Wait a minute!

The Packers have only had to punt 20 times. That is 24th in the league.
That is 4 times a game. Zero blocked and zero returned for TD's.
That is good (unless you have a lot of fumbles and INT's and don't punt).

Of the 20, 12 have been returned, 3 fair catches, 2 touchbacks, 3 have been downed, ZERO OUT OF BOUNDS.

30% inside the 20 is slightly below average. Jon Ryan for example has 26% inside the 20. The best have 50% or more inside the 20, the worst have less than 25% inside the 20.

Gross average is 13th. 45.6 yard average and adequate.
Kapinos longest in 58 yards which is 26th in NFL.

The Packers opponents have combined for 22 punts for a 45.8 yard gross ave. So same conditions the gross average is about equal.

Conclusion:
For the price Kapinos is a good value getting average production (half the punters are worse) punting outdoors for minimum NFL wage.

Net punting involves the returners and the coverage personnel.

The Packers net 33.9 yards each punt and their opponents 40.7 yards.
On average 6.8 more yards on each return.

Return yardage is second worst in the league at 194 yards.
That's 16.2 yards/return!

They have also had 55% inside the Packers 20!! Better coverage teams too.

I obtained my stats from NFL.com which does not show penalties on the kick coverage teams or special teams for that matter.

Researching the 20 punts and 12 returns for penalties might glean more information. Penalties are certainly a factor on punts both positive and negative.

Reccomenations:

More directional kicking. Getting some out of bounds would prevent returns.

Cut down on penalties during coverage.

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Heavens no!

Two things:

1) Cribbs, as good of a returner he is, is not much else. A second rounder for Cribbs as only a return man? No thank you! He'd be buried deep on the bench, behind James Jones, Jordy, Brett Swain, and TE Finley. Awful lot to give up for a guy that will see minimal time on the field for the Pack. Add to that, that Cribbs wants a big extension ... and well not much will change when he gets here. Pay big money to a KR who is at best a once in a full moon player on offense? Again, no thank you!


2) Assuming the Packers are in the playoff race this season, expect a pick in the mid teens at best in the first round. We all know that the best prospects at tackle in the draft are found in the top 10, maybe a couple of picks later at best.

If the Packers don't agree to terms with Clifton, then you're looking at a situation where the only true tackle on the roster is one Breno Giacomini. That is downright terrifying. So, in that case the Packers might need to look at drafting not just a tackle, but one who can come in and challenge right away, one at near the top of the draft class.

To even have a shot at such a tackle, you've gotta have another day 1 pick. A second rounder might be immense importance if Ted decides that a tackle is worth moving up for.

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While I agree with you that you have to look at the coverage units as well, Mike McCarthy has stated for a while now that he wants a directional punter, one who will kick punts out of bounds to limit returns.

Kapinos can kick straight, but beyond that he isn't much of a directional punter. It's still an area of improvement, one which I think requires a new punter as opposed to more time for Kapinos to grow as a punter.

Still, I'm not too deflated with the job Kapinos is doing... he's miles ahead of Frost.
Ted Thompson must still be ruing the day he decided to cut Jon Ryan. He was perfectly acceptable, and provided a good skill set to work with.

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Wow, people still don't get it about Jon Ryan huh? Let. It. GO!

Kapino's is doing okay, but as mentioned, his directional kicking needs some work. He's one of the more consistent kickers we've had since I think Bidwell. I like not wondering .. is this going to be a 60 yarder or 20 when Kapinos punts. Although that worry is now replaced with "can we stop their returner?" lol

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Bring back Craig Hentrich!

If we trade for anything it should be a T.

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Yeah, Swain would be the logical choice, if he can field punts. That's alot harder than kickoffs. He was very productive as a kick returner in college, iirc.

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They stuck Woody in there to fair catch that last punt, because it was super windy. Didn't want a muff.
What I thought was moronic was leaving Rodgers in there to take even more hits. Why didn't Flynn play the entire 4th quarter? Rodgers ended up hurting his foot late in the game. Nothing serious, but damn, you know?

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I really like the way Jordi goes straight up the field. Plus, we have more depth at his position. Either guy is explosive though. They can both take it to the house any time they touch the ball.
I do think we'll see Swain get a shot though.

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Blackmon is shifty and he can accelerate. Our special teams sucked last year. My only complaint about Blackmon is sometimes he tries to take it sideways rather than straight up the field.

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