Mark,
Great article!

This just gets me even more jazzed about this teams rookies and where this team is headed. Super excited they will all grow together.

Like Anthony Johnson's quote "I'm not just a body out there".

For once, I'm going into a new NFL season WITHOUT worrying about our ST's!

Why do I want to run through a wall right now?

His attitude is infectious. My hope is that everyone takes to it and excels.

Rich Bisaccia is natural leader of men. That was very obvious when he was interim coach for Raiders and, look miracle, he had better record than previous coach, while have somewhat harder schedule.

It was seen, also, after he came to Green Bay. Unit started to perform better, except Packers punt returner, Amari Rodgers, who was cut after RB lost his patience and asked that from Brian Gutekunst.

I believe Packers ST will be top 10 unit, maybe top 5, when you take in consideration that lot of drafted players had lot of experience in playing ST. Maybe some UDFA would also contribute as well.

I love Rick Bisaccia. I mean common, every picture we see of the guy he's screaming or in yesterdays piece by Cory it looks like he's getting ready to snatch the play call sheet from Joe Barry! Probably for one of his calls playing 7 yards off on 3rd and 3 with the opposing QB in shotgun.

Gute has done a magnificent job of adding not just talent through the draft for ST, but getting the guys Bisaccia WANTED and then keeping them. Hey, the record may not be 13-3 (but one never knows) but it's going to be more fun than I can remember. Don't get me wrong, losing sucks! But in all honesty I can't remember a season I'm more stoked about.

ST just could be the Packers top ranked unit this year.

Great article, Mark.

In one year, one talented coach transformed a seemingly endless stream of ST coaching futility.

Why it is so difficult to hire excellent coaching for defense...especially when outstanding candidates have been available?

The subhead to the article should read: Excellent Coaching Win Championships.

The main thing is he seems to have a clear vision as to what he wants for an outcome. He also found some talent along the way. The team has found players that can do special teams and also contribute on either offense or defense if needed. Ted Thompson found guys that couldn't do either and that set up the long term problem.
The return teams will be crucial this year. Good field position always helps the offense but with a new quarterback and young receivers it will be necessary this fall more than ever.

You have to go back decades to remember a year with so many draft picks. This camp is going to be very competitive with 25 draft picks and countless UDFA’s over the past two years. That will mean some talented players will be cut and the remaining will be better due to the competitive off season. Some will make the cut because they will Excel at ST’s. It’s a big part of being a winning football team, one that has been overlooked far too long. I hope Nixon stays at returning punts, he was very dynamic and fun to watch.

I will miss Crosby’s accuracy thou, he excelled even in the cold weather and in big games. That will be hard to replace and I fear we will lose some games that we wouldn’t of with him.

Just kick it out of the end zone every time and you cut down the coverage team’s chances in half of f-ing up. If your kicker can’t do that you picked the wrong kicker. The NFL rules are now set to have NO kickoff returns and no injuries so go with it!

It’s going to be a real competition to be in this roster via the ST route. The returning players have some real competition from the incomers. That’s a radically different scenario than we’ve seen in GB in years.

Very exciting times!

This year more than other years sure seems like most veterans are going to have to step up their game even in training camp. As DB indicated at this stage of his career he tends to pick & choose when he goes full out in training camp. Well, not for all these youngsters with all their energy, excitement, and wanting to make the team. This is good! We also have an eager QB for once that will take all the reps to work with the receivers, backs & TE's.

Just going to say......friggin Matt LF not allowing media much access to the 3-day mini-camp is really frustrating me & I want him to know it! :)

There is nothing secretive going on in mini-camp that has to be kept such a secret from the media and public. Doesn't he know/care there are many of us rabid Packer fans who want video, and to read about our newest Packers? This is when they should really provide media access to get us fans (if possible) even more jazzed and ramped up. The little vanilla day 1 mini-camp podcast by Andy was pretty non-informative because the media was limited to what they could watch.

I want to see those new TE's, WR's, and RB streaking down the field making catches over their shoulders. I want to see the defenders and their moves & athleticism. Come on Matt....get with it! :)

I would think RB should either be head coach or at the very least the DC!

It would be darkly ironic to finish 6-11with a top 5 STs unit after the fiascos during the good seasons. Top 5 could be stretch depending on if they already have a decent K on the roster or have to shuffle through a few to find one.

It's nice that there finally appears to be a coherent strategy here. It sure beats the previous approaches of just throwing the back of the roster out there and hoping the coach can wave a magic wand over them.

Which members of the TE room are going to contribute on ST? Tyler Davis took the most snaps last year. Currently the room is:
Josiah Deguara age 26 4th year
Tyler Davis 26 4th
Luke Musgrave 22 R
Tucker Kraft 22 R
Nick Guggemos 27 1st year
Carmen McDonald 23 R

I expect our STs to be significantly improved for 2023. The only area I have some hesitation with is our place kicker, whoever that will be. Crosby has been a great place kicker for the Packers especially in cold weather games. Kicking FGs and PATs in Green Bay from November on is a big challenge considering the cold, the wind and the wet weather conditions.

I would be fine if the Packers brought 3 kickers into camp this year. If all else fails I'm hoping that Crosby does not get a call from another team first if it turns out that we need to bring him back. Thanks, Since '61

RB stood alone last season as the Packers most impactful coach. This is possible when teams are willing to pay a premium for top level coaches - which generally the FO has been loathe to do. However, the Packers STs had been so historically bad - that Murphy had to deviate (reluctantly) from his practice of hiring middling, unproven or re-cycled coaches - usually below market price(s).

It appears to me that Bisaccia is the alpha male on the coaching staff - which is fine - because MLF or JB are certainly not. I posit that every coaching staff requires one alpha male. Now MLF seems OK with this as he can then concentrate on what he knows and likes the most - being an OC (but paid as an HC). As for Joe Barry, he is practically a persona non grata - which may create a leadership void - that RB could help fill.

Because of RB I expect to see a more comfortable and confident MLF this year. While Joe Barry - someone on a shorter leash - perhaps looking over his shoulder - from time-to-time. Thus making it a very interesting and potentially eventful year.

Reed 5'8" 187 4.4
The mistake of the draft.
5' '8'' doesn't work for me.