Packers Rookie Trey Smack Shines in Family Night Debut
Trey Smack, the Green Bay Packers' sixth-round pick from Florida, earned a confidence boost with a 6-for-7 kicking performance in front of almost 60,000 fans at Lambeau Field during Family Night.
Smack started strong, going 4-for-4, including two makes over 40 yards, before missing a 51-yarder that he pulled to the left. Despite the lone miss, Coach Matt LaFleur praised Smack's accuracy, saying he was "dead on" with the other six kicks.
Smack's performance was particularly notable given his up and down start to training camp, where he had missed five kicks through the first week of practices. However, LaFleur and the Packers' special teams coordinator, Cam Achord, put more weight on performance in big situations, and Smack is off to a decent start inside his home stadium.
The 51-yard miss will be a kick Smack will be expected to make come actual games, given the nearly perfect conditions inside Lambeau Field. However, he showed composure and calmness in finishing off both two-minute situations, including a 42-yarder and a 47-yarder after a false start.
Smack's ability to bounce back from the missed kick and perform under pressure is a promising sign for the rookie kicker. With the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, Smack will face his next big test.
The Packers' coaching staff will be keeping a close eye on Smack's performance in the preseason opener, where he will have to face a different environment and a more challenging opponent. Smack's ability to adapt and perform under pressure will be crucial in determining his chances of making the team's roster.
Source: Yahoo Sports