GREEN BAY, Wis. -- In advance of the Green Bay Packers' first training camp practice on Thursday, we have been breaking down each position group.
We wrap up the series with special teams.
Returning specialists: Mason Crosby (kicker), Tim Masthay (punter), Brett Goode (long snapper), Micah Hyde (punt returner), Randall Cobb (punt returner).
Gone from last season: DuJuan Harris (kickoff returner).
New this season: Cody Mandell (punter, street free agent), Ty Montgomery (kickoff/punt returner, third-round pick).
Position coach: Ron Zook (first season, spent last season as assistant special teams coach).
Biggest issue: Where do you begin? The Packers finished dead last in the Dallas Morning News' annual comprehensive special-teams ranking for 2014. Even with that, Shawn Slocum might still be coordinating these units if backup tight end Brandon Bostick didn't botch the onside kick recovery late in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. But that was the final straw for Slocum, who was fired shortly after the season (and for Bostick, who was released). It will be up to Zook to clean up a mess that last season included seven blocked kicks. When coach Mike McCarthy promoted Zook, the former college head coach who last ran an NFL special-teams unit in 1998 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he said the Packers need more from their veterans on special teams. "To me, that's the hole in our special teams," McCarthy said. "The consistency and the standard of play in our veteran players is not where it needs to be. And that will be a direct focus of mine." Expect McCarthy to be more involved in special teams, too. It could be one of the benefits of his decision to give up offensive play calling.
Player to watch: Montgomery might be just what the Packers are looking for to jump start their kickoff return game, which ranked 31st in the NFL last season with Harris as their primary return man. "I think he's faster than the guy we had last year returning kicks," Sam Seale, the Packers' West coast scout who watched Montgomery play at Stanford, said during the draft. "I think he's more explosive. When he touches the ball, he hits the hole." Montgomery is Stanford's career kickoff return leader with 2,493 yards. He had three kickoff returns for touchdowns and averaged 27.4 yards per return. He returned punts only in his last season, but had two touchdowns and averaged nearly 20 yards on 12 returns.
Medical report: There are no known issues.
Help wanted: For the first time since he won the job in 2010, Masthay has competition in camp after struggling late last year. Mandell spent part of the preseason last year with the Dallas Cowboys and could provide a legitimate threat to Masthay if his struggles continue.
Quotable: "It's just like on offense and defense; you can't ask players to do things that they don't feel comfortable with," Zook said this offseason. "It's the same thing with special teams. You have to get to know what they feel comfortable doing. It happens, but you're trying to keep them out of situations as much as possible where they don't feel comfortable. Give them an opportunity to perform at the highest level that they can."
Previous installments
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running backs
Part 3: Receivers
Part 4: Tight ends
Part 5: Offensive line
Part 6: Defensive line
Part 7: Linebackers
Part 8: Defensive backs
