Green Bay Packers wide receiver Amari Rodgers isn’t afraid of a little coaching, no matter how intense. After muffing a punt at Tuesday’s practice, the second-year receiver did not get a favorable reaction from special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. However, Rodgers knows it’s for his own good.
“I love getting coached,” Rodgers said after practice Tuesday. “If you’re not getting nothing said to you, then that means you’re doing something wrong. So, obviously, if he’s coaching me up, that means he wants to see me do well. So, whenever he yells at me, I know it’s all love at the end of the day.”
Bisaccia certainly brings a lot of passion to the job. Before entering his first season as the Packers special teams coordinator, head coach Matt LaFleur called him a “fiery dude” back in February. Bisaccia spent last season as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and received votes for NFL Coach of the Year for his performance.
Now Bisaccia is tasked with turning around a special teams unit that struggled for most of the 2021 season, including in the return game.
After being utilized as a return man at Clemson, Rodgers was expected to provide a boost in that area last season. However, Rodgers averaged only 18.1 yards per kick return and wasn’t much better with punts as he faced issues with knowing when to fair catch and muffs.
Rodgers believes a lot of it came down to confidence and the physical toll last year took on his body. This offseason, did a much better job of emphasizing his health and is in far better shape after slimming down from 218 to 202 pounds.
“I have my body where I need it to be right now,” Rodgers said. “I have my toolbox. I worked hard on the field this offseason, so I know if I have my confidence to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability, I can make any play.”
Rodgers said he felt “tired” last season due to extra weight and a lack of conditioning during his rookie season.
So far in training camp, last year’s third-round pick has made a few plays on offense but is still having miscues in the return game. The job is still up for grabs as the Packers have been trying out different guys on kick and punt returns, including Aaron Jones and rookie standout Romeo Doubs. If he isn’t the team’s primary return man, Rodgers could still play a role on special teams after lining up as a gunner on punt coverage during Tuesday’s practice.
