Green Bay’s faith in Trey Smack hasn’t wavered, even with the rookie kicker piling up misses early in his career.
Special teams coordinator Cam Achord made that clear on Tuesday, saying he isn’t worried about Smack letting the recent struggles get into his head. Achord, who spent four seasons in the same role with the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick, said the Packers still believe in the young kicker’s makeup.
“I think that’s why we picked him.”
Achord’s comments came after Smack’s eighth missed kick of the season in Green Bay’s 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, October 29. He also addressed another mistake from that game, when kick returner Coleman Owen lost a fumble on the opening kickoff.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky relayed Achord’s remarks on Tuesday, including the coach’s belief that Smack’s confidence remains intact despite the rough stretch.
The numbers tell the story of a shaky start. Through eight games, the former Florida kicker has gone 11-for-16 on field goals, a 68.8% clip, and has made 16 of 19 extra points. That leaves him with eight missed kicks overall this season.
Against Carolina, Smack’s first-quarter extra-point try hit the left upright after Love connected with Kraft on a 12-yard touchdown. He settled in after that, converting his final three attempts.
The previous week against Detroit was even tougher. In Green Bay’s 20-17 loss on October 25, Smack missed a 26-yard field goal and had a 35-yard attempt blocked. Those two failures left him with just one made field goal on three tries in that game.
In Other News...
Packers Walk Into A Patriots Moment That Will Dominate This Week
The Week 9 trip to New England already had a little extra shine for the Packers, and now it has a broadcast wrinkle to match. Tom Brady is set to call a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium for the first time in his broadcasting career when Green Bay visits Foxborough, adding another layer of attention to a matchup that was already going to draw plenty of eyes.
Brady said he is excited to return to the stadium where so many of his biggest moments unfolded, while Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and others around the organization have been taking stock of the occasion. The conversation around the game has also drifted toward Rob Gronkowskis upcoming Hall of Fame induction, giving this week in Foxborough a distinctly Patriots flavor even before the teams take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Trade Buzz Just Raised The Stakes For This Defense
With the NFL trade deadline drawing near, Green Bay has started to look like a team that could be more than a bystander. The Packers have reason to explore help on defense, especially with Micah Parsons expected back from injury, and the idea of adding another proven edge presence has only sharpened the conversation around how aggressive they want to be.
One name that has surfaced in that discussion is Khalil Mack, a veteran pass rusher who would give Green Bay another disruptive piece if the Chargers decide to listen. Los Angeles has stumbled this season, which only adds to the intrigue around whether a player of Macks caliber could become available, and for the Packers the appeal is obvious: a chance to deepen a defense that could get a lot more dangerous if the right move is made. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Puts Packers On Edge As NFL Wait Continues
Josh Jacobs situation has taken another turn as the Packers wait for the NFLs next move. The running back is already back in the middle of a difficult legal and league process after missing six games on the commissioner-exempt list following his May arrest, and recently released police records have now added fresh allegations from three women involving physical and verbal abuse.
For Green Bay, the uncertainty is the real issue. Jacobs has said he believes in his legal defense and expects to stay on the field for the rest of the season, but the NFL investigation is still ongoing, leaving the team to monitor a case that could continue to hang over its backfield. If the league eventually acts, any suspension would likely be applied against the games he has already missed, which only adds another layer to a situation the Packers would rather not have lingering into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]