New coordinator has brought swagger, new perspective

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAY The past is the past. AllSkyy Mooreknows is what he's seen from the Packers' special teams since signing with Green Bay back in March.

That's been a combination of creativity, fearlessness and an infectious energy that starts with the man in the front of the room, new special teams coordinator Cam Achord.

"Cam drawing it up and him bringing the energy, I want to piggyback on that," said Moore, who's projected to be the Packers' primary returner this season. "Just go out there and execute with just as much energy that he drew it up with."

Head Coach Matt LaFleur hired Achord back in February to help catapult a Packers special teams unit that's shown flashes to more consistent, penalty-free production.

There may have been no better example of the turn Green Bay wants to make in the third phase this season than the performance it put together in last Friday's 33-13 win in Denver.

While only a preseason game, the Packers showed signs of promise on teams from start to finish. Rookie kickerTrey Smackmade four more field goals, including one from 59 yards, to improve to 7-for-7 in the preseason.

Pierre Strong Jr.parlayed a well-blocked kickoff into a 68-yard return to open the second quarter. Minutes later, he assisted as a jammer on Moore's 16-yard punt return from the Green Bay 6.

There was one illegal block in the back in the first quarter, but the return teams otherwise gave Strong, Moore and whoever was back there room with which to work. The Packers finished with 139 yards on five returns, helping Green Bay win the field position battle.

Achord urges caution, but it's hard not to be excited given the Packers' struggles on special teams dating back to the 2014 NFC Championship Game, having churned through six different coordinators over the past 12 years.

"We've got a long way to go," Achord said. "I know everybody looks at the game and is like, woo, (but) we've got a lot to go in the kicking game. Because you're always striving for that perfection. There's been some flashes, some really good stuff, and there's some other stuff we've got to clean up. So, that's the good thing."

During his first six months on the job, it's not difficult to pick out Achord on the practice field. More than a decade ago, former special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum used to wear a mic during practice so everyone on the field could hear him.

No amplification is necessary with Achord, whose booming Southern drawl stretches across Nitschke Field. When his players do something right, Achord is sprinting full force to celebrate.

While racing down the field withBo Meltonon a kickoff last week, Achord still appeared capable of running the same 4.51 time in the 40-yard dash like he did as a defensive back at Belhaven in the late 2000s. He wears cleats during practice for extra traction.

When something goes awry and correction is needed, Achord voices his displeasure with equal enthusiasm, too. But either way, the message is clear. Achord is here to make the Packers' special teams unit better, even if that requires some tough love.

"He's so energetic and he's passionate. I love Coach Cam," Melton said. "He brings that juice and he brings it every day. Like whatever you do, he's going to get on your (rear) when you do great. He's going to be happy as hell. He's going to be jumping around when you do good. And he going to rip your (rear) when you're not doing so well."

That type of coaching is nothing new for Smack, whose special teams coordinator at Florida, Joe Houston, was a special teams assistant with Achord for four years in New England.

A disciple of longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Achord understands the potential impact of special teams on wins and losses and coaches his players accordingly.

"They're a little bit similar. They're both crazy in their own way," said Smack of Achord and Houston. "It's great. (Achord) keeps me level-headed, he keeps me down to earth. I feel like we work really well together. Cam's a great coach and even better person. He's here for the success of the team and he's here to help me out."

The work is far from over. Asked for a percentage between 1 and 100 of how ready his unit is for the regular season, Achord says somewhere in the 60s.

Maybe that's a conservative estimate but also realistic for a Packers special teams unit that underwent an overhaul this offseason, which included releasing veteran Brandon McManus in favor of Smack, whom they traded up for in the sixth round.

Signing Moore is another move Green Bay hopes will spark a turnaround, but infusing Achord's energy on special teams could wind up being the shift Green Bay has been seeking all along.

"I try to be the same person every day, whether that's tackling a pad, headbutting a guy, whatever that may be," Achord said. "I think it's contagious a little bit. I really do. But I think the most important thing is to be yourself and be genuine.

"I think guys and people see through that when you're not yourself or you try to put on a mirage and like, 'Hey!' That's just not me and I think the guys know that. They see the excitement."