The Green Bay Packers believe they’ve added one of the better special teams players in the NFL in safety Rudy Ford, who signed with the team on Wednesday after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.
General manager Brian Gutekunst admitted his team has operated a little differently in terms of addressing the annual special teams issues in Green Bay, and signing a player like Ford – who should immediately become a core special teamer for new coordinator Rich Bisaccia – fits the plan.
The Packers especially like Ford’s ability as a gunner on coverage units.
“Obviously, Rudy is a very accomplished special teams player in this league. One of the better gunners in the league,” Gutekunst said Wednesday. “He’s got the speed and physicality that we certainly covet. We were looking at that situation for a while. A little surprised he got shaken loose, but when he did we were ready to get on that.”
Of Ford’s 59 career tackles, 29 have come as a coverage player on special teams. He had 11 for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 and seven for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.
Ford, at 5-11 and 204 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds coming out of Auburn in 2017.
Here’s a taste of what Ford can do as a gunner on punts and kicks:
Here are a few of Rudy Ford's tackles as a gunner last season. Safe to say that speed is legit. pic.twitter.com/b5q7wdx2SV
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) June 11, 2021
Next Gen Stats had Ford as one of the NFL’s fastest punt gunners in 2020:
Punt gunners reach some of the fastest recorded speeds on a football field 💨
📸: Top 5 MPH by Punt Gunner, Tackle Play
Rudy Ford & Davontae Harris each had multiple top five plays, however, it was @TroyPride18 who reached the fastest speed on a tackle.#SpecialTeamsFriday pic.twitter.com/VwYQk7w1QP
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) June 11, 2021
Better directional punting from veteran Pat O’Donnell and the speed of Ford could drastically reduce the return yards allowed by the Packers coverage groups in 2022.
Ford isn’t the only newcomer expected to contribute heavily on special teams. Dallin Leavitt, Keisean Nixon and rookie Tariq Carpenter will also be core special teamers for Bisaccia in 2022.
Ford was already out at practice with his new team on Wednesday, wearing the No. 20 uniform.
“Hopefully he can get in here and get acclimated soon so he’s in not only on special teams but on defense too,” Gutekunst said.
