GREEN BAY – Jeremy Kapinos was publicly put on notice earlier this week by coach Mike McCarthy, and the Packers punter responded during the week of practice.

Kapinos, who took over the Packers’ punting duties with four games left last season and reclaimed the job during training camp, has been inconsistent through seven games, averaging 45.0 gross yards and 33.9 net yards per punt entering Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay. He ranks 14^th in the NFL in gross average and 31^st in net average, although the Packers as a team are ranked 12^th and 31^st, respectively.

On Wednesday, McCarthy said that Kapinos “could do a better job” and that he “could be more consistent with the ball placement. I would like to see him carry over what he's accomplishing in the practice field and his workouts. I think he's improved vastly in his work since the spring, training camp, and during the practice week. But he can definitely improve his performance.”

On Friday, McCarthy said Kapinos had a “very good” week of practice but that he still has to show that he can “transfer it to the game day. Hopefully he doesn't need to punt, but he's doing a lot of good things in the practice environment.”

Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum called Kapinos’ Wednesday practice “probably the best practice he’s had since he’s been here.” Slocum said he’d like to see Kapinos improve his hang time and force more returners to call for fair catches.

“I’ve always said, if you kick with good hang time, it allows your coverage to run underneath the ball,” Slocum said.

Kapinos admitted his season has been “a mixed bag. I can definitely perform better. I’m 14th in the NFL in gross punting; I need to get the net up. I could be more productive, definitely. I’m not by any means dissatisfied. You can always do better and I can do better, but, no, I’m down on myself.”

Kapinos said he actually needs to kick fewer 50-yard punts and instead get his hang time numbers up, which will allow the coverage units to get in better position and should in turn improve his net average.

Of course, while he’ll have optimal kicking conditions in Tampa, where the temperatures are supposed to be in the 80s, he knows it’ll get tougher down the stretch in Green Bay as winter approaches.

“I’m pretty critical of myself. I’ve never been one to pull the wool over my eyes and think I’m something I’m not,” Kapinos said. “I need to do a better job of being in sync with coverage and hitting better balls with better hang-time.

“Green Bay is a difficult place to punt, being the 10^th punter in 10 years, I understand that. It’s challenge I look forward to. I’m progressing along like a first-year punter would. I’m not saying that’s an excuse, but I’m learning 16 games, 17 games, playoffs like a normal guy would.”