It’s not only on the offensive side of the ball where the Green Bay Packers have seen growth over the last month, but on special teams as well, and specifically with first-year punter Daniel Whelan.
For some perspective on Whelan’s recent performances, here is where he stands since Week 10:
— Third-most punts in the NFL where he’s pinned the opponent inside their own 20-yard line.
— Whelan ranks first in punt return rate during that span with only 21.4 percent of his punts being returned.
— Just one put attempt out of 14 resulting in a touchback.
— Whelan is tied for fourth in fair catches.
— He ranks ninth in hang time.
“Obviously, he’s improved,” said special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. “He’s played well to this point. I think the big factor for us early was his basic football awareness. What to do in different situations. Where am I on the field? What’s the wind doing? Am I doubled to one side, singled to the other? Is it double-double or whatever those things are? I think he’s concentrated on his drop, trying to get a little more hang.”
In the Detroit game alone, Whelan had three punts that ended up inside the Lions’ 10-yard line. That ability to flip the field can be an underrated but obviously an important element throughout the course of the football game by forcing the opponent to have to go further and put together more plays if they hope to score. Then in return, if the defense can force a subsequent three-and-out or a short drive by the opponent, the Green Bay offense then benefits from good starting field position of their own.
Through the first half of the season, you could tell that pinning the opponents deep in their own territory was an aspect of Whelan’s game that he was working through. We know he has a big leg. We’ve seen that since training camp and it’s been on display several times this season.
But there’s also the other side of that punting coin, when the team is close to midfield – which the Packers seemed to be quite often – where finesse instead of power is required. Through the first five games, Whelan led the NFL in touchbacks. Only one of his 22 punt attempts were downed.
Along with Whelan’s improvement, the Packers punt coverage unit, their fliers specifically, have been much better as well. Due to injuries on defense, the trickle down effect of that has then had an impact on who starts on special teams. At the flier position, Green Bay has had a number of players take snaps in that role, including Jonathan Owens, Robert Rochell, Corey Ballentine, and Innis Gaines. But lately, there has been more continuity, and as a result, stability.
“Going back to the Saints game, he had one of his best punts,” said Bisaccia, “but we didn’t get good coverage at the same time. Where he is on the field, he’s trying to do a better job of what he’s trying to kick, what ball he’s going to hit to help the coverage but to help him be a little bit better without worrying about the coverage. What his hang looks like, if he’s hitting a fat ball, a flop, depending on where he is on the field.”
As is the case for any young player, consistency is key. What the Packers have seen from Whelan in recent weeks needs to continue to become the norm, rather than the outlier. Although his impact, especially over the last two games against two of the NFL’s best, may fly under the radar, that ability to find the sweet spot of not kicking the ball into the end zone while also not allowing a return has put the Green Bay defense in more advantageous situations.
Across the board and in all three phases of the game, the Packers are seeing growth and development from a number of their young players. This has resulted in more complimentary football, something that eluded them early on in the season, but is a key component of a winning formula.
“I still think he’s figuring out what he can hit and where. Figuring out where his strength is and trying not to get touchbacks. Trying to get it down inside the 10 and learning how is fliers are playing on the outside and who can make plays at that position. There’s a lot of growth at that position and he’s certainly on the up hill of the trajectory.”
