08-10-2015, 09:57 PM
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#11169
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: WI
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Re: ***Official Green Bay Packers Thread***
Quote:
Punter Tim Masthay chosen over Cody Mandell
Green Bay— In what amounts to a vote of confidence for veteran punter Tim Masthay, the Green Bay Packers released Cody Mandell, a first-year player from Alabama. Mandell was not at practice Monday.
"I am happy to be taking full reps again," Masthay said, "and it's an encouraging sign from the organization toward me."
The punting competition, while short-lived, originated after Masthay completed the worst season of his career in 2015. Masthay, 28, posted a net average of just 37 yards that ranked 30th in the NFL among 32 qualified punters. It was the first time since 2010, his first year with the Packers, that Masthay's net average fell below 38.
The result, which Masthay said he anticipated, was the Packers signing another punter. In came Mandell, a four-year letter winner at Alabama, who had been waived by the Cowboys in August 2014.
It was the brevity of the competition that proved surprising — nine practices.
The Packers, who did not offer an explanation for the decision to cut Mandell, appear more than happy with Masthay's progress throughout the off-season and training camp. Masthay said he identified two problems that he believes resulted in poor punts, especially down the stretch.
The first issue, Masthay said, was allowing "too many negative thoughts" to distract him throughout the season.
The second issue was more mechanical, a pattern of hurriedness on many of his kicks. It originated, he said, from experimenting with new techniques midyear, something he called unwise in hindsight. The tinkering made him antsy, which made him rush, which lessened his effectiveness.
"It was a bad time to be doing that," he said.
An off-season full of examining tape and reassessing technique served as a confidence boost entering camp, and Masthay said he is pleased with the way he's striking the ball so far.
Still, it's impossible to ignore the possibility that Masthay's hands may have been the deciding factor when Mandell was released.
Though he held all four years of college, Mandell struggled to secure the ball for Crosby, who is 34 of 38 on field goals in camp. That all four misses occurred with Mandell holding qualifies as something other than coincidence.
"Holding is certainly an important aspect of the job," Masthay said, "but I don't have any clue as to its impact on the decision that was made."
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http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...321349871.html
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