Special Teams Play will be Path to Packers Roster for Winfree or Toure
By Paul_Bretl
For all of the question marks that face the Green Bay Packers wide receiver unit, this is a fairly crowded room.
Now, what do I mean by that? Well, there just may not be any roster spots this summer actually up for grabs.
Not that things can't be different this year, but in Matt LaFleur's first three seasons with the Packers, he has never rostered more than six receivers on the initial 53-man. And if we consider Sammy Watkins, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs as roster locks -- which they are -- that's six players right there.
On top of that, in this LaFleur offense, there isn't necessarily a huge need for a seventh wide receiver. It's not as if this is the Mike McCarthy offense where running five wide sets is more common, and early on at least, I would expect Aaron Rodgers to rely heavily on the veteran pass-catchers--Watkins, Lazard, and Cobb.
The tight ends and running backs are also active participants in the passing game as well, which again negates the need for additional wide receivers--even with the unknowns at this position.
Aaron Jones has finished second on the team in targets in each of the last three seasons. In 2020, Robert Tonyan's last fully healthy season, he had 59 targets. Meanwhile, AJ Dillon had 37 targets of his own last year--not to mention that Josiah Deguara and Marcedes Lewis will have opportunities as well.
If the Packers do end up keeping a seventh receiver, with there only being one football to go around, that last receiver on the depth chart will likely see little playing time on offense.
While my guess is that the Packers roster six receivers, there certainly is a path for Green Bay to roster a seventh receiver if that player can be a core contributor on special teams. This is where either Samori Toure or Juwann Winfree will have to leave their marks this summer.
Toure spent time as a gunner in college, while Winfree has 120 special teams snaps in the NFL over three seasons, according to PFF, covering a variety of roles in the process.
Based on what we heard from the reporters in attendance at OTAs and minicamp, both Toure and Winfree have been able to make a few standout plays as gunners--although the true test will begin in training camp when the pads come on, and everything is kicked up several notches.
"Special teams is so important," Toure said during OTAs via Packer Report. "I feel like it's one of the most underlooked aspects of football, just because everybody's so focused on offense and defense but there's a lot of hidden yardage on special teams.
"I feel like the more I can contribute on special teams and hopefully be able to change the game, the better off I'll be and the better of the team will be."
After an abysmal special teams performance last season, there does appear to be an emphasis on that unit this offseason by Green Bay. They would hire Rich Bisaccia, sign free agent players like Pat O'Donnell and Keisean Nixon, while selecting several players in the draft who could become key contributors. We've also seen starters taking snaps with the special teams unit during the offseason programs.
The added emphasis bodes well for Toure and Winfree, who, like I said, will have to earn their roster spot via special teams.
While I can't tell you with absolute certainty that the Packers will keep six or seven receivers, I will tell you that they won't be keeping eight, which means Toure verse Winfree -- along with Malik Taylor -- for a potential seventh roster spot will be one of the more intriguing camp battles to watch this summer.
Toure may be the recent draft pick, but as we've seen with Cole Van Lanen, Jake Hanson, Ka'dar Hollman, and Dexter Williams, being a draft pick doesn't guarantee a player a roster spot in their first season. What Winfree has going for him is experience at the NFL level.
With all of that said, offensive performance will still certainly play a factor in keeping six or seven receivers along with who that player may be, but special teams is going to be the determining factor. Either Winfree or Toure will have to show LaFleur and Bisaccia that the Packers can't have a special teams unit without them being a part of it.
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__________________________
Born and raised in Green Bay, WI and I still call it home. After my family, watching the Packers, sharing my opinions on the team through my writing and interacting with other fans is my greatest passion. You can find me on Twitter at @Paul_Bretl.
Comments (28)
Coldworld
July 18, 2022 at 11:40 am
Toure is one of my picks to surprise in camp. In normal draft classes he’s not a 7th round pick. That aside, the interesting feature this year is we do not have 4 settled every down receivers.
We have Lazard, who may or may not have an expanded role but is being asked to step up from a 3rd or 4th and distinctive role. We have Watkins, a veteran new to the team but who has to be considered an injury risk. We have Cobb, an older injury risk who is likely again on a snap count. We have Rodgers, a guy whose role and abilities remain very much up for debate Then we have rookies, one of whom, our highest pick, may have to play in specific limited formations and plays initially.
This year, even without injuries (likely), I can see a far stronger case for 7 receivers than in prior LaFleur years. It’s also pretty likely that 2 of those 7 will be returning kicks and punts (I don’t see a natural dual returner among them at this point). Add a gunner and that’s 3 players. Add another gunner and that’s 4. Lazard, Watkins and Cobb aren’t likely to be preferred returners or gunners. In which case, 7 might make a great deal of sense unless more DB/ILB/S types force their way in or a RB makes a splash. Certainly that’s not a given, though I could see Gafford returning perhaps, if he makes it and a couple of the ILB/S types as gunners.
Camp will make this clearer, injuries are statistically likely to play a part. At this point 7 receivers seems very plausible. Moreover, with STs determine who is active on any given day, the reality is that we need guys who can fill in at multiple roles as WRs and we don’t have the Covid call up any more. Given the WR group this year, guys like Winfree may have value from that source too.
jannesbjornson
July 18, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Lucky Seven with his guy Amari trying to prove he stays onboard as a motion guy and as a receiving RB/wingback. They've seen enough of Winfree and Taylor. Toure' is a threat with the deep ball.
LLCHESTY
July 18, 2022 at 06:52 pm
I just don't see them keeping 7 unless someone really shines as a returner. They only used 4 WR sets on 47 plays last year and 5 WR sets on 3 plays. Then take into account Jones was in the slot or split out wide on 13% of his snaps and I don't see the reason for keeping 7 on the roster.
I think restocking the WR group is a two year project and they'll draft at least one by the end of day 2 in the draft and probably two overall. Cobb is most likely gone next year, Watkins is a one year rental unless he really shines and Lazard is a UFA so it would be nice to get Toure to the PS for a year but I think he has to beat out one of the 6 Infront of him to make the team.
It will be interesting to see if they give Watson and Doubs shots at the KR and PR jobs. They both were respectable at them in college.
Coldworld
July 19, 2022 at 08:20 am
Toure and Gafford may also factor into that competition with Rodgers.
jannesbjornson
July 19, 2022 at 04:01 pm
They have Gafford at CB to fight for the dime spot, but he seems to be a Sp teams ace like Nixon.
Leatherhead
July 18, 2022 at 11:42 am
The narrative continues.......
Let me as a question? Which game last year would a better gunner have made a difference? Would it have prevented any missed FGs? Would it have prevented a blocked punt? No.
As I've pointed out, the coverage units on both kick and punt were pretty decent last year. I'm questioning the assumption that our need at gunner is so great that it deserves it's own roster spot..
IMO, the numbers point to six guys, as you mentioned. If everybody makes it through training camp uninjured, that's going to leave Toure, Winfree, and Malik Taylor on the outside looking in. If they clear waivers, we can resign one of them to the practice squad. I'd favor Toure, because the other two have had their chance and it'd be nice to give Toure his.
10ve 💚
July 18, 2022 at 12:22 pm
"Let me as(k) a question? Which game last year would a better gunner have made a difference? Would it have prevented any missed FGs? Would it have prevented a blocked punt? No."
Good point Leatherhead. But that is only part of the equation. A great gunner could possibly force more fair catches..
Leatherhead
July 18, 2022 at 01:14 pm
I thought I'd go ahead and look at that PewAuKee.
We had 53 punts last year, but only 21 returns. 21 returns in 17 games. And when I ordered the teams by the number of punts they had returned in the season, they ranked sixth fewest.
But look who the top 5 were: Rams.....9 returns for 60 yards all season. Followed by the Patriots, KC, and the Bills. Then the 49ers, then us. These are guys like Sean McVay, Bill Belichick, Andy Reid.....all deciding they aren't going to give their punt coverage unit an opportunity to screw things up.
The Rams gave up 60 yards in punt returns all season; we gave up more than that on one return. Which brings me finally to my point:
Don't give the punt returner an opportunity to hurt you. Punt it out of bounds, or so high it has to be a fair catch. That way, it doesn't really matter if you have a special teams demon on the coverage unit, does it?
Coldworld
July 18, 2022 at 01:09 pm
The Green Bay Packers allowed the most kickoff yards by a team in 2021, with 1,283 yards. That alone should indicate why gunners matter in the starkest of ways.
We were middle of the pack in terms of punt return yardage, but as we all know, when we got it wrong we got it horribly wrong.
That’s not all on the gunners, but good gunners are a very big part of preventing such problems, perhaps the biggest if we can’t consistently kick through the end zone.
Leatherhead
July 18, 2022 at 01:55 pm
It shouldn't surprise anybody that when you score a lot, you kick off a lot. We kicked off a lot. We had 50 kick returns against us, almost 3 per game. Only two teams had more....New England and SF. Seattle tied with us.
The average kick return was 25.7 yards, which ranks us 26th. The touchbacks, of course, start at the 25. If you return a short kick 26.7 yards, you're probably around the 30 or so. We didn't give up any kick return TDs.
Yes, we could do better. The Jets, the Browns, the Giants and Texans were all Top 10. The Rams were 17. The Bengals were 19. We were 26th, 4 yards behind both of them.
So this is why gunners matter? The Purple kicks it out of the endzone....do their gunners matter? The Rams allowed 9 returns on punts all year.....did their gunners matter? Enough for a special roster spot?
Do the Math: A good punt is 45+ yards. An average return is about 9 yards. So it's a 36 yard net. Draw a line down the field 36 yards. Now, draw a perpendicular line 26 yards to the sideline.
It appears to me that a 45 yard punt directed at the sideline accomplishes as much as a 45 yard punt that gets an average return, without the risk of allowing a bunch of boneheads to influence the game.
Coldworld
July 19, 2022 at 08:21 am
Our offense last year wasn’t scoring that highly. Sorry, but I think this is a case where your house was built on sand.
As to your tactical points. No team can be certain to kick it out in all weathers. Even dome teams play outside in late season and post season. More importantly, by the end of the last two years, teams were bringing it out on us even from the end zone and kicking short and trusting their gunners. Either way it was a liability. Yes, we need good gunners and more besides.
dobber
July 19, 2022 at 09:28 am
"As to your tactical points. No team can be certain to kick it out in all weathers."
And therein lies the/your point: regardless of what position the guys play on O/D, you need gunners.
Regardless of whether you kick the ball out of bounds 75% of the time, you need gunners at least 25% of the time.
Regardless of whether changing the gunners would have won or lost games in 2021, we'd like to have the best gunners we can retain in 2022.
Regardless of how we manage the numbers on the 53 or the game-day 48, there will be guys (non-K,P,LS) on the roster who are there and active strictly for what they bring to special teams.
Regardless of how you'd like to keep players and manage your roster, most gunners are DBs or WRs...and the bottom WR on the Packers roster are likely to be tried as gunners, at least in preseason, and used as backup gunners during games if they don't win those jobs.
ricky
July 18, 2022 at 11:57 am
There may not be a seventh WR on the roster this year, but since Watkins has an extensive injury history, it would be a good idea for the team to have an "up to speed" WR in reserve. Someone who knows the playbook, has Rodgers trust, and can contribute immediately. That could well give Winfree the edge as far as making the team.
UdderApocowlipse
July 18, 2022 at 01:40 pm
Personally, I think a lot of people, and I'm certainly not saying you're one of them, have this whole trust with Aaron Rodgers thing a tad overblown. Not to say a QB having trust in a WR is itself overblown, because it's not, but was it lack of trust which led Rodgers to throw into coverage of Adams with Lazard running open down-field? I think Adams was getting that pass well before it left Aaron's hand.
Something tells me the drafted receivers will be able to earn 12's trust slightly easier than in the past, because they won't be competing with receiver hold-overs from the MM regime who already recognize Rodgers' peccadilloes (well, except for Cobb). A coaching group I greatly respect, so maybe I shouldn't use the word "regime," but I do recognize change had been needed.
Don't these hot summer days make you thankful for a clean water trough?
Johnblood27
July 18, 2022 at 02:25 pm
Are you just pulling my teats?
Take your head out of the stantion and realize that AR's trust issues are very, very real.
Not to blow my own horns, but the herd mentality has to go!
OK, I'm hoofing it outta here...
UdderApocowlipse
July 19, 2022 at 09:28 am
To be clear, I think there's a strong possibility in Rodgers' mind the pass was predetermined going to Adams. I'm not so sure "trust," or lack of "trust," was the operative factor in not passing to Lazard.
10ve 💚
July 18, 2022 at 12:16 pm
"while Winfree has 120 special teams snaps in the NFL over three seasons, according to PFF, covering a variety of roles in the process".
I don't know how Winfree did specifically. But in my mind, having Packers special teams snaps from last year would be a negative.
Coldworld
July 18, 2022 at 12:55 pm
I don’t know about being a negative. Doing it like they did last year would be, but I do trust RB to straighten out talent if it is there. That’s the key, taking talent and using it effectively and as a unit not just individually.
If there are holdovers that he can harness and get to perform he should. I think there are some that were used and done others like perhaps Wilborn who perhaps should have been active and used (that’s where having more clout will help too).
dobber
July 18, 2022 at 04:19 pm
Then you're arguing the problem was the players and not the coach. They've already replaced the coach...and you can guarantee that there will be guys playing special teams from last season playing this season in GB.
mnbadger
July 18, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Much wisdom above in the article and the threads above. How about a little early and unbridled optimism?
Let's perfect Punt return team and Kickoff coverage teams as they'll be spending a great deal of time on the field in 2022!
GPG!
10ve 💚
July 18, 2022 at 11:21 pm
mnbadger, I like the way you think 😊
Packman60
July 18, 2022 at 08:07 pm
The reasons identified by the many posters are all valid reasons for keeping 7 wideouts. I would suggest one additional reason. They need to develop another young wideout for 2023 as they will likely lose 3 of their receivers next year. Watkins will either become too expensive to resign or won't be worthy of another signing based upon injury or performance. Lazard will likely price himself out of Green Bay and this is probably Cobb's last year. They need to keep and develop another youngster with an eye toward him becoming a positive contributor in 2023. I expect Toure to be that guy.
PatrickGB
July 18, 2022 at 08:36 pm
Pack, I was thinking the same thing. But I am unsure if it’s Toure. I think that he ends up on the PS with a few call ups during the season. It’s just as possible that they keep one of the other bottom of the roster WR’s instead. I think that their experience in the system trumps the skill of Toure. Perhaps later in the season he finds a roster spot.
Coldworld
July 19, 2022 at 08:32 am
The Covid call up system is no more. That may change some of the roster/PS thinking. As to who makes the 6/7, that’s what camp is for, but injuries to a couple should be expected. An injury that deprives a young receiver of significant camp/preseason time could have a significant effect on the pecking order and opportunities for others.
We may well keep 7 to have 6 fully healthy. We could also lose a contender. I hope not, but it’s not unusual. I hope that, if a player excels in camp and makes the roster, we stick with him. No repeat of EQ getting outplayed and then supplanting those who did only to achieve essentially nothing and be let go. Take the best performers and run with them—find ways to get them contributing to their strengths when needed and that includes STs.
GatorJason
July 19, 2022 at 10:15 pm
Samori Toure: Outplays Amari Rodgers as PR, KR, gunner and in the slot sending AR to Jaguars for a conditional 5th in 2023.
ST = Samori Toure = Special Teams = Donald Driver 2.0.
Juwann Winfree: Cut immediately. Guys like these kill you with brilliance in preseason and are utter failures in real games.
Eight catches in 2021 and owns the only two WR fumbles. Remember TE Brandon Bostick. Winfree is Bostick 2.0
Special Teams cannot save this guy. JAG who flashes.
Romeo Doubs: Packer’s #1 PR and #4WR. He is runs like J’Mon Moore but has better hands, mental toughness and more maturity than the Packers 2018 4th round washout WR ever had.
Christian Watson: Packer’s #1 KR and jet sweep guy.
He also makes AR expendable with one-way ticket to FLA.
Tariq Carpenter: Can’t play safety. Can’t play ILB in space.
Will lead ST in coverage tackles. Carpenter and Wilborn send
Summers and McDuffie packing.
Keisean Nixon: Another ST standout and 3rd slot coverage CB
Gabe Brkic: Will be KO guy by year’s end. Primary PK in 2023.
Thanks Minnesota for your generosity and short sightedness.
Jonathon Ford: Stout in ST line protection for kicks/punts.
10x better than Lancaster. He and Heflin fight for same spot.
Rich Bisaccia: If Coach Bisaccia can raise the ST level of play from criminally incompetent to mediocre, it will mean one fewer losses this season due to ST play. If he performs miracles and raises standard level of play to a top ten ST unit, a Super Bowl LVII victory is well within reach for Green Bay.
murf7777
July 19, 2022 at 07:10 am
Gator, you better go back to kindergarten for the “cut and paste” section……lol. I agree with most of your predictions.
GatorJason
July 19, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Murf7777, my post looks clear and well formatted to me. Maybe we are viewing CHTV at different font sizes? Cheers and GPG!
Oops, just saw it. Posted Samori Toure section twice. Deleted the second section. Thanks!
BTW, bypassed kindergarten. No wonder I messed up.
jannesbjornson
July 19, 2022 at 04:06 pm
Pretty good assessment, I like your GM management style. Carpenter can be a cover LB and will be a featured guy on Sp teams along with Wilborn. If they retain Summers, heads should roll...