Packers: 4 Big Questions for Special Teams Entering Training Camp
By Paul Bretl
![Green Bay Packers Maurice Drayton special teams assistant coach Maurice Drayton is shown during the second quarter of their game Sunday, December 25, 2018 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 24-17.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINELPackers17 33 Hoffman Green Bay Packers Maurice Drayton special teams assistant coach Maurice Drayton is shown during the second quarter of their game Sunday, December 25, 2018 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 24-17.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINELPackers17 33 Hoffman](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/46b13270c4500254c1bdfb3570056da596bce267775d4cb505505465f8a6ab59.jpg)
Over this past week, I’ve gone through my five big questions for the offense entering training camp, along with my six for the defensive side of the ball. So we might as well do the Green Bay Packers special teams unit as well, right? Here are my four questions for a special teams group that is looking to greatly improve in 2021.
How does the competition for JK Scott and Hunter Bradley unfold?
For both punter JK Scott and long-snapper Hunter Bradley, there will be some competition for them this summer. We’ve seen the Green Bay Packers bring in competition for Mason Crosby in the past, and it has helped push him to some impressive seasons–hopefully, this has a similar effect on Scott and Bradley.
Related Story. 6 Big Questions for Defense Entering Training Camp. light
Both players have battled inconsistencies — especially in 2020 — with Scott ranking in the bottom third of the NFL in net return average, punts inside the 20, and fair catches. Meanwhile, Bradley had his share of poor snaps last season. As I said, it’s the inconsistency that’s the issue, both players have had plenty of good moments, but when they struggle, they really struggle.
Competing against Scott and Bradley will be punter Ryan Winslow, who has just six career attempts, and they occurred in 2019, along with long-snapper Joe Fortunato, who doesn’t have a regular-season NFL snap. For this reason alone — the lack of experience — I expect both Scott and Bradley to make the roster, but hopefully, this lights a bit of a fire under each of them.