Heading into training camp, a void vacated by departed wide receiver Koren Robinson exists on special teams.  Right now there are eight Packers vying for the two kick returner spots.

The incumbent Tramon Williams appears to have a very tight grip on the spot, as the special teams coaches were working with him during the OTAs to help him adjust to reading blocking schemes and make better decisions on his returns.  Last year he seized the job after a strong preseason.  He returned 30 kickoffs for 684 yards, a 22.8-yard return average, and had a long of 65 yards against the Chicago Bears.  Williams also worked on punt returns, returning one for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.  Punt returns are a different story for a different day, however.  The experience gained in 2007 by Williams in 2007 will hopefully parlay over into more success in 2008:

“At one point I didn’t think experience mattered that much, but I came in this year a lot more relaxed,” Williams said. “I feel like the defense and special teams are second nature to me now, and I’m just ready to go out and play. I just can let my ability take over and I know the coaches have confidence in me that I can do that.”

Also competing with Williams is a foursome of running backs.  Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency, DeShawn Wynn, and rookie Kregg Lumpkin are all looking to get a firmer grasp on their roster spots by making a mark on special teams.  Jackson developed into a special teams ace during the latter part of 2007.  Special teams coordinator Mike Stock really wants to see some improvement or development in Jackson:

“Brandon returned kicks a little bit at Nebraska, and he really exploded offensively late in the season last year after going through some trial and errors early in the season,” Stock said. “This year I think he’s going to show even more progress in what he is able to do for us offensively and in the kick return game. I am hoping that he is going to be a factor.”

Wynn and Morency are backup running backs who will most likely be backups for kick returner.  Wynn showed occasional explosiveness as starting running back last season while Morency was primarily used as a third down back and rarely showed explosiveness, at least in my opinion.  Lumpkin is an undrafted free agent signee out of Georgia and special teams appears to be the only way he will be able to make the roster, because of the depth currently at running back.

Two rookies are also looking to make an impact in 2008 on special teams.  Second-round pick Jordy Nelson and seventh-round pick Brett Swain are both hoping to have a positive effect on Packers special teams.  Swain, who attended college at San Diego State, is an undersized Wes Welker-type player who could be an asset in the return game.  With the release of Robinson, the chance of him making the roster seems to be a little clearer, but it is still up in the air.  Nelson, the Packers’ first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft from Kansas State, never returned a kick in his college career.  He did return five punts in 2007, averaging 52.8-yards per return and returning two for touchdowns.  Nelson seems thrilled about the possibility of returning kicks as well:

“I definitely would like to do it (return kicks),” Nelson said. “It’s just another way to help out the team, and I would be able to get out on the field and play. Kickoff return is not maybe as wide open as a punt return might be, but for the most part it’s just reading the blocks and going where you are supposed to go.”

The final candidate for the kickoff return team is Will Blackmon, a third-year cornerback out of Boston College who has been haunted by foot injuries during his career with the Packers.  In a memorable game against Oakland Raiders last season, the cornerback had a punt return for a touchdown.  Blackmon is not participating in OTAs, still nursing a foot injury, but will become a factor in the competition in July and August, when training camp starts.

Right now, Stock says the players are just concentrating on the fundamentals:

“We want them to square up with the ball, anticipate the catch, and move forward in a controlled manner so they are moving forward on the catch and they can go ahead and take that ball up the field behind the wedge,” Stock said. “It is just the basic fundamentals of catching and delivering themselves up behind the wedge and finding daylight.”

The Packers will need their kickoff return team to be very successful in 2008, as the offense will struggle to find its identity for the first few weeks of the season.  Good field position from special teams would obviously help the adjustment to Aaron Rodgers for the team and provide a short field so they can, duh, score points.

Right now, I’m putting my money on Williams and Nelson to be the kick returners come September 8 against Minnesota, but Blackmon will spell Nelson occasionally.  Williams, Nelson, and Blackmon: kick returners, 2008.