The Sheboygan Press SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 2B GREEN BAY Before he was hired as the Green Bay special teams coordinator, a career advancement dec- ades in the making, Maurice background was education. only Drayton introduced himself as coordinator this week with a history lesson. He is the ninth special teams coordinator since 1992, the year Brett Favre arrived in town, establishing three decades of Hall of Fame quarterback play. In that time, quality special teams has been an elusive target. The Packers among the top 10 in Rick special teams rankings just once in the past 15 years, and that was under Mike Stock in 2007.
They last in the league four times. Drayton said no coincidence. as special teams coaches and a phase within the Green Bay Drayton said, a victim of our overall success. We are so blessed and so lucky to have had over that time frame two gold-jacket quar- terbacks. People live their whole lives, and they never even a gold-jacket quarterback.
So when you have that, a lot of times you have to play com- plementary football. And if you have to play complementary football, then special teams, typically, is on the lower end of Drayton was promoted to coordina- tor after three seasons as assistant spe- cial teams coach to change the trend. a daunting task ahead of him, to be sure. The Packers ranked among the leaders in fewest penalties under former coordinator Shawn Mennenga the past two seasons, but they compared favor- ably in almost nothing else. Their units were among the worst in covering and returning punts and kicks, staples of quality special teams.
The work to turn things around has big challenge: Do more with less Maurice Drayton was promoted to coordinator after three seasons as assistant special teams coach. MARK JOURNAL SENTINEL Ryan Wood Green Bay Press-Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK WISCONSIN See PACKERS, Page 3B Life as a utility man can be an un- comfortable existence. Take Mark Mathias, for instance. At the outset of last spring, the Mil- waukee Brewers asked him to try to learn to play the in order to in- crease his versatility and enhance his chances of helping the club. All good with Mathias, but for one small issue.
actually have an glove at the time, so I had to ask Ronny Mathias recounted Thurs- day, referring to another one-time util- ity man. said, man, can I borrow your glove for this game until my agent sends me I ended up using his This spring, his focus has shifted back to the with the return of Lo- renzo Cain and now the reported sign- ing of Jackie Bradley Jr. Whatever it takes to stay in the pic- ture at the major-league level. to be back on the beach, but still ready to play in the if they need he quipped. trying to be as versatile as possible and having that mindset that I know where go- ing to play that day, but just being pre- pared to be placed Mathias had yet to play in the majors last year at this time, but his athleticism suggested he might be able to do more than just shuttle between second, third and shortstop.
So he got a good dose of the in the Cactus League, which is no easy feat with the Arizona sun and breeze. That experience ultimately earned him starts in right and three in left in the regular season with the Brew- ers scrambling for depth after un- expected opt-out games into the season. Mathias acquitted himself well in three separate stints with the Brew- ers, playing 71 errorless innings across all three spots while also hitting .278 with four runs batted in. Mathias ready for anything Utility role once again is to in the gaps Todd Rosiak Milwaukee Journal Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK WISCONSIN The Mark Mathias takes a swing at the ball during spring training game against the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. This spring, focus has shifted back to the MARK J.
REBILAS-USA TODAY SPORTS See BREWERS, Page 3B MADISON Lorne Bowman who was expected to be a key member of current freshman class but left the program before the season started to deal with family is- sues, is expected to rejoin Greg team next season. That is according to his father, Lorne Bowman who wrote on Twitter: up guys! Thank you for all the well wishes! Lorne Jr. is doing AWESOME! Back in school full time and working out in the gym hard ev- ery day. family situation has been dealt with and is behind us now looking forward to the future! Madi- son bound, see you Bowman Jr. was a standout guard at St.
High School in Orchard Lake, Michigan. As a senior last season, he aver- aged 25.2 points, 6.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game to help St. to a 21-1 record and its regular- season Catholic High School League Central Division title since 2008. Bowman was named the 2020 MLive Metro Detroit Player of the Year and as a for Michigan Mr. Basketball.
Bowman committed to UW in No- vember 2018. UW coach Greg Gard, who was not available Thursday, revealed in Octo- ber that Bowman had returned home to deal with family issues. Bowman eventually withdrew from school but reenrolled for the sec- ond semester and has been taking virtual classes. know in terms of when be Gard said in January. more in the medical hands, that type of decision.
is reenrolled Going to do some walking back into things, virtu- ally, and going to do it from his home in Detroit. just continue to help him and help the family work through his situation and whenever that time comes when appropriate for him to come back I know when, I have a date or time. main thing is to walk this for- ward at what is best for Lorne and his Touted guard Bowman plans to return to Wisconsin next season Jeff Potrykus Milwaukee Journal Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK WISCONSIN Lorne Bowman right, is expected to return to the Badgers next season. DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS.
