Trey Smack went absolutely perfect in the preseason for the Green Bay Packers, banging through nine field goals and seven extra points without a single miss. This isn’t just a kicker doing his job, this is the first real taste of what new special teams coordinator Cam Achord, fresh off the New York Giants, has been cooking up. The Packers renovated their special teams operation big time this offseason, kicking embattled former coordinator Rich Bisaccia to the curb, and let me tell you, those changes are already paying dividends.
Smack Attack: A Leg for the Ages?
Smack’s leg is a game-changer, no joke. We’re not talking easy chip shots here, either. This dude drilled a field goal from at least 58 yards out in *two* of their three preseason games! Can you even believe that kind of power and consistency? There was even another bomb from 58 plus yards called back because of a penalty, which just shows you the pure strength in that leg. The Packers traded up in this spring’s draft specifically for this kind of leg talent, and watching him perfectly execute like this? It’s crystal clear why they wanted him so bad. That kind of clutch kicking can genuinely win you huge games when it really matters.
Return Game Explosion: From Nightmare to Dream
But hold up, Smack isn’t the only story here. The return units? Man, they’ve gone from a nightmare to an absolute dream. Kickoff returns averaged an insane 32.6 yards on six attempts. Yeah, Pierre Strong Jr. ripped off a monster 68-yarder in Denver that seriously juiced those numbers, no doubt. But even without his huge run, they were still averaging 25.6 yards per return, which is nearly half a yard better than last year’s average. Think about it: that 32.6 yards would’ve been the best in the entire NFL last season by almost three full yards! That’s next level, folks, and something we haven’t seen in Green Bay in forever.
Punt returns somehow managed to be even *more* of an improvement. Will Sheppard dropped jaws with an 81-yard touchdown in Week 3 of the preseason. Seriously, an 81-yard house call! That’s the first punt return TD for the Packers since Micah Hyde took one back against the Lions way back in 2014. It had been forever! Every single punt return that actually gained yards in the preseason blew past their dismal 5.6-yard average from last year. Skyy Moore even had a couple of solid ones, a 16-yarder and a 14-yarder, which felt like pure magic after years of absolutely dreadful returns. And let’s not forget Daniel Whelan, launching those beautiful “shamrock bombs” high into the night exactly like you’d expect from his typically excellent self.
The Catch and What’s Next
Look, I know what you’re thinking. “It’s just preseason! Nothing counts!” And yeah, you’re right. Opponents aren’t bringing their A-game, they aren’t playing their best guys, and nothing is technically “real.” But for a team whose special teams have been straight-up far from special for what feels like *years and years*, you can’t help but get seriously hyped over this. This isn’t just a hurdle crossed; it’s a hurdle absolutely *vaulted* over with serious style. There’s still some immediate drama ahead, especially with that first significant cut prior to the deadline being Cal Adomitis. That’s a new challenge for the field goal and extra point operation, no doubt. How will they navigate that uncertainty and keep this special teams swagger rolling when the regular season opener quickly approaches? This early promise needs to translate when it actually counts, and all eyes will be on them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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