One issue that has consistently faced Matt LaFleur since he has been the head coach of the Green Bay Packers is special teams. LaFleur is entering his eighth NFL season, and new special teams coordinator Cam Achord will be the Packers’ fourth different coordinator since he was hired.
While it is just the preseason, the signs that the team has finally found their coach are there.
Kicking has been an issue for the Packers for a while. However, one of the best players from the preseason has been rookie kicker Trey Smack. Cam Achord said that he values what Smack does in stadiums, and he is 13-for-14 in stadiums this summer. That includes three makes beyond 50 yards, four if you count the kick he made that a penalty took away.
It is only preseason, but the Packers are heading into the regular season confident in Smack.
The return game has been an issue as well. Green Bay went out and added Skyy Moore with the intention of making him their return game upgrade.
Moore had a kick return for 30 yards and is averaging 15 yards per return on punts. The Packers were last in the NFL at 5.6 yards per return last season. Moore is nearly tripling that production. Pierre Strong had a strong return as well, which speaks to the idea that coaching has an impact.
Green Bay Packers Found a Strong Special Teams Coordinator
GettyThe Green Bay Packers drafted Trey Smack this offseason.
Achord has been in the NFL since 2018, and this is his second stint as the special teams coordinator. He first came into the NFL as the assistant special teams coordinator, working under Bill Belichick and Joe Judge.
When Judge went to the New York Giants to be their head coach, Achord moved up to special teams coordinator. He held the role from 2020 to 2023. When Belichick left the Patriots, they moved on from Achord.
In 2024, he joined Brian Daboll and the New York Giants. He worked under Michael Ghobrial as the assistant special teams coordinator. After two seasons in New York, he is getting his second chance as coordinator with Green Bay.
Packers Hope to Have Their Answer at Special Teams Coordinator
When LaFleur joined the Packers in 2019, he hired Shawn Mennenga. Mennenga was with Green Bay for two seasons and was fired. He has not coached since. They hired Maurice Drayton in 2021, but that role only lasted one year, after the special teams played a major role in the Packers’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Drayton is now the head coach of The Citadel.
The Packers hired former interim head coach Rich Bissacia to replace Drayton. The move showed that they were putting serious effort into improving the group. Bissacia lasted three seasons, but the special teams did not take the steps needed.
So, while he has been the longest-tenured special teams coordinator since LaFleur was hired, he is not going to be the one known for fixing the problem. He is now with Clemson as their special teams coordinator.
The hope is that Achord can end the run of misses. So far he has proven he can.
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