I am very happy that they kept these young guys. They can all grow together and be so much better in the future.

They had to move on from Crosby as father time had caught up to him. He is well respected and will be a member of the Packer Hall of Fame some day but he just got older and it was time to make a switch.

As far as Whelan goes, he is replacing a punter that in my estimation was just a bit better than average and I thought he was a stop gap punter for the Pack. I think Whelan is the answer and if not, we can draft the Aussie kicker from Iowa next year.

This will be a growing year but to me it will be fun to watch. We need to be careful on expecting too much as they will all need to grow. The CAP situation will improve the next few years and we have extra draft picks next year so our future is so bright. We will need to exhibit some patience and enjoy the growth together. The players as well as the fans. I hope the coaching staff is up to the challenge as well.

It’s a gamble, but then every inexperienced player is. The thing is that at some point Crosby will cease to be an option. There a point where the body just isn’t what it was. O’Donnell was in the last year of a contract at 32, so not ancient but not necessarily long term, and he underperformed on that contract last year. A big improvement on the prior mess, but not to extent hoped, particularly in the cold.

If you are going to gamble, aim high: you have to have the chance to win big, and the longer that could last the better. Both Whelan and Carlson have very high upsides and are young. So that’s one box ticked.

Then look at the context. This roster as a whole is a series of gambles and thus, overall, one itself. Potential over past achievement. In my view, this is the least worst time to gamble on a long term solution to our kicking problem. If everything comes together on this team then we can worry about growing pains there. I’d rather do it now than muddle on and risk undermining this squad when it’s a year or two more experienced and potentially very good.

I think it’s the right strategy given where this team is, irrespective of the fact that it remains to be seen if the individuals live up to their potential. For one thing, we should see a lot less stress on our kick off units at least. Either should be able to clear the end zone in Most conditions regularly.

I suspect that the decision will cost them at least one game this year.

Also, that's the dilemma of the packers kicking positions. They evaluate kickers and must make a decision in warm temps of late spring to summer, then a large portion of the games happen in the cold. At best, they can extrapolate results from a few similar kicking cold weather environments.

They are relying a lot on Bisaccia's familiarity and coaching ability so what happens when he potentially moves on next year?

"Will the Packers Gamble On Special Teams Pay Off?"

We'll all find out together.

Soon, fortunately. I am getting pretty anxious waiting for the season to start.

Whelan also provides good kickoff ability if Carlson should have to leave for some reason. The biggest gamble, I guess, is with his holding ability. We'll have to wait and see how he does gathering in wayward snaps that are high or skim the ground, as well as his ability to get a wet ball down in the right position. I would also hope that in the event of a long return he will be trained to either make a credible tackling effort, push the returner out of bounds, or least slow him down enough so that teammate can get to him.

By making the changes we know for certain a couple of things will improve.

1. We will have deeper kickoffs with fewer returnable balls. Additionally, with the added leg strength, the Packers may be able to add three points at the end of a half with the additional leg strength by trying a 60 yard field goal with seconds remaining on the clock.

2. We have a punter with additional leg strength which enhances the chances of coming out on top of a defensive battle of field position.

on a side note, football is a young man's game and we see that come into play every year for every NFL team. If both of these special teams players pan out, we will set set for the foreseeable future at two special teams positions. Of course, I and everyone else here realizes that the best plans of mice and men don't always pan out, but to sit still will not result in improvement.

That picture shows me his pants are too tight.
I know they stretch, but a kicker should have baggy pants.
It looks like the Cup/Nose guard is interfering with the hips.

Nothing at all to lose , perfect time to make changes.

I’m liking the fact they decided to go with these two younger players with stronger legs. Who knows, they could just as easily be the keys to us winning a game or two??

HARD MAYBE.

Well…Carlson will lose them a game or two this year, but if you don’t mind not winning the North you ride it out. Feels like he’ll miss a chippy FG or extra point to cost them a couple. Hope I’m wrong and he’s instantly clutch because they’re going with him.

miss two extra points, make one 60+ yard field goal, net +1.

younger, faster, cheaper.

He’ll “lose a game?” EVERY kicker misses some and can be “blamed” for losing a game. That post-hoc blame is always annoying. Maybe the offense should have scored more or the defense should have prevented more. The question isn’t “Did he miss a kick at the end of a game,” but what is his overall success rate.

Carlson might just win the Pack a game or two this season.

His 57 yarder would have been good from 67. When was the last time the Packers had that option in a kicker?

Whelan is a field flipper on fourth down. When was the last time the Packers had that dynamic in a punter?

The excitement about the young kickers' potential builds when one of the best ST coaches in the NFL is doing the coaching.

If he misses to many.
MLF may just go for the first down now.

Boy, I think the Packers have been very consistent. They brought in young competition and draft choices. New kicker, new DL, new TE, new QB, new WR, new OLB, new CB, and mostly new safety. Sure, they will always be in the mix for veteran help, but I think only if injury and potential playoffs make placing veterans on the roster sensible.

It is what it is. A young team with potential and I think don't mess it up until it get's messed up. With good OL, good RB and lots of talent on the defensive side, the Packers will be competitive. This year will be a wild ride and it just may turn out good.

I like to see more articles about this.

We dont know what is going to happen until it Happens. But the kid needs a chance - I have been posting that we either needed to replace Crosby or get a punter who can also kick off. We have had other teams always running back kickoffs - even from the end zone because of both our poor kick off coverage and because Crosby's leg had weakened and his kickoffs were often short. So we need to start somewhere. As far as the punter is concerned - we might as well also start somewhere. New QB - new place kicker - new punter. If they all work out - could be the start of something great. AR didnt have the best of first season starting - 6 wins. I figure that Love will beat that as long as we dont lose any games from missed GW field goals. If management has done something correct this year - it is with this part of the special teams contingent.

Thrilled to see NT Jonathan Ford back, signed to our PS. ILB Kristian Welch is another great PS signing. It will be interesting seeing how both contribute this season.

Welch helped BAL to a #1 ST DVOA ranking in the NFL. I bet he’ll bring some positional value too.

I was not so worried about Crosby kicking between the cross bars as he could still hit in the low 50 YD range. The kickoff returns however were a different thing all together. We had so little respect from other teams and often kicked 5-10 yards short of the end zone and even if he got it into the end zone it was nearly always returned due to our poor ST coverage. Last seasons Nixon ALL PRO performance led to other teams not kicking short intentionally as we were so bad at returning kickoffs prior to Nixon finally getting the job he should have had all season. Over 1000 yards in a half a season.....Outstanding. We all remember the ST implosion against SF....By a punter who took too many steps before trying to punt it and a long snapper who was 20 lbs. lighter than most other teams in the NFL. We have had a different punter and LS last 3 seasons. That's a pretty poor turnover rate and still shows a lack of emphasis on critical ST talent and penny pinching...still. Let's hope our ST coach can find magic again like we got with Nixon in the LS / Punter and Kicker positions. Youth movement is okay...if it works. We can take a little time to get great play from a lot of positions. Punter/ Kicker/ LS/ returner are not on this list.

“ Bojorquez’s next-to-last punt as a Packers was blocked by and returned for a touchdown by the 49ers”
The title of this article is about special teams. Kicking is always a hit or miss situation (pun not intended) There are a lot of new players on wefense, that is what I am waiting to see!

Oh geez—-more handwringing and anxiety—never fails.
Sounds like my dad, a hall of fame pessimist.
After losing to the 49ers in a world class demonstration of inept ST’s.
I believe would should maybe put on a happy face that we’re attempting to improve rather than more, “ I hope the dam doesn’t break.”
Go Packers!!!

Coach RB & company can (and will) work with Anders in "every" way, shape & form to make him thee best kicker he possibly can be...HOWEVER...the big wild(s) card in all this is kicking "inside" Lambeau Field and kicking in cold weather. Given this, during weekly practices (here and there) is Anders permitted to kick inside Lambeau? Is there an NFL rule about this or, is it just a field maintenance issue?