Opie appears to have the physical ability to be a good NFL punter, but not the mental toughness
Give the kid a break. How many 15 year olds could handle the pressure of kicking in a NFL game?
New ST coordinator in 2021 and an open competition for punter.
If it comes down to the punter having to tackle the returner, the play is already shot to hell.
I don't think Opie has the frame to be taking on returners, period. And I don't want him sacrificing his body when he's already nursing an injury. So I'll give him a pass on this particular play.
However, that has nothing to do with his punting, which has become somewhat of a crapshoot.
It seems I recall the 'big deal' about him when he was drafted was his hang time. Even a kick was a little short, it hung up enough to let the coverage get downfield. Distance was secondary to time. It seems now he is getting neither.
@Timmy! posted:If it comes down to the punter having to tackle the returner, the play is already shot to hell.
I don't think Opie has the frame to be taking on returners, period. And I don't want him sacrificing his body when he's already nursing an injury. So I'll give him a pass on this particular play.However, that has nothing to do with his punting, which has become somewhat of a crapshoot.
It seems I recall the 'big deal' about him when he was drafted was his hang time. Even a kick was a little short, it hung up enough to let the coverage get downfield. Distance was secondary to time. It seems now he is getting neither.
He's been Mennezooked!
He's shown a pattern of fading as the weather turns late in the season. May be time to start looking.
Nope, now is not the time. Bring competition into camp for him.
I’d like to see what Opie could do with a better coach, because it’s becoming clear the issues are more systemic than just a single player. He’s been a bust thus far, but as others have said there’s no reason why he should be punting like crap...he’s got the physical makeup of an elite punter. I saw a beat writer on Twitter imply coverage problems were a talent issue with the bottom of our roster, but there’s no reason why guys like Ty Summers, Will Redmond, etc. wouldn’t be good ST players. As we saw with Dexter Williams on his missed block, I think it’s an effort issue.
Coaching ST is hard to do, because doing it well requires passion and energy, more so than DC or OC. That's why someone like Rizzi who didn't have a particularly sexy coaching resume has found a niche. There is something in his DNA where he is able to scheme all the X's and O's, and convey that to the players he's given, and get results.
A lot of ST is effort...but it's not just effort...you can get a bunch of guys running balls to the wall down the field and if they don't know what angle to take, or what lane to stay in, they will not be able to make a play.
Some of it is talent, but a lot of it is coaching. Mennenga didn't have to coach his PK...he inherited a veteran who had already been successful. Opie is still wet behind the ears, and could probably benefit from some strong mentorship, if not from the ST coach, from an assistant. Someone that knows what it takes to be a great punter in the NFL. If it means bringing in an outside consultant, then do it. The world is full of former NFL punters who now in retirement do nothing but coach high school and college P on the side for $150 an hour.
Opie obviously has the leg to be an elite NFL punter...he may not have the brain for it, but to give up at this point without giving him every resource possible to succeed would be foolish.
That kid needs to hit the weight room this off season.
Found on the internet: only four punts in the entire NFL have been returned for touchdowns this season. The Packers have allowed half of them. Opponents are averaging almost 20 yards per punt return against the Packers this season.
Fire Smegma now.
I like Covid more than either.
According to Acmepackingcompany.com, here are the guys who get the most special teams snaps. As expected, your core guys are your backup LBs, backup safeties, backup TEs, and fullbacks. The Packers aren't very good at starting ILBs so it's not surprising their backup LBs might struggle on special teams.
MLF might have to make some tough decisions to use some of their starters on special teams (specifically punt coverage units). You know why they don't want to risk Alexander, Savage, Amos, Lazard, Tonyan, etc. in those roles, but that has to be balanced against giving up huge plays to opposing teams. Imagine a playoff game where the Saints decide to put Kamara back there.
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS (Eagles game)
Oren Burks 21, Ty Summers 21, Ramsey 21, Hollman 16, Greene 14, Taylor 14, Sullivan 13, Vernon Scott 12, Krys Barnes 11
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS (Bears game)
Burks 19, Ty Summers 19, Greene 17, Ramsey 17, Redmond 16, Martin 14, Taylor 14, Sullivan 13, De’Jon Harris 12, Vernon Scott 12
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS (Colts game)
Oren Burks 26, Ramsey 26, Redmond 26, Summers 26, Malik Taylor 16, Josh Jackson 15, Vernon Scott 14, Lancaster 13, Lowry 12, Sullivan 12, James Burgess 11, Williams 11
Burks is actually decent on special teams. Not so much anywhere else.
@Timmy! posted:If it comes down to the punter having to tackle the returner, the play is already shot to hell.
I don't think Opie has the frame to be taking on returners, period. And I don't want him sacrificing his body when he's already nursing an injury. So I'll give him a pass on this particular play.
I don't expect any punters or kickers to actually make tackles but you have to do one very basic thing. You have to get the returner off the sideline and steer them back towards the middle of the field. If Scott had protected the sideline it's very possible there's no TD on either of those returns. Definitely would have prevented the one last night.
And that's 100% coaching.
@PackerHawk posted:I don't expect any punters or kickers to actually make tackles but you have to do one very basic thing. You have to get the returner off the sideline and steer them back towards the middle of the field. If Scott had protected the sideline it's very possible there's no TD on either of those returns. Definitely would have prevented the one last night.
And that's 100% coaching.
Also, the two guys who he allowed to run past him on the sideline are both under 200 pounds. I don't expect him to take on a 240 pound special teamer that is a lead blocker to spring the return guy, but taking on a 5'11, 195-pound guy shouldn't be that intimidating. It's not like it's DK Metcalf coming at him.
Even if Mennenga hasn't coached him to not give up the sideline (which I am sure he has) his other coaches thru college certainly have.
I learned it in jr hi in buckets and high school in football. Ran many a lap till it penetrated. He doesn't have to make the tackle, just try to slow down the runner and keep him inside.
He knows.
After 10+ years of mostly sharty Special Teams in GB (outside of Crosby's FG kicking) -- a unit coached by non-entities like Shawn Slocum, Ron Zook, and now Shawn Mennenga, it has become apparent that the Packer organization does not value STs any more than it values inside linebackers.
The negligence of STs is really odd given that the most successful coach of this era has really emphasized STs (his team had both a punt return and a blocked FG for a TD in yesterday's win). Plus, with Arod making all sorts of scrubs look better on O, one would think that the braintrust could come up with better ST players than Darius Shepherd. But that has not been the case.
I can't blame MLF, he tried to hire a competent STs coordinator but the organization decided to go cheap when it came to coaches salaries in 2019 (remember the Pack was still paying MM and his stellar coaching staff >$10M to not coach last season) and thus deemed Darren Rizzi to be too expensive (I hear he's coaching STs for some team down south these days).
Here's hoping ARod, MLF, and the O are so good that they overcome the stench on STs and from the middle of the D in the upcoming playoffs.
From Michael Rodney:
If he's available, Matt LaFleur should hire Jags special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis at the end of the season. Instead of hiring first-timers or previously unsuccessful retreads, it's time for #Packers to bring in someone with a proven track record of getting the job done.
Coordinator Shawn Mennenga’s group ranks 32nd in punt coverage, 19th in kickoff coverage, 28th in punt-return average, 31st in kickoff-return average, tied for 19th in punting average, 28th in net punting average, 23rd in extra-point percentage and tied for first in field-goal percentage.
Packers should be very aware of what poor special teams play can do in the playoffs.
Fuck Murphy.
This team is the tale of two "holy shit".
Holy shit that was amazing!
Holy shit that was amazingly horrible.
There's nothing inbetween.
Packers final special teams rankings from @RickGosselin9 by year, since 2012:
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) January 13, 2021
2020: 29th
2019: 26th
2018: 32nd
2017: 16th
2016: 29th
2015: 17th
2014: 32nd
2013: 20th
2012: 12th
Gosselin has the Rams at #30, so the Packers have the advantage. 
Christ. Seriously there are like 3 good ST coaches in the NFL.
Detroit's ST's ranked 3rd this year. Go steal their coach. Houston's ST was 13th, better than ours and their coach is available ostensibly. J'Ville is 14th, same thing. Get literally anyone better.
If these guys won't come then go down to college and find someone. Iowa's ST/TE coach seems impressive, he has coached up Kittle, Hockensen, etc. and Iowa's STs are the top ranked in college football. I know he's at his alma mater, but who passes on an NFL coordinator gig? Doesn't have to be him, get anyone who knows shit about special teams and can get players fired up...I don't think Michael Chiklis is energizing anyone for the Packers. Shocker that Rams ST is so bad and their coach is John Bonamego!
Most special teams in the league are below average.
If there is a guy that needs to be fired in the off season, it's Shawn of the Dead.
@michiganjoe posted:Packers final special teams rankings from @RickGosselin9 by year, since 2012:
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) January 13, 2021
2020: 29th
2019: 26th
2018: 32nd
2017: 16th
2016: 29th
2015: 17th
2014: 32nd
2013: 20th
2012: 12thGosselin has the Rams at #30, so the Packers have the advantage.
Given that Crosby didn't miss a FG this year and was 13th in the XP% this year and these rankings take that into account, it's likely that without factoring in Crosby's performance the special teams would be last by a large margin in terms of the punt/kick returns and punt/kick defense? Just looking at punting stats, it looks like every exchange of possession (back to back punts) costs the Packers 5 yards of field position in terms of their special teams performance.
1. Net yards per punt (30th) 37.0 yards
2. Opponent net yards per punt (26th) 42.0 yards
If back to back 13-3 seasons doesn't give MLF the right to pick his OWN special teams coach no matter what he costs, our young coach needs to find a new team.
Me thinks Gloop has been active with scrub hunting specifically for ST. He signed two guys just the other day.
Your nicknames are getting too abstract. I'm not sure who "Gloop" is?
@Grave Digger posted:Your nicknames are getting too abstract. I'm not sure who "Gloop" is?
NOT this guy:
@Grave Digger posted:Your nicknames are getting too abstract. I'm not sure who "Gloop" is?
If it starts with a "G" and is related to GM duties it's GigglyPiggly. It's definitely Gunt when he does stupid shit, maybe GPace. I'll test it out first.
The Lions fired Brayden Coombs late in the season, but his special teams finished 3rd in the league. I'm sure he'll be in demand in the coming days and weeks. He'd be a huge upgrade over Mennenga.
— Michael Rodney (@PackersNotes) January 13, 2021