Coco Takes Unique Path to Packers’ Snapping Competition

Packers rookie Jack Coco, who has not snapped for a punt since high school and did not snap last year at Georgia Tech, will battle Steven Wirtel in training camp.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jun 23, 2022 6:43 PM EDT

In this story:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – At this time last year, rookie Green Bay Packers long snapper Jack Coco was getting ready for his senior season as a tight end at Georgia Tech.

He hasn’t snapped for a punt in a game since high school.

And he had to pass a series of tests before even getting his foot in the door in Green Bay.

It’s from that unique background that Coco will battle incumbent Steven Wirtel during training camp.

“It’s an absolutely phenomenal opportunity,” Coco said during the final week of organized team activities earlier this month. “I’ve been working my whole life to have an opportunity like this. My hard work from high school to college – changing positions multiple times. Always having that skill of long snapping has really paid off. It gives me an opportunity to come here and compete for a spot.”

At Johns Creek (Ga.) High School, Coco was a four-year letterman on the offensive line. He started long snapping as a sophomore. “I was bad,” he admitted. But, as he’s done with most things in life, he worked hard to develop the skill.

He arrived in Georgia Tech in 2017 as a walk-on offensive lineman and long snapper. In 2018, he won the No. 1 job as the snapper on field goals and extra points. He held that role through the 2020 season, when he transitioned from the line to tight end. In 2021, he was finally awarded a scholarship, relinquished his snapping duties and focused only on tight end.

“I earned a scholarship and they were really looking for me to fill into the tight end spot, which I did,” he said. “I had a big role on special teams, a big role playing tight end. I was going to do everything, whatever I could do, to play on the field, no matter what the job was. That’s been my whole thing my entire career. How hard am I going to work to give myself the best opportunity to step on that field?”

Coco had a dirty-work senior season. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 79 snaps on offense, with 65 of those as a blocker. He was targeted once, a pass he caught for 4 yards.

It wasn’t much of a resume to attract the attention from scouts attending Georgia Tech’s pro day on March 14. To get ready, he lifted weights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, ran on Saturdays, and long snapped, ran routes and did blocking drills on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“The predraft process for me was being able to do as many things as possible,” Coco said. “I used to play offensive line, so I was really good when I transferred to tight end as a blocking fullback-type position. I had good hands, too, but I was more of a blocking back in college. At pro day, I was doing whatever I could possibly do to get anyone’s attention. It just happened that long snapping was that ticket.”

Packers assistant special teams coach Byron Storer saw the pro day film of Coco’s snapping work. He was intrigued and gave him a call a week later.

“I missed the call because I was on the golf course,” Coco said. “I saw it was from Green Bay, Wis., and I’m like, ‘There’s no way.’ Called him back immediately.”

Storer was interested but Coco would have to work for an opportunity. Storer sent him to Birmingham, Ala., to work with Mike McCabe of One On One Kicking. Then, he sent Coco to work with Andrew Economos, who snapped for the Buccaneers from 2006 through 2013, a time that overlapped with the coaching stints of Rich Bisaccia and Storer.

That was enough to get Coco a tryout at the Packers’ rookie minicamp.

“Got approval from all these guys and I approached him and said, ‘Whatever the opportunity is, I’m ready for it. I just want a chance,’” Coco said.

He got that chance. At the rookie camp, Coco was joined by Cameron Kaye as the two tryout snappers. Kaye snapped for five seasons at Troy, including the final four years on punts and kicks. Coco didn’t snap for punts at Georgia Tech and not at all in 2021 other than the practice field.

About 10 days later, the Packers signed Coco.

His reaction was one part excitement, one part reality.

“It’s time to get to work,” Coco said. “That’s literally my whole mind-set is I just need a chance to get myself in the door. I just need a chance to get myself in the door, and I’ve done that. Now, it’s just one step ahead, nose to the grindstone, keep going, keep pushing forward and work my ass off to give myself an opportunity.”

At Georgia Tech, Coco earned his degree in business finance and was one credit shy of getting his master’s in real estate development. That can wait. “They told me, ‘The thesis can wait. Go chase you dream, go pursue this as much as you can.’”

Along with playing football and going to class, Coco worked three internships. Now, instead of focusing on school and snapping and his role on the offense, he’s been able to pour all his energy into his NFL dream.

He’s already seen the payoff.

“I was watching film from the first day I got here to recently, and my growth has been very, very good,” Coco said. “My whole thing is just get 1 percent better every day. That’s what we talk about in the room. By being able to do my job and making sure I get better with protections, with my consistency with my snaps and doing whatever I can to focus in on this job.

“Because I’ve never been able to focus on it before. I’ve always been so many different things. Being able to focus on this one thing has really helped me get a lot better really fast. I feel like all the drills that they’re putting me through, it’s a lot of chaos but it’s chaos needed to get better with the job.”

State of the Packers Following Offseason

Here is everything you need to know about the offseason that was and the training camp that's coming up.

Departures: Led by Davante Adams

The Packers lost six starters this offseason, none more important than the trade of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Adams is one of the NFL’s marquee players. Over the last six seasons, no receiver had more receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than Adams. It will be impossible to replace his combination of skill, production and leadership.

The Packers gained the 22nd and 53rd selections of this year’s draft in the trade. Pick No. 22 was used on linebacker Quay Walker. Pick No. 53 and Green Bay’s choice at No. 59 were sent to the Vikings to move up to No. 34 to select receiver Christian Watson. Moreover, the monetary savings allowed them to re-sign cornerback Rasul Douglas.

That’s a pretty good return, but that will matter only if Rodgers has open receivers in big moments in big games.

Other starters who are no longer with the Packers:

RT Billy Turner (released; Broncos)

G/C Lucas Patrick (Bears)

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs)

OLB Za’Darius Smith (released; Vikings)

CB Chandon Sullivan (Vikings)

These reserves also will be suiting up elsewhere this season.

RT Dennis Kelly (Colts)

WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Bears)

WR David Moore (Bears)

DT Tyler Lancaster (Raiders)

ILB Oren Burks (49ers)

P Corey Bojorquez (Browns).

Additions: Led by Sammy Watkins

Green Bay added four veterans, and they all could have key roles.

WR Sammy Watkins: Watkins, the fourth pick of the 2014 draft, had a 1,000-yard season in 2015 but hasn’t come close since. Injuries have played a role in his career stalling. Having turned 29 earlier in the week, this might be his last chance to earn a prime role on an offense. He knows it, too.

“He’s going to be a big part of our offense,” coach Matt LaFleur predicted. Considering the state of the receiver corps, that statement must ring true.

DT Jarran Reed: Reed, a second-round pick in 2016, has had only one really good season. That came in 2018, when he had 10.5 of his 24.5 career sacks and 12 of his 24 career tackles for losses. Still, he has been a durable, reliable performer. Other than 2019, when he was suspended for six games, he’s played in all but two games in his career. He’s played 60-plus percent of the defensive snaps the last five seasons.

With Kenny Clark, Reed, Dean Lowry, first-round pick Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton, the Packers could have a defensive line that will rival just about any team in the NFL.

CB Keisean Nixon: In three seasons with the Raiders, Nixon played mostly on special teams. He’ll be a key figure in that phase, given his experience with new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, but he also spent the offseason as the next man up behind the premier cornerback trio of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes. He has just one career pass defensed.

P Pat O’Donnell: Corey Bojorquez had a great leg but lacked consistency. So, the Packers let him go and signed O’Donnell, Chicago’s punter from the past eight seasons. What the Packers will lose in distance, they hope they’ll make up for in hang time and holding on kicks.

Staff Changes: Adam Stenavich Replaces Nathaniel Hackett

Considering Green Bay’s success – especially on offense the past two seasons – it was only a matter of time until LaFleur’s staff was raided.

So, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett went to Denver to be the Broncos’ new coach. Sharing a U-Haul was Justin Outten, with the former tight ends coach joining Hackett as offensive coordinator. Luke Getsy, Aaron Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach the past three seasons, went to Chicago as the play-calling offensive coordinator for new coach Matt Eberflus.

In response, LaFleur promoted Adam Stenavich from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator and bumped Luke Butkus to offensive line coach. Tom Clements, with years of experience with Rodgers, was called out of retirement and brought back as quarterbacks coach. John Dunn, a former tight ends coach with the Jets, was promoted into Outten’s old role.

How will all of that work out? Will the offense have the same creativity with Stenavich? And will Butkus possess the same magic with the linemen?

If the answers to those questions are a mystery, there is no mystery on special teams, with Rich Bisaccia replacing Maurice Drayton (who replaced Shawn Mennenga who replaced Ron Zook who replaced Shawn Slocum …). Green Bay’s special teams will be better because they can’t be worse.

All year, it seemed inevitable that the season would crash and burn on a special teams miscue. In the playoff loss to the 49ers, there was a blocked field goal before halftime and a blocked punt that resulted in the deciding touchdown in the final moments.

Over the last 16 years – dating to Mike McCarthy’s debut season in 2006 – the Packers finished 32nd four times, 31st once and 29th three times in Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings. That’s eight seasons in or near the league’s basement. During that same span, the Packers recorded exactly one top-10 finish, a seventh-place mark in 2007 under Mike Stock. Over that same span, Bisaccia’s units have finished, on average, 11.5 spots better.

In one other noteworthy change, Mike Smith vaulted from Green Bay to Minnesota, where he’ll coach the outside linebackers and serve as pass-rush specialist. Smith, who played a huge role in Rashan Gary’s rise to stardom, was replaced by Jason Rebrovich.

Draft Pick Outlook: Christian Watson Works with Starters

Nothing has been handed to Green Bay’s rookie class.

No. 22: LB Quay Walker – Walker was given some first-team reps but worked mostly behind All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell and returning starter Krys Barnes.

No. 28: DT Devonte Wyatt – Even with Dean Lowry out with an undisclosed injury, the Packers spent most of the spring with Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed and T.J. Slaton as the starting trio.

No. 34: WR Christian Watson – Watson probably got more first-team reps than any of the rookies in the spring, though a lot of that was due to the absence of Allen Lazard. Watson had a few early drops but caught the ball better as the spring progressed.

No. 92: OL Sean Rhyan – Rhyan received second-team reps, mostly at guard but some at right tackle.

No. 132: WR Romeo Doubs – Doubs showed his field-stretching ability a number of times and got some first-team action with Lazard missing all of the practices and Sammy Watkins missing several.

No. 140: OL Zach Tom – Tom wants to be a five-position player but spent the spring getting second-team action at guard and center.

No. 179: OLB Kingsley Enagbare – Worked with the third team, behind starters Preston Smith and Rashan Gary and returning backups Tipa Galeai and La’Darius Hamilton.

No. 228: S Tariq Carpenter – Carpenter, who played safety at Georgia Tech and looks like a linebacker, got third-team reps at safety. If a hybrid role is being crafted for Carpenter, that was done behind closed doors.

No. 234: DT Jonathan Ford – The mammoth Ford got third-team reps on the defensive line.

No. 249: OT Rasheed Walker – With David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins rehabbing knee injuries, Walker was the second-team left tackle.

No. 258: WR Samori Toure – Toure worked mostly with the deep backups but made some plays in a couple two-minute drills.

Injuries: All Eyes on Knees

Pro Bowl offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, tight end Robert Tonyan and running back Kylin Hill sat out the practices while rehabbing their ACLs. Encouragingly, coach Matt LaFleur said the expectation is Bakhtiari will be on the field for Day 1 of training camp.

“We fully anticipate him being ready to go, but we did last year, as well,” he said. “So, I think time will tell. But we feel good about the work that he’s put in and where he’s at.”

It’s too early to tell when the others will return, though they presumably will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list. That opens the door for them to open the regular season on PUP, as well.

“We’ll have a better idea as we get closer to training camp,” LaFleur said. “Those are some really important players for us.”

Two defensive linemen, veteran Dean Lowry and undrafted rookie Hauati Pututau, were sidelined by undisclosed injuries. Receivers Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor missed a little time, as well.

Building Block: Joe Barry’s Defense

Marcedes Lewis called it “salty.”

Jaire Alexander called it “nasty.”

Rashan Gary called it “scary.”

Green Bay’s defense, which was pretty good last season, delivered a masterpiece in the playoff loss to the 49ers. With the re-signing of De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas, the return of Alexander from last year’s shoulder injury and the addition of first-round picks Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, the Packers know the potential they have on the defensive side of the ball.

Defense wins championships. On paper, Green Bay could have that kind of unit. But quarterbacks aren’t sacked, running backs aren’t stuffed and turnovers aren’t created on paper.

“We’ve got to play a game first,” Alexander said, “but we’ve got all the pieces.”

There is at least one stud player in every position group. On the defensive line, it’s Pro Bowler Kenny Clark. At outside linebacker, it’s the rampaging Gary and veteran Preston Smith. At inside linebacker, it’s the All-Pro Campbell. At cornerback, it’s the elite trio of Alexander, Douglas and Eric Stokes. At safety, it’s the top tandem of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage. With the addition of Wyatt in the draft and Jarran Reed in free agency, Clark won’t be flying solo. Campbell and Walker could be an elite duo at linebacker.

It all sounds good in May and June, but the depth is highly questionable at outside linebacker, cornerback and safety.

“We’re here for one reason,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. “When you have a quarterback like we have and if we keep doing our job building on defense, our mindset is that we want to win a world title. We want to win a championship. That’s the mindset we have every single day when we walk into this building.”

Biggest Question That Must Be Resolved at Training Camp

The Packers aren’t paying Aaron Rodgers a gazillion dollars to hand the ball off 40 times a game. They’re going to continue to throw the football, which means a player or three are going to have to emerge as reliable threats at receiver.

Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb are the veterans. They’ve been there and done that, even if the “there” and “that” aren’t exactly awe-inspiring. Amari Rodgers, who did next to nothing on offense as a rookie, and the three draft picks are the men of mystery. Juwann Winfree should compete for playing time, as well, as could Malik Taylor and undrafted rookie Danny Davis.

“It’s early. I’m not going to make a lot of impression statements about them,” Aaron Rodgers said. “But the most important thing is the mental part right now. As much as there’s conversation around the importance of me being here and how much that means to the young guys, the most important thing for the young guys right now is to learn the offense.

“Like I’ve said many times, there’s two offenses. There’s the offense on paper and then there’s the offense that gets run on the field. They need to learn the offense on paper first, and once they get that down, then we’ll have plenty of time in training camp to get the other offense down.”