Special teams shine, but in fight to win roster spot, Mecole Hardman's aggressiveness backfires

Yahoo

3 days ago

GREEN BAY – A day after the Green Bay Packers opened their preseason with a 30-10 loss to the New York Jets, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia offered his synopsis. Here are some quick highlights:
Mecole Hardman's aggressiveness backfires
Mecole Hardman once caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII, but he's hoping to find a roster spot with the Packers. In the preseason opener, Hardman showed how much work he believes needs to be done to earn a job.
In two punt-return opportunities, Hardman showed the type of aggressiveness that indicated his urgency to make a big play. Both decisions backfired. On the first, Hardman fielded a punt at the Packers' 5-yard line and was immediately dropped for no gain. Backed up against their own end zone, the Packers' drive resulted in Malik Willis' fumble that led to a Jets touchdown.
On his next punt return, Hardman let the ball bounce in front of him. Instead of clearing out of the way, he tried to scoop the punt. The Jets recovered the muff, leading to another touchdown.
'I think if you get a Sunday hop,' Bisaccia said, 'you're going to play ball. He was in good position if he got the Sunday hop, but once he got that little bit of a funky bounce, you've just got to do your best to get away from the ball. He got squared up on it, but I think we wish he would've caught it in the air.'
Hardman, a ninth-year veteran, knew both decisions were risky. But they're the type of choices players on the roster bubble might force this time of year.
'The disappointing thing,' Bisaccia said, 'was the place that he was inside the 10, in practice he's done a really good job with it. He's helped our young guys about making a fake away from the catch, or being in a position to block, or letting it go into the end zone. So I'm hoping he was just trying to make too big of a play too early, but really the best decision would've been just make the play that's there. Make the fair catch on one or let it go, and stay away from the one on the ground.
'So I'm expecting him to respond the right way and come back and have a good week.'
Brandon McManus' hot streak continues
The best player at the midway point of training camp might be Packers kicker Brandon McManus.
The veteran, re-signed this offseason after joining the team midway through last fall, has continued a strong debut season with the team. McManus entered the preseason opener making 48-of-52 kicks in camp. He made both kicks against the Jets, a 46-yard field goal and extra point.
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'It's obviously a credit to him and who he is,' Bisaccia said of his kicker. 'It's been sustained over a long time. He has a pure stroke, as you will, and he knows what it is. So when it's a bad hit, he knows it before anybody else. When it's a good hit, he also – he makes noises and all that, he knows it as well. But I give a lot of credit to the battery and the way in which those guys have a certain respect for each other, and the way they're willing to work diligently at that particular task day in and day out.
'He just has a pure stroke. He's in a really good place at this point in his career, and I just think he's gotten himself in such a good physical condition at this age, that it's going to be sustained for a long time.'
Packers have big expectations for punter Daniel Whelan
Since he arrived two years ago, Daniel Whelan has showcased the power of his punting leg. His booming punts have changed field position with hangtime that limits return opportunities.
Whelan had a strong preseason debut, averaging 52 yards on six punts with a long of 63. Bisaccia said he's pushing his punter to be a difference maker on the roster.
'I think he's capable of being a really good player,' Bisaccia said. 'His understanding of where we are on the field, what's the situation in the game, how's the returner playing you, what's your line, can you stay true to your line, what's the wind. There's so many things going on that he has to become more aware of as the game is going on. Is he doubled on one side, singled on the other. Is it double-double on both sides. Is it a six-man front. It's on and on and on. And then adjusting to a snap that might be just a little to his right, or a little bit at his knee, or a little bit at his number.
'There's a lot of things that go on, but the expectation for him is the standard is the standard, and he has set the standard now. So he has to play above that at all times, and that is what we'll expect of him.'
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers kicking game solid but Mecole Hardman aggressiveness backfires