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

How does Mason Crosby look?

Crosby is beginning training camp on the PUP list but he is eligible to return at any point once healthy.

Last season was very much a down year for the veteran kicker, as he would make only 73% of his 34 field goal attempts. However, between the poor blocking, inconsistent snaps, and issues with holds, it’s not as if all of those missed kicks were his fault either.

This is one big reason why I don’t believe his job is in jeopardy. LaFleur and the coaching staff knows this–plus, there are obvious risks in relying on a rookie kicker to carry Green Bay through the season. With improved overall play on the field goal unit, I expect Crosby to improve as well.

Pat O’Donnell

If you’re just looking at Pat O’Donnell’s raw punting stats, they, for the most part, don’t leap off the page as one of the better punters in the NFL. However, what he does provide is consistency–which as we’ve all seen, can be incredibly valuable.

While Corey Bojorquez was able to unleash some massive punts last season, once the weather turned cold, he struggled with consistency. O’Donnell has spent his career in Chicago, so we know he can handle the elements, and he should also be a much-improved holder on field goals, which will very much help Crosby bounce back.

Something else that will be interesting to watch will be whether or not the Packers try to utilize O’Donnell on kickoffs, where he does have 21 career attempts. The reason I bring this up is because Crosby really struggled to get the ball through the end zone last season, with 55% of his kickoffs being brought out of the end zone—which ranked as the fourth-highest rate in football, per PFF.

At the very least, this is an idea worth exploring.