Trey Smack Missed a 35-Yard Game-Winner, And Green Bay Is Already Sweating
Alright, 12s, you know how we feel about clutch kicks here in the Emerald City. You gotta have that ice in your veins, that absolute precision. So, when news drops from Green Bay about their new kicker, Trey Smack, it's something we gotta talk about. This isn't just some camp chatter, folks. This is a potential red flag that could haunt the Packers all season long, and we're only in April!
Remember Brandon McManus missing three crucial kicks in their playoff loss to the Bears? Green Bay's GM Brian Gutekunst, clearly feeling the heat, decided to go all-in. Even after paying McManus a cool $1 million roster bonus, he acted fast. Gutekunst traded up for Smack, who was touted as the consensus best kicker in the draft, then promptly released McManus. Now, Smack is in a two-man battle with Lucas Havrisik, and obviously, they want their high-draft pick to win that job. But what went down this offseason? It ain't pretty.
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The Green Bay Kicking Rollercoaster
If these early offseason returns are any indication, Green Bay might have jumped the gun. We're talking about May and June workouts, no real pressure, right? But even then, Smack's performance was a wild ride. During the first week of OTAs, he looked decent, making 7-of-8 attempts. The catch? They were all chip shots, none longer than 35 yards. Okay, a starting point. But then came the second week. With longer kicks and blustery conditions, the challenge ratcheted up, and Smack went a dismal 5-of-9. Two of those kicks were so far off, they were well wide of the goalposts. Yikes.
There was a bounce back on the first day of minicamp, when he hit 7-of-8, including a long of 58. A glimmer of hope, maybe? Nah. On the final day, the No. 1 offense marched down the field, set up a 2-minute drill, and put Smack in position for a 35-yard game-winning kick. He missed it. Just let that sink in. A 35-yarder to "win" a practice drill. Totaling it all up, including a 50-yard mulligan after that miss, Smack made 20-of-27 attempts, or a meager 74.1 percent. For context, last season, only one kicker out of 30 who attempted at least 20 field goals had a worse success rate. McManus, the guy they booted, was 24th at 80.0 percent, and the league median was 85.7 percent. That 74.1% is not good enough, plain and simple.
"Early Stages" or Early Warning Signs?
Listen, kickers should be money in May and June. There's no Lumen Field crowd screaming, no actual scoreboard pressure. So, for Smack to struggle like that on the practice field is genuinely concerning. Packers coach Matt LaFleur tried to brush it off, saying, "We're still in the early stages." He talked about the "whole operation," new snapper, new holder, new ball. Yeah, yeah, we get it. There's a learning curve. But when the numbers are that low, that early, it's not "just one of those days." It's a pattern that demands attention.
As Seahawks fans, we know how critical every single point is, especially in tight games. This isn't about history; it's about what we're seeing right now. If Smack can't consistently connect on practice kicks with limited mental pressure, what's going to happen when the lights are on, and the game is on the line in October? The regular season is here, and the real tests are coming. Green Bay needs to figure this out, or those early misses are going to be a recurring nightmare for their fans.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.