Rich Bisaccia's departure from Green Bay marks a significant change for the Packers' special teams. While some fans might have been calling for his exit, the reality is more complex.
Bisaccia, brought in to revitalize the special teams, didn't quite deliver the transformation many hoped for. Yet, it's not as if the unit was a complete disaster; they simply didn't excel in the areas that truly count for the Packers.
The question remains: should the Packers focus on competing across all aspects of special teams? Ideally, yes. However, organizational priorities often dictate where resources and efforts are concentrated, and for Green Bay, special teams haven't always been at the forefront.
Now, as the Packers enter the hunt for a new special teams coordinator, timing might seem less than ideal. Whether they choose a seasoned veteran or an emerging talent, the new coordinator will face the same challenges that Bisaccia did. Limitations in personnel choices, like who gets to block on field goals or return kicks, are likely to persist.
The successor will likely achieve similar results unless significant changes are made from the top down. There's always the risk of things taking a turn for the worse, and with Bisaccia now out of the picture, the Packers are about to see if that's the case.
The performance metrics might vary depending on which stats you prioritize. Keisean Nixon, a player who has consistently been under Bisaccia's guidance, is one such example of the talent within the team. Meanwhile, McKinney's drop in interceptions last season shouldn't come as a shock, but rather part of the ebb and flow of a player's career.