8 Big Things to Watch for on Special Teams During Packers Training Camp

Who emerges on special teams for the Packers?

Many of the back-end of the roster spots on this team are going to be decided by special teams play. At positions like safety, linebacker, and tight end, where much of the playing time on either offense or defense is already decided, special teams will be an important in deciding which players round out those position groups.

Special teams is very much an effort position, and that will shine through during practices and preseason games. Each year, there always seems to be a standout or two over the course of the summer. Typically experience can play a key role in determining who stays and who goes, but this year that may carry a little less weight with everyone learning a new system, and the unit coming off an abysmal performance. Currently, the top three players in special teams snaps from 2021 are no longer Packers.

A few players who I believe can be core special teams players under Rich Bisaccia include Krys Barnes, Rico Gifford, Tyler Davis, and Dominique Darnley.

The energy that Rich Bisaccia brings

For a long time, the Packers have, to a degree, not prioritized the special teams unit—and it’s shown, as more than not over the last decade, this group has regularly ranked in the bottom third of the NFL.

But with Bisaccia comes a new level of accountability and a different type of energy that the Packers just haven’t had on special teams.

"“Coach Bisaccia brought in a culture that’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of,” said LB Isaiah McDuffie via Go Long. “Creating a standard. That’s where it starts. Creating a standard and then holding everybody accountable to that standard. That’s the first step. And then formulating those relationships. Reliability. If I need to be here, you’re going to be here. The drills he has us go through every day. He puts us in uncomfortable situations to see if he can depend on the man next to us. To build those relationships.”"

In addition to the personnel, Bisaccia’s voice in practice and in the meeting rooms will have a massive impact on how this unit performs. At the end of the day, all that matters is how they perform on the field — and if you’re still hesitant, I get it — but it’s also not hard to be excited about having a coach like Bisaccia lead this unit.

"“Getting a chance to be around him and get to know him – it’s not a secret as to why guys love being around him [and] love playing for him, Matt LaFleur told reporters earlier this offseason via AtoZ Sports. “I can tell that he’s going to demand a lot from our guys, but he also cares so much about everybody he’s working with. We’re super excited to have a guy like that and again, I’d say his track record speaks for itself. And I think we’re all going to benefit from learning from him.”"