicago with 38 net yards per punt over the season.
He exceeded the leagues average for punts downed in the 20. 31.58 percent as against 25.9% league wide.
His average gross length of punt was 46.2 against a 47.3 league average.
Is that stellar? No, but it’s certainly not what you assert.
Where we were worst was penalties: Green Bay, 19 penalties for 178 yards, almost double the league average and over 5 times more than the chargers’ 4 for 35 yards. By far the greatest number of those were committed in the first half of the season.
It’s interesting that we had the third most in 2022 too, which we had surpassed by week 15 in 2023, with 9 being holding penalties and 5 were 15 yards loss infractions. Leavitt and Enagbare accounted for 4 each at that point, Moore 3. Only 5 players in the league had 4 at that point.
The good news is that we improved significantly later. Also the the worst culprits, Leavitt and Moore are no longer on the team. Enagbare is hurt unfortunately, but that might help on ST penalties. Leavitt was leading the league when released mid-season.
dblbogey
April 03, 2024 at 01:28 pm
" Bisaccia is said to have been a major player in the drafting of kicker Anders Carlson". Carlson was inconsistent throughout his college career. He was inconsistent in his year with GB. I don't see any reason for optimism. Bissacia messed up and I hope they draft one of the 3 kickers available who would be an instant upgrade.
dobber
April 03, 2024 at 01:41 pm
Don't waste draft picks on kickers. None of last year's drafted kickers were all that good--even Jake Moody for the 9ers was 21st in FG pct. Chad Ryland was awful.
Carlson's biggest issue is his yips on PATs. If he can't clean that up, then show him the door--or better yet: go for more 2-point conversions. Some rookie kickers are good, but most are average or worse. You can find average, replacement-level kickers on the street, who would be an upgrade from any of the three drafted kickers last year.
Kickers are grown more than drafted.
Coldworld
April 03, 2024 at 04:30 pm
He was the third taken and his results were between the others drafted ahead of him. In fairness we had 13 picks. It takes time for most kickers and punters to settle. The specialist that disappointed me most was in fact the LS, Orzech, as he’s a vet. I’d like to see competition there.
The worst kicker last year who played a significant number of games was drafted 2 rounds above Carlson by the Patriots: Matt Ryland. He missed at least one field-goal attempt in eight starts as well as converting the lowest field goal percentage in the NFL.
Chad Ryland stats: 16-of-25 on field-goal attempts (64%), 24-of-25 on XPAs, 50% from 40
Anders Carlson stats: 27-of-33 on field-goal attempts (81.8%), 34-of-39 on XPAs, 7-of-13 from 40.
Lest anyone has a ton of faith in Joseph, he was bad in 2022 and not much better in 2023
Greg Joseph stats (2022-’23): 50-of-63 on field-goal attempts (79.4%), 18-of-31 from 40+
At least the first two played over half their games outside. I believe it’s also true that of the best kickers now in the league, only one that was actually drafted is still with his original team. All the others lasted less time than Carlson. Kickers and Punters seldom break out in year one.
So Dobber is right. Drafting a kicker is far more likely to solve another team’s problems than those of the team drafting him.
Carlson’s brother is a classic example of the norm, Mason Crosby the rare exception, and one that took until year 5 to better Carlson’ FG percentage last year (XPA attempts had not been moved back so aren’t comparative). A good job for Mason some here weren’t responsible for decisions back them.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 04, 2024 at 10:22 pm
If you only make half of your two point conversion attempts, you come out even. Unless the fear is you can't draw up many effective plays?
Oppy
April 05, 2024 at 12:05 am
2 Point conversions were just slightly over 50% success rate in 2023.
PAT success rate was 96%.
Two things you need to understand:
1) Statistically, every attempt still has the same odds of success/failure. Just because you missed your first attempt , and the odds of success are just over 50%, doesn't mean you are more likely to make the second attempt. It's still a slightly better than 50% success rate, whereas every FG attempt is still 96% likely to succeed regardless if you've made or missed every other attempt.
2) Even if the statistics were guarantees, for the 2pt conversions to actually "break even" with PATs over the course of a game, you must have scored an even number of touchdowns... Because if you scored 1 TD, you've only got that 50% chance to either score two points or zero points. However, the PAT has a 96% chance of being successful.
People are dismissive of PATs but those PATs win games and they -should- be the closest thing to guaranteed points in football. Kickers MUST convert PATs.
LambeauPlain
April 03, 2024 at 12:53 pm
It is the dang ST penalties that pulled the Packers down and that reflects on coaching (or lack thereof).
I had high hopes for Rich to start 2023 even after being a bit surprised how much he wanted, and obviously convinced Gutey and MLF he could "fix" Carlson. Alas, he's still in the workshop with him.
However, Rich did get Nixon in Green and Gold and the all pro seems to be an ascending slot CB. That's nothing to sneeze at.
But the Assistant HC/ST coach needs to do better. 2024 will tell the tale. The best ST coaches will take advantage of the radical KO changes designing blocking and coverage schemes...WITHOUT penalties.
Not sure what he does as Assistant HC. ML spends most of his day on O. I thought maybe Rich would be sitting in on Barry's D meetings last season. Doesn't seem like he did that. ML did get involved with D late in the season and it seemed to help...nothing said about Rich helping on D.
Professionals who make the top tranche of salaries in their craft are usually the best in their fields (unless you are a member of Congress).
croatpackfan
April 03, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Greg,
with changes made in kick off part of the game, I believe it will be unfair to judge Rich Bisaccia this upcoming season would be little bit harsh. Also, I expect Packers to sign new assistant ST coach from USFL, to help trasition in game plans about the kick offs and small, interesting things that can gives you big advantage over opponents. It will be good to have that guy before OTAs.
T7Steve
April 03, 2024 at 01:17 pm
That's a good idea. I bet they can find a bunch of out of work "USFL" coaches. HA!
I know that was just a slip like I usually make. It was still a good idea.
dblbogey
April 03, 2024 at 01:29 pm
I think it's fair to judge Bisaccia on his 3 year history in Green Bay.
Coldworld
April 03, 2024 at 04:40 pm
His first year was a dramatic improvement. Perhaps not as dramatic as we hoped, but nevertheless true. Last year we had dumb penalties, but we no longer get gashed on returns regularly and have managed some positives of our own.
I know many grumble about the kicking short and end zone returns, but it hard to say we really lost out on that statistically. This year those issues look like being moot anyway. The issues last year were penalties early on and then K, LS and P. Hopefully both kicker positions will be better in yr 2. Orzech needs to be too, but how much of that is on Bissacia?
I’m hoping for a better year overall from Bissacia too, but I think the disappointment last year is somewhat exaggerated, as long as the trend is upward this year.
GregC
April 03, 2024 at 01:12 pm
It took two years of poor performance, in spite of Biasaccia getting to hand pick several special teams players, before we finally get an article like this. I guess that's what a good reputation will do for a coach. Yes, I think there really needs to be some improvement this year or it will be time to move on from him.
T7Steve
April 03, 2024 at 01:19 pm
I think they (and we) were on him quite a bit last season about his "teams" performances and choice of kicker.
splitpea1
April 03, 2024 at 01:17 pm
The Packers have been poor on special teams for a long, long time--largely due to their perfunctory organizational approach. It doesn't matter who the coach is if you don't have better players on the unit. Mennenga had a good track record as a ST assistant and he couldn't do anything here, either.
In 2023, the kicker and punter both ranked in the bottom third of the league, they're young but will need to show a lot of improvement. I don't know why we're relying on the advice of the coordinator to select some of these guys in the first place; isn't it Gute's job to acquire and Bisaccia's to coach?
But Bisaccia hasn't been the coach in shining armor as promised. The Packers led the league in ST penalties and assessed yardage. They were near the bottom in punt return yardage gained and allowed. And the laissez-faire approach to letting Nixon return kickoffs that were too deep persisted for too long.
Maybe getting Tyler Davis back from injury this year will help a little bit, I don't know.
Bisaccia's seat should be getting a little warm, but as noted, what difference does it make when MLF is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to replacing ineffective assistants that he hired?
Leatherhead
April 03, 2024 at 02:44 pm
''''' It doesn't matter who the coach is if you don't have better players on the unit'''''
You dress 45. 22 are starters, there's a punter/holder and a long snapper and a kicker. So now we're down to 20 guys. One of them is your backup QB, who doesn't play special teams.
You'd like to have a bunch of special teams demons who play with their hair on fire. But these guys actually need to be able to play a position, too, because injuries strike and the next thing you know,they're in the starting lineup, so they have to actually be able to play a position, too.
And what you'll have is 10 guys, all about 22-24 years old, some of whom just got elevated from PS earlier in the week, charging downfield. And you're going have penalties (like we did) and we're going to have injuries, and we're going to have turnovers. Neither Bisaccia or anybody else is going to change that. It is the nature of the beast.
10ve 💚
April 03, 2024 at 04:29 pm
Your take made sense....
Until I remembered that all 32 teams are constrained by the same rules. Then... it just becomes an excuse.
Leatherhead
April 03, 2024 at 05:09 pm
It’s not the rules, it’s our reaction to them. We could make different choices.
Bitternotsour
April 03, 2024 at 07:06 pm
The different choices land on deaf ears friend. Regardless of the analytics. Punting too is highly overrated. 50+ yard field goals other than at the end of a half or to win a game is another fools errand.
Therein is the rub. Yes to strong coverage units, but better yet, no return at all.
Leatherhead
April 04, 2024 at 10:18 am
BNS......the people who are downvoting this want to replace Wicks, Melton, Dillon, Kraft, etc. with better special teams players. Because that's who there is. We have 19 non-starters available for special teams duty, and that would include our #4 CB,our #3 safety, our #4 LB, and those offensive players I mentioned. At least until people get injured, and then we'll be activating players from the PS to play special teams.
stockholder
April 04, 2024 at 10:35 am
We need safeties
Gute stated back 7.
The back seven will bring Sts.
Leatherhead
April 04, 2024 at 11:38 am
Stockholder.
We dress 21 defensive players, about 10 of them are DBs. 5 of them will essentially be starters....Alexander, Stokes, Nixon, McKinney, Whoever.
So it'll be the other 5. That's Ballantine, and Valentine, Rochelle, and the two Anthony Johnson's. Or somebody that we bring in to replace them, who can not only play the position well (like Valentine), but who can also are special teams demons. At least until people get hurt, and then we'll have practice squad guys backing up Jaire Alexander.
If I'm paying my QB $50M/year, I'm not too eager to put the game in the hands of a UDFA/Day 3 rookie. And that's what you're doing.
Alberta_Packer
April 03, 2024 at 01:38 pm
It's Championship Season. Time for the STs to up their game - commensurate with the Offense and Defense. So some suggestions:
1. Have a legitimate open competition for the K position. Nepotism got Carlson his job. Nepotism should not be the reason he keeps it.
2. Improve the long-snapping. Again - another open competition.
3. I think that Daniel Whelan was OK. However that should not preclude searching for someone better.
4. What will be the ST Design & Plan - relative to the new rules? If ever there was an opportunity for improvement through innovation - this will be the year.
WestCoastPackerBacker
April 03, 2024 at 04:38 pm
Why the claim of nepotism? Just b/c coach had success with his brother, doesn't mean it is nepotism. Carlson's been somewhere in the middle of the rookie kickers from last year, and he needs to get better. But nepotism is when you favor a candidate over a candidate with better skills. There's no evidence of that. ST coach felt he could get a higher ceiling out of Carlson, period.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 06:30 am
To think we've seen #17's ceiling is foolish. What rookie has ever plateaud at their best? Even less likely that a kicker might do that, particularly with what he's been going through.
None of that means there shouldn't have at least been a backup on the PS last year, or that there shouldn't be genuine competition this year. They've got 3 kickers competing for one starting position now. How many more are needed?
Alberta_Packer
April 05, 2024 at 11:06 am
Q. What rookie has ever plateaud at their best? A. Amari Rodgers
As for the 3 current Kickers - they're all fairly comparable - which means the solution to the GBs kicking woes may not be on the roster. I wouldn't be surprised if the search continues for Gutie - right up to the last cut down day.
Alberta_Packer
April 03, 2024 at 08:58 pm
Bisaccia pressed the Packers to take Carlson with a 6th round draft pick - when he was almost certainly a UDFA - as he wasn't rated even in the top 15 of College Kickers. Thus a wasted draft pick. In short, Carlson was a College Kicker who:
-Had a career make rate of just 71.8 percent.
-Struggled to find consistent kickoff depth.
- Made just 5 of 17 field goals from 50-plus yards - going 0 for 4 since 2021.
-Highly inconsistent on mid-range kicks.
- Slow operation time.
Any or all of this sounds or looks familiar? It is well-known that Bisaccia has a relationship with the Carlson family. In particular a brother who was an all-pro kicker. However, it is obvious that Anders is not his brother.
By the way - the Packers granted Bisaccia a favor by drafting Carlson. MLF even admitted that it was not his choice.
Coldworld
April 04, 2024 at 09:11 am
Your comment that he wasn’t rated intrigued me, so I checked it out. He clearly was generally rated much higher than that. If not number 3 as drafted, he was generally seen as in the group behind Moody (who did go first).
Alberta_Packer
April 04, 2024 at 12:55 pm
I would be interested in your source. I'm aware that Walter Football had him listed as #4 but projected him as a 7/FA. However I did a deeper dive - surveying a number of other sources including: Student Union Sports - "Top 10 College Place Kickers of 2022" (did not include Carlson). Also an article "College Football's 15 Best Place Kickers of 2022" (did not include Carlson). Also I referenced 2022 College Football Kicking Stats - which had Carlson ranked 84th with a FG% of 70.6%. Lastly, pff had a #371 ranking on him - which interprets into a UDFA.
My assertion was that Carlson - based on his stats and performance - was always an UDFA. If Bisaccia wanted him so badly he could have signed him as a priority FA. However Bisaccia interceded - with the Packers using (squandering) a 6th round pick.
Coldworld
April 04, 2024 at 01:22 pm
We made 13 picks last year, so I’m not going to get too worked up about a 6th rounder. The other two taken went in the 3rd and 4th. That I could take issue with. Since only 3 were taken, it’s possible that Carlson could have been available as a UDFA, I certainly suspected so then, but it’s also possible he might have been in another team’s radar.
I don’t think there is any doubt that Bissacia’s familiarity with Carlson was a factor in Gute feeling comfortable taking him, indeed Gute and LaFleur have referenced that. Deeming that nepotism is a subjective claim: one could just as well label it scouting in the same way as if we pick up a Boston College. defender.
Of the three kickers drafted, Carlson was the lowest pick. None were great, as Dobber pointed out. Carlson was in the middle, considerably better than Ryland taken 2 rounds earlier. Brandon Aubrey was better than all 3 drafted. He, however, seems to be an exception to the norm that sees most rookie kickers struggle and bounce around the league.
Carlson was neither great nor awful in the scheme of things, for a rookie. The great majority of the leading lickers last year were not in the team that brought them into the league. Most kickers get better over their first 2 or 3 years, historically, though many have been bouncing around teams in that time.
Carlson has to get better, but the odds are historically that he will, not decline. Be critical yes, but realistic too. He needs to make a jump. We need to make sure that if we jump instead, we have a better option in place. At the moment, I don’t see Joseph as that.
Alberta_Packer
April 04, 2024 at 03:23 pm
I fondly remember Brandon Aubrey as a professional soccer player with Toronto FC. On that alone I would have signed him as a UDFA.
Karl Brooks was a 6th rounder. Prior to his selection - Dontayvion Wicks was a 5th rounder. Then Carrington Valentine was a 7th rounder. I think that every pick is relevant and important to Gutekunst.
As Carlson was not the worst overall Kicker in the League. He was on extra points.
This entire thread began with my claim that nepotism was a factor in Carlson being drafted. I stand by my claim. Insofar that Bisaccia used his position of influence - that resulted in the premature selection of a player - with which he had a personal relationship - that provided that player with additional financial security (as a 6th round draft pick).
As for the future of Carlson. It is my hope that he makes the second year jump. However the red flag for me is his consistent missing of the extra points (which should be the easiest of kicks). This signals to me that there is a significant mechanical / mental problem with his kicking, Nor, like you, do I think that Joseph is the solution. Perhaps the Packers should be scouting more MLS players.
dobber
April 03, 2024 at 01:43 pm
"With the new kickoff rules being implemented in 2024, Bisaccia could already have a head start at improvement."
Or, if they tackle poorly and continue to take dumb penalties, it will drive them into the crapper.
Alberta_Packer
April 03, 2024 at 02:12 pm
With 11 draft picks - there will be an infusion of hungry and enthusiastic players - which could displace some of the lower roster and PS spots. If positive displacement occurs - then perhaps this will add to some better tackling and blocking on the STs.
Leatherhead
April 04, 2024 at 11:42 am
These guys have to dress for the game, which means they have to be on the 45 active squad, which means they have to be able to play a position well, because they might be lining up against Deebo or Jefferson or somebody equally difficult.
Including the Practice Squad, we carry 69 people on the roster, but only 45 of them are available for the game. 21 offense, 21 defense, kicker, punter/holder/long snapper.
Look at who your starters are, look at who your main situational guys are, and then the remainder is what you have on special teams. And as soon as Alexander, or McKinney, or Stokes, gets hurt, those guys will be on the field playing defense.
Coldworld
April 03, 2024 at 04:43 pm
Moore is in Chicago. His were the penalties that irked me most on STs. He was not a rookie.
CoachJV
April 03, 2024 at 02:04 pm
We need new kickers... FG and Punt
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 11:08 am
Carlson and Whelan were both a risk, in the same direction. I scratched my head at that, and still am.
BruceC1960
April 03, 2024 at 02:21 pm
With all of the picks we have, need to consider Tory Taylor the punter from Iowa. Averaged almost 49 yards per punt. He was a field position changer.
LambeauPlain
April 03, 2024 at 02:35 pm
He and Cooper DeJean teamed up to almost defeat the Badgers all by themselves last season.
Taylor put on a punting clinic. It was crazy.
Johnblood27
April 03, 2024 at 07:36 pm
It was like watching Verne Lewellen!
TheVOR
April 03, 2024 at 03:26 pm
The real problem with Green Bay Packers special teams is not coach RB. The problem is the underwhelming rookie kicker from last year.. that dude Hass to go. Every time he lined up the kick my heart was in my throat, just knowing the potential that he would miss some kick in every game, and eventually a game winning kick. Not a fan of Anders Carlson. He must go..
Coldworld
April 04, 2024 at 09:18 am
It took 5 seasons for Crosby to better the FG percentage Carlson managed. The 29 year old competitor we brought in had a season on a par with Carlson’s rookie year. While I don’t disagree Carlson needs to improve, I think there’s a striking exaggeration as to the scale of his deficiencies on a rookie season here.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 11:10 am
Thank you for putting this in perspective!
Leatherhead
April 04, 2024 at 11:53 am
VOR....every team misses FGs.
8 teams were perfect on Extra Points. We missed 5, just like the Rams. I can't get too worked up over a missed extra point when most teams miss extra points a couple of times a season, and it's only one point.
Missed FGs are different. A missed FG has the same net impact as a turnover. You get no points, you turn over possession to the opponent at that point. Same thing as a fumble.
We missed 6 FGs last year, all of them from over 40 yards. The Cowboys, by contrast, were 14 out of 14 from over 40 yards where the Packers were 7 out of 13. So, the Cowboys, on a similar number of attempts from outside the 40, scored 42 points and didn't turn it over. The Packers scored 21 points and turned it over 6 times.
IF it were up to me, I'd probably be inclined to not kick all those longer FGs if I didn't have to. I'd probably take a 4 down mentality, particularly since once we get close to the goal line, we're pretty good at getting it into the endzone. Once we get inside the 20, (that's a 37 yard FG), we score TDs . We have one of the best redzone percentages in the league. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to kick a FG from the 30 (that's a 47 yarder) that we have a 50% chance of missing when if we could just convert the first down, we'd have a pretty good chance of getting 7 points.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 11:12 am
That's situational football, the stuff that stats tend to obscure, and MLF's weakness. (Perhaps his greatest weakness as HC?)
Packers0808
April 03, 2024 at 04:01 pm
Packers need definite big competition AT punter, kicker and long snapper. Kicker is accomplished now bring in other two!
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 11:14 am
LS especially. We all paid 0 attention to that position a year ago. I certainly didn't expect it to be such a problem ...
WestCoastPackerBacker
April 03, 2024 at 04:39 pm
So if the new rules favor Nixon, then I'm more worked about ST doing a crap job of defending the opponents returns. No matter how good Nixon might be, ST will stay in the toilet if they can't defend returners under the new rules.
Coldworld
April 03, 2024 at 05:03 pm
I think that’s going to be all over the place across the league initially. Coaches are going to try things searching for advantage on both ends of the play.
PhantomII
April 03, 2024 at 09:19 pm
The long snapper was targeting the ball all over the place and the holder was probably a basket case from it and our kicker who has his own issues had even more to deal with. Stand over the operation with competition and when any party flubs it in practice,,,they run and reset. It won't take too many of those to lock in....Pain is a great teacher on the ball field.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 05, 2024 at 11:15 am
I'm of the old school myself 👍
Heyjoe414
April 04, 2024 at 07:48 am
Yeah Bisaccia has been a disappointment. Not all his fault. He didn't draft Carlson but probably did have a say in it. Nixon has been a great addition, but the problems are still too many and all over the place. I think they should bring in an UDFA kicker as well.
And yeah the new kickoff rules should help, but that won't save RB if the unit finishes lower than #10, #15 at the worst.
And it's strange. I like the guy. He seems to be a solid players' coach, meaning they like and respect him. But they are paying him too much money for these results. This is a "prove it" year for him. I hope that unit steps up. This will be a very big years for the Packers after the strong finish last year. Expectations are very high. And for a realistic shot at a SB appearance or win, all three units have to be playing very well.
jont
April 04, 2024 at 06:12 pm
I'm going to stay optimistic.
Rookie kicker, rookie punter, new long snapper. This was last season. Probably going to be... not great.
No excuses this season.
Improve if possible-- As Ted said, keep a guy here until you find one better-- but these guys have got their tiem in together so no excuses. Coach B too.