Mason Crosby’s job is safe after a nearly perfect 2020 season, but the rest of the Green Bay Packers’ specialists may have to earn their way back onto the roster to start 2021.
New special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton put punter JK Scott and long snapper Hunter Bradley on notice during his introductory press conference on Tuesday.
“They both know they have to be more consistent in the things that we need them to do to be successful,” Drayton said. “They understand their backs are against the wall.”
A special teams assistant in Green Bay since 2018, Drayton is familiar with both Scott and Bradley, who were drafted together by Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in 2018. But coaching familiarity can cut two ways for players; the Packers’ new coordinator knows exactly what he has in the two specialists, and he also knows exactly where both players need to get better.
Scott, a fifth-round pick in 2018, has been inconsistent for much of his three-year career, with flashes of a powerful leg mixed in with mishits and issues performing in the cold. His year-long inconsistency punting the football in 2020 was at least partly the reason why the Packers ranked so low in so many special teams metrics. And he’ll forever be on the blooper reel for his two tackle “attempts” on long punt returns for touchdowns against the Packers last season.
Bradley had far too many errant snaps in 2020. Several inaccurate snaps were saved by Scott on punts and kicks. Others directly resulted in negative plays for the special teams, including a blocked punt in Houston and a botched extra point against the Rams in the playoffs. Long snappers need to be mostly invisible. Too often, especially last season, Bradley wasn’t.
Neither Scott nor Bradley has been good enough or consistent enough as recent draft picks to ensure they’re safe for another year. The Packers already have competition on the roster for Scott in the form of punter Ryan Winslow. And it wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers looked to add another long snapper to compete with Bradley during training camp.
Drayton put the two specialists on notice. It’ll be up to them to respond to the challenge this summer.
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