Latest news with #MecoleHardman
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Special teams shine, but in fight to win roster spot, Mecole Hardman's aggressiveness backfires
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. MUST READ: Packers coach Matt LaFleur isn't panicking over loss to the Jets '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


USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mecole Hardman drops the ball in Packers debut
Veteran wide receiver and returner Mecole Hardman likely hurt his chances of making the Green Bay Packers roster after dropping the ball -- both figuratively and literally -- during his preseason debut on Saturday night. Hardman, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, made three critical errors and finished with zero catches and zero return yards during the 30-10 loss to the New York Jets. The mistakes snowballed and directly hurt the Packers in the first half. On his first return, Hardman caught a punt in heavy traffic at the 5-yard line, pinning the Packers' second-team offense deep in its own territory. Two plays later, he dropped a pass on an out route near the sideline, setting up third-and-long and a strip-sack of Malik Willis that resulted in a Jets defensive touchdown. Later in the second quarter, Hardman tried to field a bouncing punt and muffed the catch, resulting in a turnover and three more points for the Jets. "I have to go back and take a peek at it," coach Matt LaFleur said post-game. "It seems like a pretty routine play that happens more often than not where you can scoop that (bouncing) punt up. I was disappointed with that, but we also can't field a punt at the 5-yard line. Those were obviously two bad decisions." Hardman's final stat line: one target, zero catches, two punt returns, zero yards. "I was expecting a better bounce, and it bounced the wrong way and unfortunately it didn't go my way," Hardman said, via "There's nothing really too much to harp on. It's preseason. It's good to get it out of the way now. Could have just let it bounce and let it (the ball) do what it was going to do." Hardman, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, is competing to be a backup receiver and the primary returner for LaFleur to start the 2025 season. Considering Jayden Reed (foot), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Christian Watson (ACL) are recovering from injuries, the Packers could use Hardman's experience at the receiver position. And the team likely doesn't want key starters like Reed and Keisean Nixon handling returns all season. Saturday night's debut wasn't a good start, but Hardman will have two joint practices and two preseason games over the next two weeks to rebound and state his case for a roster spot.


Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
The Good, Bad And Mostly Ugly From The Packers' Preseason Loss To The Jets
Storms rolled through Green Bay Saturday afternoon, knocking out power for thousands in the area. The hometown football team took the field a few hours later and were every bit as powerless. Green Bay had a dreadful performance in its preseason opener, struggling in all three phases and dropping a 30-10 decision to the New York Jets. The Packers' No. 1 offense managed just two first downs in two series, the No. 1 defense allowed a 79-yard touchdown drive and return man Mecole Hardman muffed a punt. The result was a dreadful performance before an announced crowd of 71,501. Here's the good, bad and ugly from the Packers' GOOD DANIEL WHELAN: You know it's a brutal night when your MVP is your punter. That was the case for Green Bay, though, as punter Daniel Whelan had a big game. Whelan was incredibly busy, punting six times. He averaged 52.0 yards per punt with a long of 63 and his net was 46.5. 'I think he's done a tremendous amount of work in the offseason,' Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said of Whelan. 'He's been getting the ball out of his hand. 'He's worked really hard on his footwork, with his directional punts and some situational football. It's going into Year 3 for him so he should get better at that as well. We're excited with the direction he's going.' IMPRESSIVE RUN: Rookie free agent running back Amar Johnson turned some heads with a 39-yard fourth quarter touchdown run. Johnson got a big block from rookie second round pick Anthony Belton, then broke a tackle in the hole from safety Dean Clark. Johnson, who has 4.39 speed in the 40-yard dash, then cut left and beat safety Jarius Monroe to the endzone. THIS AND THAT: Rookie wideout Matthew Golden beat cornerback Brandon Stephens on an inside slant for a 7-yard gain on third-and-7. … Brandon McManus — who was 44-of-46 on all kicks this summer — drilled a 46-yard field goal. … Kristian Welch dumped Braelon Allen for a 1-yard loss on a 4th-and-1. … Colby Wooden deflected a pass by Jets' No. 3 quarterback Adrian Martinez. … Tight ends Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick both had 17-yard BAD THREE-AND-OUT: The Packers' opening drive on offense couldn't have gone much worse. First, rookie defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell was flagged for holding on the opening kickoff. Love then went 0-for-2 that included a drop by wideout Romeo Doubs. And when Love fired incomplete for Doubs on third down, the Packers punted after just three plays. NO DEFENE: Green Bay's No. 1 defense was sieve-like on the Jets' opening possession. New York marched 79 yards in 10 plays and capped the drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Justin Fields. On the TD run, Fields escaped pressure, then whipped cornerback Keisean Nixon in the open field on his way to the endzone. Fields went 3-for-4 for 42 yards on the drive, while the Jets had six rushes for 37 yards. Former University of Wisconsin and Fond du Lac standout Braelon Allen ripped off a 14-yard run on the drive. TAINTED LOVE: Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love had a rough night. Love went just 1-of-5 for seven yards and had a 39.6 passer rating. Don't make too much of it, though, as the Packers played without Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs and wideouts Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams. Still, Love and the rest of the 'No. 1' offense would have liked to do much more. WILLIS STRUGGLES: Packers' No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis had a tough night himself. Willis, who went 2-0 as a starter last year, was just 4-for-9 for 39 yards and had a 57.2 passer rating. SCREEN DOOR WIDE OPEN: Jets' No. 3 quarterback Adrian Martinez threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Stone Smartt on a perfectly executed screen pass. Smartt blocked defensive end Barryn Sorrell, then released. Downfield, Isaiah Simmons, Isaiah Dunn and Johnathan Baldwin all got stuck on blocks and Smartt waltzed into the endzone. THIS AND THAT: Guard Jacob Monk was called for three holding penalties. One wiped out a big run by running back Amar Johnson. … Wideout Malik Heath, fighting for a roster, had a costly drop. … Wideout Julian Hicks dropped a high pass from Malik Willis on an out route. … Guard Donovan Jennings had a holding penalty on a third-and-1 that killed a drive. … Safety Kitan Oladapo allowed a 26-yard reception to wideout Quentin Skinner. FROM THE INFIRMARY: The following Packers didn't play due to injury — wide receivers Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams and Christian Watson, cornerbacks Nate Hobbs and Kamal Hadden, safety Xavier McKinney, running backs Emanuel Wilson and MarShawn Lloyd, linebacker Quay Walker, defensive end Collin Oliver, offensive linemen Rasheed Walker and John Williams, WR Savion UGLY ROUGH NIGHT: The Packers signed veteran wideout Mecole Hardman in free agency in March, but gave him just $150,000 in guaranteed money. That might have been too much. Hardman had a brutal night, where his biggest foul up was muffing a punt at his own 9-yard line that New York's Ja'Markis Weston recovered. That play led to a Jets' field goal. Hardman also made the curious decision of fielding a punt at his own 5-yard line, then was blown up for no gain. And Hardman dropped a well-thrown pass from Malik Willis on an out route. FIRST QUARTER BLUES: The Jets dominated the first quarter — one in which the Packers played their No. 1 offense for both of its series. New York had nine first downs to just two for Green Bay. The Jets outgained the Packers, 139-21, and averaged 7.7 yards per play vs. just 1.9 for Green Bay. TOUGH SLEDDING: Green Bay had a third-and-7 on its own 8 midway through the second quarter. Jets tackle Leonard Taylor overpowered center Sean Rhyan and stripped the ball away from quarterback Malik Willis. New York's Jay Tufele recovered in the endzone to give the Jets a 14-3 lead. TOTAL DOMINATION: The Jets outgained the Packers, 403-188. New York also had 21 first downs to just 12 for Green Bay, and had 256 passing yards to just 64 for the Packers.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jordan Love Draws Eye-Opening 2025 Prediction From NFL Writer
Jordan Love Draws Eye-Opening 2025 Prediction From NFL Writer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jordan Love's sophomore season as the Green Bay Packers' starting quarterback had its ups and downs. He finished as a top-10 quarterback in nearly every advanced metric—despite playing through knee and groin injuries for most of the year. He also led the team to its second consecutive postseason appearance. Advertisement One of Green Bay's priorities this offseason was to give Jordan Love more weapons and maximize his talent. They selected wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round and added Savion Williams in the third of the 2025 NFL Draft. To improve protection, they drafted tackles Anthony Belton in the second round and John Williams in the seventh. In free agency, they signed veteran guard Aaron Banks and added speed with receiver Mecole Hardman, further surrounding Love with the tools to take another step forward. A healthy Jordan Love should have the tools to take the next step as Green Bay's signal caller in 2025. While it is uncertain what Love's season will bring, Jordan Wilson is not shy about making a bold prediction for the Packers' starting quarterback. Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love (10) drops back to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter in an NFC wild card game. © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images In an article featuring three bold predictions for Green Bay's 2025 season, Wilson stated that Jordan Love will be in the mix to fight for the league's MVP award. Advertisement "The discourse about Love's so-called regression in 2024 seems overblown. The 26-year-old had a less productive season than he did as a first-time starter in 2023, but he also sprained his left MCL in the season opener and continued to face limitations because of the injury even once he returned," Wilson wrote. "All told, Love still threw for 3,389 yards and 25 scores in 15 starts for the Packers while improving his QBR from 62.1 in 2023 to 69.3 in 2024." "What should elevate Love's game in 2025 — beyond having more experience as a starter — is the improvements the Packers have made to their offense," he added. "They signed Banks and drafted offensive tackle Anthony Belton to improve the protection unit in front of him. They also acquired two new talented rookie pass-catchers between Golden and TCU's Savion Williams, a third-round selection." Wilson also mentioned that the Packers need to avoid slippage at other positions for Love to thrive. That includes areas like the receiving corps, which can not afford to rank in the top five in drops again if Love is going to make a serious MVP push. "Love will still need to put in the extra work to ensure he is on the same page as his new teammates, but he has put some dazzlingly accurate throws on tape at all levels of the field," he wrote. "If the Packers can avoid slippage at other positions and Love can stay healthy, he will have a good chance to play his way into the MVP conversation in the months ahead." Advertisement Last season, Love posted a 3.4% turnover-worthy play rate under pressure—the second-best mark by a Packers quarterback in the past decade. Sure, his touchdown and passing numbers dipped, but that is normal when you miss two and a half games. Calling his 2024 campaign a regression feels like a stretch. If anything, he should have every opportunity to take a significant step forward this year. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What big things did the Packers tell us this offseason?
The Green Bay Packers told us a lot this offseason -- both with words and action. Most importantly, this is a team that believes it is worthy of competing for championships right now. More specifically, general manager Brian Gutekunst made it clear he wanted to create big competitions to propel improvement at two important position groups on offense, and he's banking on internal improvement and a few unexpected additions to fuel the improvement at two important positions on defense. Advertisement Here are some big things the Packers told us this offseason: Demanding more at wide receiver The Packers wide receivers built incredible expectations entering the 2024 season but came up well short of meeting them. Drops and inconsistency were major issues. The Packers are returning everyone from the receiver room last year, but the depth chart is going to look different and competition will be fierce in 2025. That's what adding a three-time Super Bowl champion (Mecole Hardman), a first-round pick (Matthew Golden) and a third-round pick (Savion Williams) to a single position group will do. In a not-so-subtle way, the Packers are demanding more at a key position in the passing game. Even with Christian Watson still recovering, there is too much talent in the room for the Packers to deal with recurring problems at receiver in 2025. Collectively, they must be better. Not content along the offensive line The Packers had a top-10 offensive line during the 2024 season and could have easily stayed the course, but Gutekunst had other ideas. Instead of re-signing Josh Myers and keeping the same five starters, the Packers gave a big deal to left guard Aaron Banks, shifting Elgton Jenkins to center and possibly providing a big upgrade to the interior of the line. At tackle, the Packers are insisting on Jordan Morgan getting a shot to compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle, and behemoth tackle Anthony Belton was picked in the second round to provide even more competition and depth. Considering Morgan missed all but six games of his rookie season, the Packers are essentially adding three new and talented pieces to what was already a very good offensive line in 2025. And Jenkins could be a big-time upgrade at center. Big games are so often won in the trenches, and the Packers weren't content with good up front on offense. Expecting improvement along the defensive front The Packers didn't make a big signing and then waited until Day 3 of the draft to add an edge rusher. The only big change? Firing defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich and replacing him with veteran assistant DeMarcus Covington, who might be the biggest addition to the defensive front of the offseason. Can he get more out of a talent group featuring Pro Bowlers Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark and first-round picks Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness? The Packers are banking on internal improvement created by Covington's ability to teach and develop what was already built at an important defensive position. To truly be a Super Bowl contender, the Packers must be more consistently disruptive against top quarterbacks. If Clark can rebound from a season-long foot injury, Wyatt can stay healthy for 17 games and Van Ness improves in a meaningful way, the defensive front will be a strength. Belief in top 3 cornerbacks Even with Jaire Alexander's future in limbo, the Packers kept confidence in Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as legitimate starters at cornerback. The big addition of the offseason was Nate Hobbs, a multi-year starter for the Raiders who is expected to play inside and out for the Packers. Gutekunst had opportunities to add in the draft (although injuries played a big part in the evaluation of the top of the cornerback draft class) and didn't until the seventh round, and he's expressed confidence in Nixon, Valentine and Hobbs as his starting trio now that Alexander is in Baltimore. The Packers barely had Alexander on the field over the last two seasons, which provided a considerable evaluation of Nixon and Valentine as players. The Packers believe they can handle what is in front of them in 2025. It's a gamble for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What big things did the Packers tell us this offseason?