Cam Achord new ST coach - Fire him

[Heyjoe4]

When Mason started out, he was considered to have a big leg. Things have changed. And since our new guys longest is 55 or 6, I don't think it's considered big but good enough.

Fair assessment. I never considered McManus as a guy who was gonna make more than 50% of his FGs from 50-55, about the same as Crosby.

But unlike McManus, Crosby was consistent inside 50. Well I think he was. He didn't induce panic attacks when he lined up a 40-yarder, unlike the last 4 or 5 kickers in GB.

Taking Smack was risky, but I trust Gluten and assume he saw the risk as worth taking. And there wasn't much he could do with the 7th round picks he gave up that he couldn't so with UDFAs, so it was a good move.

It's rare when I like every pick Gluten makes, but this year, and with only 6 picks, I thought that - at least on paper - he addressed needs and got the BPA.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Smack has a pretty decent kicking average from 50+ 76.9% (10 of 13). However, that was only 13 kicks. Really not enough to go off of just yet.

He was 99-100 on his XP's. Some might not view that stat as very important, but what it says to me is that he is consistent. His career FG % was 83% (53 of 64), not outstanding, but decent. I also don't know what happened on his 11 misses. I do know he only had 1 blocked. Bad snap or holds on the other 10?

Anyway, I think the Packers liked his mental acuity to be a good kicker under pressure. This is a pretty good article about that aspect of Trey Smack.

Trey Smack was powerful under pressure kicking at Florida

Packers traded back into sixth round to draft Gators kicker

www.packers.com

 

[gopkrs]

Taking Smack looks like a good move. Taking the Norwegian didn't make any sense at all.

 

[rmontro]

And how soon we forget. Desmond Howard was the SB MVP in 97 because of his excellent returns on both punts and KOs. (I think it was both, KOs for sure.)

How many times has a STs player won a SB MVP? Howard is probably the only one.

Howard was great, he deserved it, but they could have just as easily gave the MVP to Favre. In fact, I remember that whatever board I was on at the time (might have been Usenet), the trolls from the other Bears and Vikings fans were trying to make a big deal out of Favre not getting the award. Like it meant he sucked or something. I don't know, trolls gonna troll.

 

[milani]

T

Fair assessment. I never considered McManus as a guy who was gonna make more than 505 of his FGs from 50-55, about the same as Crosby.

But unlike McManus, Crosby was consistent inside 50. Well I think he was. He didn't induce panic attacks when he lined up a 40-yarder, unlike the last 4 or 5 kickers in GB.

Taking Smack was risky, but I trust Gluten and assume he saw the risk as worth taking. And there wasn't much he could do with the 7th round picks he gave up that he couldn't so with UDFAs, so it was a good move.

It's rare when I like every pick Gluten makes, but this year, and with only 6 picks, I thought that - at least on paper - he addressed needs and got the BPA.

BPPt

Fair assessment. I never considered McManus as a guy who was gonna make more than 505 of his FGs from 50-55, about the same as Crosby.

But unlike McManus, Crosby was consistent inside 50. Well I think he was. He didn't induce panic attacks when he lined up a 40-yarder, unlike the last 4 or 5 kickers in GB.

Taking Smack was risky, but I trust Gluten and assume he saw the risk as worth taking. And there wasn't much he could do with the 7th round picks he gave up that he couldn't so with UDFAs, so it was a good move.

It's rare when I like every pick Gluten makes, but this year, and with only 6 picks, I thought that - at least on paper - he addressed needs and got the BPA.

What frustrated fans was that McManus missed shorter kicks that most kickers were making. Crosby had the rough year in 2012, I believe. And he missed some crucial kicks in 2008 and 2009. But otherwise he was pretty good and pretty consistent. He hit a long bomb against the Vikings and Eagles in the regular season in the first part of his career. But what he really had to prove was his crunch time kicks. He did that in Dallas to get to the Championship. He did that in Seattle to get us to OT. And in 2021 in SF he beat the 9ers with a 50 yarder. And crunch time is when our present kicker must shine. We need a Vinatieri.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

McManus cut......new thread about it.

https://www.packerforum.com/threads/packers-release-k-brandon-mcmanus.86176/

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Anyone else besides me having issues with super lag and logging in today?

 

[milani]

Anyone else besides me having issues with super lag and logging in today?

Lot of it.

 

[rmontro]

Crosby had the rough year in 2012, I believe. And he missed some crucial kicks in 2008 and 2009. But otherwise he was pretty good and pretty consistent. He hit a long bomb against the Vikings and Eagles in the regular season in the first part of his career. But what he really had to prove was his crunch time kicks. He did that in Dallas to get to the Championship. He did that in Seattle to get us to OT.

I always said that the whole team put some effort into losing that Seattle game - except Crosby.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Howard was great, he deserved it, but they could have just as easily gave the MVP to Favre. In fact, I remember that whatever board I was on at the time (might have been Usenet), the trolls from the other Bears and Vikings fans were trying to make a big deal out of Favre not getting the award. Like it meant he sucked or something. I don't know, trolls gonna troll.

I felt the same way. Favre certainly played well enough to win MVP, and it goes to the QB most often, I think. Howard just had too many returns that most affected the outcome. I was certainly surprised the MVP went to a STs guy, a returner. Looking back, it was a 50/50 call between Favre and Howard, and Howard stood out so mucj he won the award.

And yeah, I've heard Favre get dissed by Bear and viking fans for not getting the MVP. They need to get a life. Both teams would have jumped at the opportunity to have Favre at the time he started for GB. Hell the Vikings came within one Favre INT of the SB!

 

[Heyjoe4]

T

BPPt

What frustrated fans was that McManus missed shorter kicks that most kickers were making. Crosby had the rough year in 2012, I believe. And he missed some crucial kicks in 2008 and 2009. But otherwise he was pretty good and pretty consistent. He hit a long bomb against the Vikings and Eagles in the regular season in the first part of his career. But what he really had to prove was his crunch time kicks. He did that in Dallas to get to the Championship. He did that in Seattle to get us to OT. And in 2021 in SF he beat the 9ers with a 50 yarder. And crunch time is when our present kicker must shine. We need a Vinatieri.

Good point, Crosby did mostly come through at "money time". I still remember that win against Dallas. Rodgers had just completed an impossible sideline pass to the TE (I forgot his name) and it stopped the clock with no GB TOs. Crosby nailed the first kick from, I think 51 yards, but Dallas called a TO. After the time out, he hit it again for the win.

Gannon has said he doesn't care about having a guy who can kick a 65 yarder, just a guy who can consistently hit from 50 plus.

That would be a real pleasant surprise if it comes true. And I just read that GB cut McManus. It was mostly a cap saving move. Nothing like a little early pressure for Smack. Gluten is all in on the guy. And c'mon, with a name like Smack, he just has to be great.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I always said that the whole team put some effort into losing that Seattle game - except Crosby.

Interesting point because I've always attributed that "impossible" NFCCG loss to everyone - coaches and players. Yeah MM got cute and played not to lose. But there were so many points of failure, and the team made them all.

Bostic gets too much blame for the loss. Yes, he should have let the OS kick go past him. He was hardly the only guy to mess up.

My most memorable fail moment was when GB had Wilson scrambling for what then seemed like an inpossible two-point conversion. The D was all over Wilson, and he launched what looked like a desperation pass into the EZ. Clintin-Dix was on the receiver, and if he had made a baby jump he would have blocked the pass. He just stood there as the ball passed over his head, completing the otherwise very-well defended 2 pt conversion.

But yeah, Crosby didn't play any part in the loss. Good catch rmontro!

 

[Heyjoe4]

When Mason started out, he was considered to have a big leg. Things have changed. And since our new guys longest is 55 or 6, I don't think it's considered big but good enough.

Smack was 10 for 13 from 50 plus at Florida. Hopefully he can repeat that in the NFL. He has to. Gluten can't cut a kicker named Smack. It's just too good.

 

[OldSchool101]

For McManus, every K has a down period of time. Brandon had a down season. He started unstable had a weird injury with missed chip shots (for a seasoned guy) and finished awful. Then you look at the $5Mil annual? Poorly spent $ for that production. Here you get a guy for 4yrs at $1mil per and his cap is covered by Brandon’s $950K saved. Dead $ is never good but also it is really immaterial as it was spent $, provided the monetary exchange doesn’t add to Cap.

This year we net 0 cap at kicker and we have the best K in college (granted a relatively poor class of PK) With a adequate sample Smack is about 3% better FGM% and has a young, strong leg that holds accuracy. 70% on 50+ with 10 tries shows that potential. IMO at floor you’ve got similar results at $1Mil. At ceiling he matures into a 85-90% guy and automatic inside 40-45 yards.

The other point I’d offer is if we are going to make a change anytime soon (2026-27) then the time to make a change at PK is when changing our Coordinator. IMO it just makes sense because he can mold that Rookie much easier. Achord is a Super Bowl Champion Teams Coordinator and has enough raw experience to give him someone he can teach ground up.

 

[milani]

I felt the same way. Favre certainly played well enough to win MVP, and it goes to the QB most often, I think. Howard just had too many returns that most affected the outcome. I was certainly surprised the MVP went to a STs guy, a returner. Looking back, it was a 50/50 call between Favre and Howard, and Howard stood out so mucj he won the award.

And yeah, I've heard Favre get dissed by Bear and viking fans for not getting the MVP. They need to get a life. Both teams would have jumped at the opportunity to have Favre at the time he started for GB. Hell the Vikings came within one Favre INT of the SB!

They both contributed. Howard's TD return came when the momentum appeared to shift to the Pats. After that NE just died. After the game Parcells, when asked what caused his team's defeat, he just said DESMOND HOWARD. And if you asked the Niners about their loss in GB just 3 weeks earlier they would have said the same thing. Howard's playoff impact got him a substantial free agent offer from the Raiders right away, who were always known to sign players through a knee jersey reaction.

 

[Half Empty]

They both contributed. Howard's TD return came when the momentum appeared to shift to the Pats. After that NE just died. After the game Parcells, when asked what caused his team's defeat, he just said DESMOND HOWARD. And if you asked the Niners about their loss in GB just 3 weeks earlier they would have said the same thing. Howard's playoff impact got him a substantial free agent offer from the Raiders right away, who were always known to sign players through a knee jersey reaction.

Is that a really long shirt?

 

[OldSchool101]

Just for the record I also wouldn’t have had my feelings hurt to have a PK competition, but I can see both arguments of just focusing on our choice and banking several $mil of cap each year going forward. Plus we had to release someone (Havrisik or McManus) the second that move was made and the $$ is already spent for 2026. I’m kinda excited to see what this kid can do. We rarely get the top guy from college, he sounds legit good from what I’m reading.

I will miss calling him McNamath. When Brandon first got here he looked great. I was celebrating with family when he won us his first game as a Packer, you would’ve thought it was playoffs. After countless gyrations at PK he brought a flicker of hope. Wish him the best though.

 

[milani]

Is that a really long shirt?

Silver and black. LOL!

 

[Heyjoe4]

For McManus, every K has a down period of time. Brandon had a down season. He started unstable had a weird injury with missed chip shots (for a seasoned guy) and finished awful. Then you look at the $5Mil annual? Poorly spent $ for that production. Here you get a guy for 4yrs at $1mil per and his cap is covered by Brandon’s $950K saved. Dead $ is never good but also it is really immaterial as it was spent $, provided the monetary exchange doesn’t add to Cap.

This year we net 0 cap at kicker and we have the best K in college (granted a relatively poor class of PK) With a adequate sample Smack is about 3% better FGM% and has a young, strong leg that holds accuracy. 70% on 50+ with 10 tries shows that potential. IMO at floor you’ve got similar results at $1Mil. At ceiling he matures into a 85-90% guy and automatic inside 40-45 yards.

The other point I’d offer is if we are going to make a change anytime soon (2026-27) then the time to make a change at PK is when changing our Coordinator. IMO it just makes sense because he can mold that Rookie much easier. Achord is a Super Bowl Champion Teams Coordinator and has enough raw experience to give him someone he can teach ground up.

Good point about the timing of adding Smack and Achord at the same time.

The word that I see a lot in reviews of Smack is "consistency". He keeps the ball centered well, and doesn't fall off much between 50-55 plus yards. (10/13 in college - 77%).

That was the problem with the recent kickers - they could not hit a ball consistently, especially inside the 50 or 40 where that just shouldn't happen (and assuming the snap and hold are good).

I hope smack lives up to that. Consistency in the K game will be very helpful, especially in tight games.

And c'mon, that name - Smack. HOF stuff. Well, maybe.......

 

[milani]

Good point about the timing of adding Smack and Achord at the same time.

The word that I see a lot in reviews of Smack is "consistency". He keeps the ball centered well, and doesn't fall off much between 50-55 plus yards. (10/13 in college - 77%).

That was the problem with the recent kickers - they could not hit a ball consistently, especially inside the 50 or 40 where that just shouldn't happen (and assuming the snap and hold are good).

I hope smack lives up to that. Consistency in the K game will be very helpful, especially in tight games.

And c'mon, that name - Smack. HOF stuff. Well, maybe.......

And a lot of times when the coach makes the decision of what to do on 4th down it depends on the reliability of the kicker at a certain distance.

 

[OldSchool101]

Good point about the timing of adding Smack and Achord at the same time.

The word that I see a lot in reviews of Smack is "consistency". He keeps the ball centered well, and doesn't fall off much between 50-55 plus yards. (10/13 in college - 77%).

That was the problem with the recent kickers - they could not hit a ball consistently, especially inside the 50 or 40 where that just shouldn't happen (and assuming the snap and hold are good).

I hope smack lives up to that. Consistency in the K game will be very helpful, especially in tight games.

And c'mon, that name - Smack. HOF stuff. Well, maybe.......

Yeah. I just read an article of how Achord values Smacks hard, straight line Kicks. Mentioning in New England and GB the straight line power is preferred. He said he doesn’t need a 60+ guy he needs a guy who can cut through the cold crosswinds at 40-45 yards with Power over finesse.

Brandon’s 40-49 range was oddly poor level last season. I’m not saying he’s terrible he went 13 straight up until at Chicago 0-2

 

[milani]

Yeah. I just read an article of how Achord values Smacks hard, straight line Kicks. Mentioning in New England and GB the straight line power is preferred. He said he doesn’t need a 60+ guy he needs a guy who can cut through the cold crosswinds at 40-45 yards with Power over finesse.

Brandon’s 40-49 range was oddly poor level last season. I’m not saying he’s terrible he went 13 straight up until at Chicago 0-2

And unless we are going indoors or in a warm clime December and January will be like that.

 

[DoURant]

I feel it's time to have the hash marks in college, the same as in the NFL... why have them so wide?

 

[gopkrs]

I feel it's time to have the hash marks in college, the same as in the NFL... why have them so wide?

And I think they should be wider like in the good old days

 

[milani]

I feel it's time to have the hash marks in college, the same as in the NFL... why have them so wide?

Or you could have the same in the pros as college has. Make it harder on these long range field goals.