Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2010/07/02/1/ 

As the Green Bay Packers look at their return game for 2010, they see both promise and uncertainty, and that goes for both punt and kickoff returns.

On punt returns, it starts with Will Blackmon. There's plenty of promise there, as Blackmon returned three punts for touchdowns during the 2007-08 seasons, but no one can be certain how well he'll come back from the knee injury that ended his 2009 campaign after just four games.

"We're talking about a guy that's coming off major knee surgery, but we also are talking about a guy that's had very good production for us as a returner," special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum said. "Taking that he's healthy, we'll move forward, and I expect him to be a real factor there."

All reports throughout the spring indicated that Blackmon would be ready for the start of training camp. With Blackmon out last year, receiver Jordy Nelson averaged just 5.3 yards on 17 punt returns. Cornerback Tramon Williams nearly doubled that average at 10.4, with the season's longest return of 45 yards, but he only got 13 returns before he was removed from the duty and starting on defense in place of an injured Al Harris.

Overall, the Packers' 6.9-yard average on punt returns ranked just 23rd in the league in 2009. More important, that average was more than 3 yards less than the opponents' average of 10.1. When Blackmon was healthy for all of 2008, he averaged 11.1, good for fourth in the NFC and ninth in the league, while the opponents averaged just 7.5.

The simplest move would be for Blackmon to be back to his old self, helping give the Packers the edge again on punt returns. But until he's back on the field performing in games, any expectations are mere projections.

"Will is a very good punt returner, very shifty," Slocum said. "We'll see once he gets back and he gets totally turned loose if he can make the jump cuts that he's done in the past, which really gave him an advantage returning the ball."

While Blackmon was sitting out organized team activities (OTAs) and the June mini-camp, the Packers looked at a handful of other candidates. Nelson took his share of reps. But Williams was unsigned until the final few days of the offseason program, and it isn't clear how viable an option he is anyway with Harris' return date unknown.

Slocum also tried out a couple of rookie prospects in cornerback Sam Shields and running back Quinn Porter. Shields has electrifying speed but struggled to catch the ball consistently, which will have to change when the pads come on during training camp. Porter was a little smoother catching the ball but, like Shields, has an uphill battle just to land a roster spot.

Slocum noted that it wasn't easy for the young returners in the spring to be going back and forth between catching punts from the right-footed Tim Masthay and the left-footed Chris Bryan, but it's better for everyone if they're tested in that fashion now.

"(Shields) is a dynamic athlete," Slocum said. "He's got difference-making speed, and if you can get the ball in his hand and get him a seam, you have a chance to score touchdowns.

"I think Quinn Porter does a great job of getting lateral and then getting vertical quickly.

"We need to see more consistency in both of them fielding the ball, and a lot of times that's a process you have to go through. We've got a full training camp to go, a bunch of reps for them to continue to get better."

The Packers also would like to improve on kickoff returns, where they ranked 19th a year ago. Nelson was their best option, averaging 25.4 yards on 25 returns, but the team had just one return longer than 28 yards during a three-game midseason stretch that Nelson missed with a knee injury. Nelson also fumbled two kickoff returns down the stretch last season, one on Thanksgiving in Detroit and again in the playoffs in Arizona, though the Packers recovered the latter one.

Blackmon will get a long look for this job as well, but he hasn't been as explosive on kickoffs as he has on punts when healthy. Williams and running back Brandon Jackson also have experience here, while Porter has an intriguing track record, with two 90-plus-yard returns for scores in his final season at Stillman College.

"Each year is a new year," Slocum said. "We've got a number of guys that have ability and have excellent speed. As we go through this process and look at all of them, we'll give them opportunities in those (preseason) ballgames."

Much has been made of the fact that the Packers haven't run a kickoff back for a touchdown since 2000. Blackmon and Nelson have each returned a kickoff all the way over the past two seasons, but both returns were called back by penalties.

It would be nice to end that drought, but more important to Slocum is simply getting decent field position for the offense on a consistent basis. Last year, the Packers' average field position following a kickoff was the 27.3-yard line, ranking a respectable ninth in the league and nearly a full yard better than the league average (26.4).

At a minimum that ranking needs to be maintained, if not enhanced, whether the return unit breaks any long ones or not.

"With the explosiveness of our offense, if we can get the ball outside the 20 or better yet at the 30-yard line, our scoring probability goes way up," Slocum said. "So that's the No. 1 goal, and if we're consistent in getting the ball north and south, then big plays come."


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zombieslayer
14 years ago
I like Blackmon back there but as the article said, the biggest worry is if he lost a step after the injury. If not, he's a pretty dang good returner.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
I didn't expect Sheilds to be a returner. They moved him from receiver to CB in college for a reason. That is probably it. He also said he would do what ever the team wanted him to do but if were all the same to him he would rather be a gunner.

I think RB James Starks also has some college experience as a return guy. He has enough speed for a 97 yard run for a TD, he may do well in returns. He is a natural with the ball in his hands.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
I'd like to see someone other than Blackmon returning kicks and punts. Why? Because I'm hoping Blackmon turns it on this year as a DB. How's that for a long shot pipe dream? lol
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tonyagnese
14 years ago
Was anyone else surprised that we didn't get a new ST coach?
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Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
I wasn't. They had a lot of other impediments to the ST rank. Injuries, Struggling O and D. If they had a healthy year where the were not scrambling to patch up the O and install the 3-4, then they should have. If they have better luck with injuries and the O and D are not struggling, they better have a decent showing on ST or they won't have any excuses.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
beast
14 years ago
I'm not surprised they stuck with the same ST coach... it was his first year and a lot of things went wrong that were out of his hands... lots of injuries, lots of ST having to play more offense and defense... some guys like Finley didn't play much ST while Lee was the starter and didn't ether (which Lee is said to going to play a lot more STs now that he's not the starter)... Williams, Matthews and Jones were lost of STs because they had to step up as starters on defense.... the punter was pretty bad, and so were the gunners (which CB Bell came in late in the season and looked like the best gunner on the team)... all the returners were ether starting on O or D or injured at points of the season... the "special team ace" (Jarrett Bush) just plain sucked at times and got tons of penalties...

It got so bad that Bishop showed as the best STer when Speed Kills on ST and Bishop doesn't have speed but yet still got voted as caption (which he earn as he stay healthy and tried very hard).
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PackerTraxx
14 years ago
This has been a repeating story for too many years. Every time they give us hope it will be cured. I'm just not going to worry about it and hopefully they will surprise me.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
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Zero2Cool (12h) : S2?
beast (12h) : Seems like the S2 has a love/hate relationship with professional scouts.
beast (12h) : In theory, the S2 test how quickly a QBs brain can solve game like issues and how quickly they can do it.
dfosterf (13h) : Are you gentlemen and at least one lady familiar with the S2 cognition
Zero2Cool (13h) : Maybe there isn't an issue.
beast (14h) : 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)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
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