One year later, the core has been established

Is all this emphasis on signing and drafting good special teams players the Packers’ version of “Moneyball?” With a tight salary cap and a young, likely emotional group of guys, it does make sense that our biggest bang for the buck would be in causing turnovers and getting great field position and keeping the other teams from doing those things to us. Is that the method to our special teams madness this year?

My thought all offseason has been the Packers saw significant improvement from special teams and wanted to keep as many of their special-teams stalwarts around as possible. Green Bay had a lot of ground to make up when Bisaccia arrived. One year later, the core has been established and a new standard has been set for special teams. So, I can’t wait to see Eric Wilson, Dallin Leavitt, Rudy Ford, and the other returning veterans work with the incoming rookies.

George from North Mankato, MN

Although it was certainly a possibility after signing a long snapper in free agency, I was a little surprised to see Jack Coco was released today. I know it is a game of constant improvement and the evaluation of his play must have indicated room for an upgrade. Just a little surprised to see a yearlong starter jettisoned so soon in camp. Was he the weakest link?

I was surprised but that’s the unfortunate business side of this sport. The Packers clearly liked what they saw from Broughton Hatcher during the rookie minicamp and wanted to keep him around. Hatcher has pelts on the wall. He was one of the top long snappers in the country coming out of high school and enjoyed a productive career at Old Dominion. I enjoyed getting to know Jack and commend him for the effort he put into his craft over the past year. Coco has nothing to hang his head about. He gave the Packers everything he had.

Does Rich Bisaccia, as special teams coach, actually coach the kickers and punters on technique? And has the proliferation of the passing game at the college level changed the way quarterbacks, receivers, and DBs are evaluated?

You betcha. Bisaccia tutors the specialists in concert with assistant Byron Storer, who spearheaded Coco’s transition to long snapper last year. I agree the expansion of passing offenses at the collegiate level has changed the game. While we’ve seen plenty of rookie quarterbacks succeed in Year 1, it’s becoming increasingly common for receivers and cornerbacks to come in and perform at a Pro Bowl level right out of the gate.

Laurie from Sheboygan, WI

Now that…