Zero2Cool
14 years ago

From worst to first on penalties after blocking without grabbing was emphasized in training 

Green Bay It'd be the equivalent of failing a test one year and acing it the next.

The special teams of the Green Bay Packers remained among the National Football League's poorest in the first half of the season. When it comes to penalties, more specifically, holding penalties, the Packers couldn't be any better.

Due to the demands of coach Mike McCarthy, the teaching of special-teams coach Shawn Slocum and the diligence of their players, the Packers haven't been hit with a single holding penalty after being tagged with 11 at midseason in 2009.

"You know, you usually get what you emphasize," Slocum said. "That may sound corny, but it's true."

That emphasis was born from embarrassment and outrage.

Last year, Slocum's first as coordinator, the Packers led the NFL in accepted penalties on special teams with 30. That was three more than runner-up Philadelphia and four times as many as Atlanta and Miami, which tied for the fewest, with seven.

Of those 30 penalties, 14 were for holding: seven on punt returns, six on kickoff returns and one on a punt.

Green Bay hadn't been charged with more than 10 holding penalties in the previous 22 seasons for which records were available.

At midseason, the Packers' special teams have eight penalties, including just three in the last five games.

"We definitely take pride in that," tight end Tom Crabtree said. "When you're that low in penalties, it's an impressive thing."

Impressive it is, which begs the question: Despite being buffeted by a league-worst run of injuries, how did Slocum basically take the same group of players and improve them from worst to first when it comes to holding avoidance?

Well, the anti-holding message started in March, when veterans filtered in for the start of the off-season program. Slocum preached it throughout the off-season and in training camp took the novel step of asking officials to throw flags for infractions during every return-game blocking drill.

Even now, at least once a week, linebacker Desmond Bishop said a segment of practice is devoted to "not holding and blocking right."

Slocum and his new assistant, Chad Morton, were given even longer periods in August for their new blocking drills. McCarthy said he cut back jog-throughs to accommodate them.

"It wasn't so much that we've been stressing, 'Don't hold, don't hold,' " said Crabtree. "It's what we can work on better as opposed to yelling at guys for holding. He's being positive, and guys are responding really well to it."

In the exhibition season, the only holding call on special teams was against safety Anthony Levine in Week 3.

Mike Pereira, the NFL director of officials through 2009 who now works as a consultant for Fox, said officials are more liberal regarding hand usage in the kicking game than on a running play.

"What we always talked about is when you're blocking downfield on punts or kicks and you twist a guy around, so you actually turn him around in a 180-degree twist, that's when it's going to be holding," said Pereira. "When the guy starts to beat you, you've got to let him go."

The other major penalty in the return game is illegal block. The Packers have two this season compared to five all last year.

"If you are coming from behind in what we call a chase position, any contact on the back is going to be a foul . . . even if you have one hand on the side," said Pereira. "So if you get beat and you're in a chase, you've got to get your head in front and make the contact on the side."

Twelve players drew holding penalties last season. Center Evan Dietrich-Smith and safety Derrick Martin were the only players with two.

"We're maybe not producing like we have in the past, but we're not shooting ourselves in the foot," said defensive back Jarrett Bush, who had an unprecedented total of six special-teams penalties in 2008 but only three in his last 25 games. "When it comes down to a crucial point in the game, you can't get a holding call. That's what hurt us last year."

Slocum has demanded that his blockers keep their hands inside the frame of the defender, run their feet and be aware of their surroundings.

"It wasn't emphasized as much (last year)," fullback Korey Hall said. "We've really been working on fundamentals. Making a conscious effort to get your hands inside."

Slocum preaches a philosophy of "stripe to stripe," meaning blockers are asked to position themselves squarely on defenders using the stripe on the opponent's helmet as the midpoint.

"Even our defensive guys who aren't used to blocking sometimes, we're just as detailed with them on hand placement," said Crabtree. "And if you feel you're losing your man, it's not the end of the world. Don't make a bad situation worse by getting outside his frame, which is when the ref sees the stretch of the jersey."

In this narrow corner of special teams, practice most assuredly has paid off.


UserPostedImage
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Great, now we're gonna get a nice run back nullified by a holding flag, thanks Bob!
UserPostedImage
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Wow, there were only 5 illegal blocks called on special teams last? It seemed like they were being called almost every other return.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
beast (46m) : My first name starts with R and my beer belly is quite voluptuous! Thank you for noticing šŸ˜
Zero2Cool (5h) : beast, you're just one R from being voluptuous.
Zero2Cool (5h) : And now some Packers blogger is like Doubs to Steelers makes sense!!!!
Zero2Cool (5h) : You saw me Tweet???
beast (5h) : Supposedly Steelers will be trading WR George Pickens to the Cowboys for a 3rd and late round pick swap
Zero2Cool (5-May) : Ravens release Justin Tucker, err D. Watson Jr?
Zero2Cool (5-May) : Cardinals have signed TE Josiah Deguara.
Zero2Cool (5-May) : If I were to "Google" it, then I wouldn't read it in your words.
Martha Careful (5-May) : Yes, in the military S2’s work on IPB, PERCEC, PHYSEC and IO
dfosterf (4-May) : FYI civilian companies swipe the S2 designation from the military. S2 is the intelligence branch up to brigade level. G2 is division level.
dfosterf (4-May) : Google it. Make sure to tack NFL on it or you will get the military meaning
Zero2Cool (4-May) : S2?
beast (4-May) : Seems like the S2 has a love/hate relationship with professional scouts.
beast (4-May) : In theory, the S2 test how quickly a QBs brain can solve game like issues and how quickly they can do it.
dfosterf (4-May) : Are you gentlemen and at least one lady familiar with the S2 cognition
Zero2Cool (4-May) : Maybe there isn't an issue.
beast (4-May) : NFL really needs to fix their position labeling issue, but I don't think they care
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Packers did not activate the fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker, with the goal of signing him to a contract extension.
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Matthew Golden spoke with Randall Cobb before draft. Looked like chance encounter.
packerfanoutwest (1-May) : from a head left turn?
packerfanoutwest (1-May) : someone drunk?
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Unlikely.
dfosterf (30-Apr) : How long until Jeff Sperbeck's family sues John Elway ?
Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : Packers are exercising the fifth-year option on DT Devonte Wyatt, locking in a guaranteed $12.9M for the 2026 season.
beast (30-Apr) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (30-Apr) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (30-Apr) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

5-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

5-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

4-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

3-May / Packers Draft Threads / Martha Careful

3-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

3-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

3-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

3-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

2-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

Headlines
Copyright Ā© 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.comā„¢. All Rights Reserved.