A system for processing packets of data may include a gather unit configured to gather data elements from a number of non-contiguous locations in a packet of data. The gather unit may place the data elements in a number of contiguous locations in the packet. A processor may be configured to process the data elements from the number of contiguous locations to generate processed data elements. A scatter unit may be configured to scatter the processed data elements to the number of non-contiguous locations in the packet.