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For most people special teams are far from the most interesting aspect of the team. To tell the truth the Packers special teams won’t provide very many interesting stories this training. Unlike the kicking battle last season, there really isn’t that much competition this training camp.

At this point Mason Crosby is guarenteed his job since there are no other kickers on the roster. In my opinion the Packers didn’t really have to add any kickers for competition since Crosby wasn’t going to lose his job anyway. In my opinion Crosby should have been the NFC’s representative in the Pro Bowl last season. All that was in his rookie season. I expect him to be even better this season since he has had a year to adapt to the NFL. Don’t be surprised in Crosby isn’t in the competition for the Pro Bowl spot this season.

At the punter position there is actually a competition this season. Jon Ryan will probably keep his position despite the Packers bringing in Ken DeBausche. I have mixed feelings about Jon Ryan as our punter. During the warmer months Ryan is an amazing punter since his long deep punts give us a field position advantage. The problems come around at the same time the temperature drops. I would say that Jon Ryan is far from a winter kicker. I would actually say he is a below average winter kicker. Jon Ryan really needs to improve his winter kicking or he probably won’t keep his job much longer since if you punt in Green Bay you need to know how to punt when it gets cold. I think this fact is Ken DeBausche’s best chance of making the team. I have no idea if he is a good winter punter but he really can’t get much worse than Jon Ryan. If he can kick about as well or somehow even better than Jon Ryan I think the Packers might pick him over Jon Ryan due to the fact that he will kick better in the weather.

As far as the long snapper position goes, who actually cares? I guess Thomas Gafford and J.J. Jansen do but there aren’t many more. I personally am not a big fan of the position. I wish the Packers could just train one of their centers to be a long snapper so the Packers can save a roster spot in order to keep some more of our depth. That won’t happen so either Gafford or Jansen will make the team. I give Gafford the advantage at this point since he was with the team last year and that gives him an advantage over Jansen who just joined the team this offseason.

As far as the coverage units go I think the team will continue to improve. The Packers coverage teams have pretty much improved every year ever since Ted Thompson took over the year. As the depth on the team has improved, so has the special teams. The Packers also have several players like Jason Hunter who are special team demons. I think the Packers coverage units will be a strength this season.

As far as returning goes, I don’t know what will happen this season. All I hope is that Charles Woodson stops returning punts. Everytime he returned a punt I worried he was going to get hurt. We shouldn’t risk an important starter at the returning position when we could just as easily use a backup which will do just as well. One thing that really could improve the returning is if Will Blackmon actually stays healthy. If he stays healthy I think we will have a huge threat from the punt returning position.

So who do I think will be the starters at the main special team positions. Obviously Crosby will win the kicker job. I will actually go with a surprise at the punter position and pick Ken Debausche. At longsnapper, I personally don’t really care who wins the spot. I will give the nod to Gafford though since he has experience with the team.

So what do you think about the Packers special teams this season? Do you think they will be a strength? Who will be the Packers punter this season? Finally do you even care about who wins the longsnapper job? Packers Nation welcomes all comments as long as you respect other people’s opinions since everyone has the right to their own opinion.

Tomorrow I will recap all of the positions and I will come up with my initial list of the 53 players I think will make the Packers roster.

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