If you're a roster bubble player at the bottom of the depth chart for a crowded position in Training Camp, there's one sure way to crack the 53-man roster. Special Teams. If you apply yourself to contributing to Special Teams and make an impact there, it may not matter where you rank on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. It's not very glamorous at all. Sometimes, you might not even see your contribution on the stat sheet game after game. But if you held your own blocking for a field goal or a punt, or you contained a return man on a kick or a punt, your Special Teams coach will undoubtedly sing your praises. And outside a Kicker, Punter, or Long Snapper, Special Teams coaches often get to pick a small handful of players they like for their needs. And that could be your chance to suit up every game day. 

Among the many players pushing for a spot on the Packers' final 53 come next Tuesday, is Linebacker, Kristian Welch. Welch is a career Special Teams player. Playing his first three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Welch played 891 Special Teams snaps. This dwarfed his defensive numbers whereas he only saw action for 44 snaps. With final roster cuts in 2023, the Ravens released Welch and two days later, the Packers signed him to their practice squad. Three weeks into the season, he was promoted to the active roster and stayed there until the Packers' season concluded following the Divisional Playoffs. He played 237 special teams snaps for the Packers where PFF ranked him 39th out of an eligible 188 special teams players for the year. This season, it's believed if Welch makes the 53-man roster for the Packers it will be mainly due to his Special Teams prowess. However, given his performance in Training Camp and the two Preseason games so far, he may be a valuable depth player on defense as well. 

When collecting updates on Training Camp practices, I saw the usual highlighted plays and the excitement of the 1x1 battles, but it began to stick out to me the statement from several sources that "Kristian Welch is all over the place." Admittedly, Welch wasn't on my radar heading into camp. Honestly, why would he be? With him being a fifth-year Special Teams Linebacker, my eyes were on all those around him like Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Edgerrin Cooper, and Eric Wilson. All players expected to make the roster, but I was interested to see how they transitioned to the new 4-3 defense. With Hopper and Cooper both out a good chunk of camp due to injury, Welch had a good opportunity to stick out, and practice after practice, he was always on the list of good performers getting to the ball carrier quickly and being disruptive. And it certainly didn't stop with the preseason match-ups.

In the first preseason game vs Cleveland, Welch tied fellow Linebacker Ralen Goforth for the most tackles in the game with 6. Welch also recovered a fumble that was forced by Evan Williams in the game, adding his name to the turnover sheet. One play that stuck out to me in this game was a halfback toss play run by Cleveland where the right tackle and tight end pulled to the outside and it seemed the play was designed for the halfback to run right in between them just outside the numbers. Welch kept his hips square brushing off two engaged blockers to get outside and met the ball carrier right in the designed running lane to force him out of bounds for what appeared to be a loss of 1 on the play but I believe was ruled no-gain. This is the discipline you expect from a veteran player reading the play the whole way and making the stop. 

In the second preseason match-up against Denver, Welch showed up again with six tackles on the stat sheet putting him at 2nd among the rest of the defense, one of those being a tackle for loss. He also had one pass defensed as well as an interception in the game after a pass was deflected by James Ester and Welch made a leaping grab for his second turnover of the preseason. You may say those two turnovers were being in the right place at the right time, but it also involves a degree of awareness on the play that sticks out to coaches showing Welch plays to the whistle and always keeps his eyes out for opportunities. Welch also had a highlight in this game pursuing an outside HB toss where he came from the middle linebacker position across the field completely avoiding any contact with blockers to make the tackle for only what appeared a 1-yard gain. All plays will stick out to coaches and the GM when making their final roster decisions. 

A chance to re-write his career

The linebacker position is a crowded room this season. There are three seemingly guaranteed roster locks in Walker, McDuffie, and Eric Wilson, but then you factor in the two rookies Edgerrin Cooper and Ty'Ron Hopper. Hopper returned to practice last week and also had a good showing in the preseason game vs the Broncos, so he's already shown enough where his draft position won't be the only factor in keeping him on the final roster. Edgerrin Cooper, however, is just returning in minimal capacity this week, no word yet if he'll play in the preseason finale. So, it's likely if Cooper has recovered a bit, he's a final roster lock as well, being a second-round pick. So, that's five linebacker positions filled. Welch could easily make that six just with Special Teams alone, but I'd consider him for a few defensive snaps per game as well. 

If there's one thing linebacker's coach Anthony Campanile has brought this season, it's intensity. Welch showing off his ability to run to the sideline from mid-field to make a play before it goes anywhere, will surely get the attention of Campanile who will work to help Welch improve. Campanile was once overheard on the show Hard Knocks telling his players on another team a Vince Lombardi quote: "Imagine for a moment, if you can, a man running down the street with all of your worldly possessions. Taking from you everyone that you have ever loved and everything that you hold dear. I guarantee you would find a way, by any means necessary, to stop that man, that very simply put is pursuit."

Campanile will hone Welch's pursuit skills and could help make him an important part of the defense as well. It will be tough to beat out the aforementioned five linebackers, but even if Kristian Welch spells one of the other linebackers on defense a few plays in each game, he could have a chance to show off his abilities and increase his opportunities game after game. 

I think Kristian Welch alongside being a Special Teams Ace, can also make an impact on defense, hopefully, he gets that chance in 2024.