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We’ve started our series breaking down the Green Bay Packers’ “core four” special teams units. Generally, the “core four” refers to the punt team, punt return team, kickoff team and kickoff return team, as these units have a greater influence on game day (from a personnel standpoint) and a larger impact on roster construction.
For the most part, all available active offensive linemen and tight ends will see action on the field goal protection unit, starting with the backups and working up to the veteran players. On the field goal block team, the unit usually plays “defense stay” (essentially just the team’s base defensive personnel) and tries to block the kick that way, aside from unique situations like attempting to return a missed field goal.
Earlier this week, we broke down who plays on the Packers’ punt team and why. Now, we’ll take a look at the punt return team, as far as the non-returners go. If you want info on Green Bay’s punt returner race, the best info out before the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets is the team’s depth chart.
Vise/Jammer
Let’s start with the vises/jammers. These players are essentially the cornerbacks on the return unit. Their job is to slow down the gunners/fliers, who line up outside of the numbers on the punt team and try to get to the return man as fast as possible. If you can slow down the gunners/fliers, then that can save you from either a downed punt, fair catch or quick tackle of the returner, as the gunners/fliers are the only players allowed to sprint down the field before the ball is punted at the NFL level.
League-Wide Snap Counts:
To no one’s surprise, 82 percent of these snaps at the NFL level are played by cornerbacks, and 96 percent of them are played by defensive backs. If you’re wondering why a defensive tackle got out there for a snap…it’s a technicality. The Houston Texans’ Folorunso Fatukasi (bottom of the screenshot below) tried to run on the field against the Indianapolis Colts, decided to run back to the sideline and was unable to make it home before the ball was snapped. Make no mistake, this is a position for skill players.
2024 Packers Player Snap Counts:
2024 Packers Position Breakdown:
As a reminder here, because there are two vises/jammers on the field at one time, Corey Ballentine’s 33 percent of punt return snaps played (between all vises/jammers) means he was on the field...
