Here’s an early reminder that the Green Bay Packers are getting: life with a rookie kicker can be stressful.
To that end, sixth round pick Trey Smack generated some concern this week after an uneven OTA performance, in which he missed multiple field-goal attempts during a public practice session.
Following Mason Crosby’s tenure, Packer fans have endured years of inconsistency and more-stressful-than-they-should-be field goal and PAT attempts (insert “I’m tired, boss” meme here). Suffice to say, we’re
following Smack’s practice reps closely. Given what we’ve seen so far, is it actually time to resume worrying?
My opinion: nope, not yet.
It’s June, folks. While the misses were impossible to ignore, Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber reminded us that this was a voluntary summer practice, months before meaningful attempts are at stake. Smack also acknowledged the poor session afterward and emphasized that correcting mistakes is part of the process for any young specialist.
More importantly, the body of evidence so far is clear and simple: Smack was an impressive college kicker with elite leg strength and great long-range accuracy. According to Acme Packing Company’s own draft analysis, Smack’s collegiate profile compares favorably to many recent NFL kicking prospects, particularly on kicks from 50-plus yards.
In fact, the team is so confident in Smack that they quickly moved on from veteran Brandon McManus, eschewing what many thought was going to be a months-long position battle.
None of this is breaking news, but it’s helpful to remain grounded in the facts — especially in June, when content-hungry fans hang on every practice rep or random vibe check from beat reporters.
Look, I get it. I, too, would like to resume a life where PAT attempts serve as de facto bathroom breaks. But let’s not let one shaky OTA practice outweigh years of development, a strong college résumé, and the confidence the Packers have already demonstrated.
If we don’t see consistency in preseason, sure, we can think about breaking the glass. Until then, trust the process and enjoy your summer.
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