This is the third in a series of articles evaluating the Green Bay Packers in 2013.
Green Bay Packers 2013 Report Card: Offense
Green Bay Packers 2013 Report Card: Defense
Overview: When injuries strike a team as resoundingly as they did the Green Bay Packers in 2013, it forces backups to get a great deal of playing time. Players such as Jarrett Bush, Davon House, and Jamari Lattimore were called upon for critical defensive snaps this season, which depleted Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Slocum of some of his most experienced coverage men. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers used 58 different players on coverage units, which was four more than in 2012. These injuries were felt in the final NFL return rankings, as Slocum's coverage unit fell from 14th in 2012 to 29th in 2013 for opponent kickoff return average. Punts were equally devastating as the Packers also gave up the 4th highest return average in the NFL. Punt returns saw a boost from rookie Micah Hyde, but the Packers lost about five yards on average for kickoff returns from 2012 to 2013.
Kicking: A year after finishing last in the league in field goal conversion rate, Mason Crosby got back on track in 2013. Crosby was perfect from under 40 yards, going 22-22. The confidence from range also appeared to be back as Crosby hit six of eight from 40-49 yards and five of seven from 50+, including a season long of 57. The slump of 2012 appears to be in the rear view mirror.
Kickoff numbers were not as spectacular, which may have been attributed to more directional kicking instructions from Slocum. Crosby totaled only 13 touchbacks in 2013, compared to 35 in 2012. In many respects this was Crosby's best season, which he may have needed after a career worst season in 2012.
Final Grade: B+
Punting: In his fourth season, Tim Masthay had another serviceable season as Green Bay's punter. His punt average was 44.6 yards, good for 20th in the league. One area of improvement for Masthay is punts inside the 20, a category that he finished 28th in the NFL for in 2013. The sideline was not used as an added defender by Masthay, as only 9 of his 64 punts traveled out of bounds. Directional punting to work with the coverage unit will have to be a priority in 2013.
Masthay may be challenged in training camp in 2014, but the Packers could do much worse at punter.
Final Grade: C+
Kick/Punt Coverage: The coverage unit looked different nearly every time they went on the field to cover a kick or punt, but lane responsibility was virtually nonexistent. The Packers coverage unit gave up the second most return yards in the NFL, including an NFL record-tying 109-yard return to Cordarrelle Patterson of the Vikings.
Punt returns were not much better. Although only 20 punts were returned, they went for the 4th highest average in the league of 13.1 yards. In general the Packers coverage unit played much more like a group of individuals than a team. Opposing returners will continue to find success against Green Bay if the coverage unit arrives player by player instead of staying disciplined in their lanes.
Final Grade: D+
Summary: Slocum did about the best he could with the ever-rotating unit of players, but much more should be expected of the coverage unit in particular for 2014. Another solid performance from Tim Masthay and a massive turnaround from Mason Crosby bring the grade up a bit. Fifteen players on injured reserve and numerous others missing time can be a crutch for a bad special teams season, but discipline and technique should extend to all 53 active players that fought their way onto the roster through their play in the 3rd phase.
Final Grade: C-
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