The Athletic Wisconsin examines the Packers’ 40-14 Week 16 win over the Titans through the “All-22” camera angle. That camera is positioned high above the NFL playing field and shows a view that includes all 22 players at the same time. This view can be used to analyze all plays in an NFL game.
Stuffing the screens
The Packers defense has faced 18 running back screens this season and are allowing 8.1 yards per play (29th in the NFL) on them. But remember, a lot of that damage was done on a single play by the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook on a 50-yard TD in Week 8.
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Since then, the Packers have only allowed one RB screen to go over 20 yards (ageless Lions RB Adrian Peterson went 23 yards in Week 14).
Kenny Clark in particular has been excellent in diagnosing screen concepts, something he has had a knack for since his days at UCLA. The 300-pounder doesn’t typically fly upfield and penetrate opposing backfields. He often plays stout and controls the line of scrimmage, putting him in a prime position to identify the late-developing screen play.
Another former UCLA player contributing to defending screens is undrafted free agent LB Krys Barnes. He has been a refreshing presence on defense and has a feel for the passing game. Barnes has a quick downhill trigger, beats blockers to the spot on the perimeter and sets a physical presence to finish ball carriers.
Kenny Clark & Krys Barnes are singlehandedly ruining opponents screen game
Clark has been doing this for years with his instincts/feel & rookie UDFA Barnes quick downhill trigger has been impressive! Both flashed that ability at @UCLAFootball too!@KCBoutThatLife @KrysBarnes pic.twitter.com/A8K6obyhw6
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 29, 2020
Unselfish culture
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is implementing a selfless, team-first culture at 1265 Lombardi Ave., and it’s showing up on the field. There are many unselfish players on the roster and their enthusiasm is infectious.
This season, we’ve highlighted unselfish veteran heroes, like veteran Marcedes Lewis, but Allen Lazard should be included too.
In each of the last two weeks, Lazard has done the dirty work in setting up a teammate for a touchdown. Against the Panthers in Week 15, the Packers used a pick play in the red zone designed for TE Robert Tonyan. It’s Lazard’s job to come off the ball strong, push his defender vertically upfield and force Tonyan’s defender to play over top.
On rookie RB AJ Dillon’s first career touchdown Sunday, Lazard blocked Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard at the line of scrimmage. He sealed Byard to allow Dillon to go one-on-one with the unblocked cornerback.
Tonyan occasionally returns the favor and gives Lazard access off the line of scrimmage.
Cool release concept to free up Lazard (point man in the bunch…) Almost like a fold block from Tonyan
See Also<![CDATA[KWC/Guelph Obits: All Categories]]>As in life, Florida State's Derwin James plays it the way he sees itA dozen thoughts on Duke’s 12 scholarship playersPackers been dominating the horizontal pass game – but how they release those WRs/TEs/RBs has been the best part. Lots of free access and rubs! pic.twitter.com/hRqbpurkOa
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 20, 2020
Play-action dominance
Likely-MVP Aaron Rodgers is on a tear and exhibiting efficiency in nearly every facet of his play. I could profile his role on third downs, in the red zone, on opening drives or in fourth-quarter situations, but this week let’s look at the play-action pass.
On those plays, Rodgers leads the NFL with 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions. This is staggering because, in 2019, Rodgers only threw four touchdown passes and had one interception in those situations.
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The usage is fairly consistent when looking at LaFleur from Year 1 to Year 2. The Packers used play-action plays 26.7 percent of the time in 2019, compared to 29.6 percent, so far, this season. So what’s the difference?
Certainly, there is a commitment to the ground game, but it’s the effectiveness of the run game that is forcing defenses to play catch up when the play-action concepts are used by the Packers downfield and in the low red zone.
Middle of field coverage
The Packers’ defensive coverage in the middle of the field has been an area of concern for a while. Finding consistent safety play and linebackers who are comfortable in coverage hasn’t been easy, and due to that, many explosive plays occur in the middle of the defense.
Over the past few weeks, safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage have locked up the middle. Both players are being used as “down safeties” more and asked to take on coverage assignments. This middle region can put safeties on a variety of offensive players such as in-line TEs, moving TEs, shifty slot WRs, big slot WRs and RBs. Against Carolina, Amos generated incompletions against Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel and Ian Thomas.
Savage is playing fast and confident and is being used in more of a robber-and-blitzing role. He and Amos have generated seven pass breakups and interceptions in the last two weeks.
Packers safeties Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos have been all over the place in coverage the last two weeks…
🔸7 PBUs, 1 INT vs CAR/TEN pic.twitter.com/TcYBjdOY3U
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 29, 2020
New roles for Gary
Second-year OLB Rashan Gary has been difficult to find on the field lately due to his different alignments. He is being used more inside at the defensive tackle 3-technique position in the last few games, both standing up and with his hand in the dirt.
I’d like to see more Rashan Gary at 3-tech… pic.twitter.com/4Bl7jzgiAw
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 20, 2020
Gary’s lower body stiffness limits his ability on high-side corner rushes and as a speed rusher from the defensive end position. He is most successful when using inside moves or power rushes against offensive tackles.
Gary is explosive and sliding him inside gives him a quickness advantage against bigger offensive guards too. The interior alignment also allows him to be successful on stunts and twists, something the team implemented late in 2019.
The Future.
T/E stunts with Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary?! Yes please!
Again, Za’Darius explosive closing speed, hurrying QBs process, and being a violent finisher! I love watching this guy! pic.twitter.com/eRNbE7AYxB
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 2, 2020
Gary is currently second on the team with 38 QB pressures this season, trailing only Za’Darius Smith (50).
Many contributors on offense
With Equanimeous St. Brown and Dillon finding the end zone on Sunday night against the Titans, there have been 12 different offensive players who have scored touchdowns for the Packers this season. That is one shy of the 13 different players to score during Rodgers’ 2011 MVP season.
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The variety usually can be attributed to a team decimated by injuries, but in the Packers’ case, their offense is well distributed. Even with All-Pro WR Davante Adams, other players (Tonyan, Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling) have proven that they too can have big games. Having reliable depth gives offenses a jolt of confidence.
Stop the run, get the QB
The question heading into Sunday’s game against the Titans was could the shaky Packers’ run defense slow down Derrick Henry? The Titans are a run-based offense and limiting the ground attack should always be priority No. 1 for opponents.
The Packers dominated on the ground in the first half, built a comfortable lead and forced the Titans into a dropback passing game in the second half, which is something they are not comfortable doing.
In the first half, the Titans were only able to run 12 times for 44 yards (3.67 avg.) with only one of those runs over 10 yards. The Packers beefed up the personnel and played their second-highest base personnel percentage in 2020. They consistently kept runs boxed in with a physical presence on the edges.
This matchup was a 'run defense litmus test' for Packers
GB fit run & tackled well (against TEN O that leads NFL in Yards After Contact). Front set a physical edge (Preston Smith 👀) & everyone flowed to the ball carrier (Kenny Clark on backside 👀)
Nice win @GB_CoachMont pic.twitter.com/eLaHoqjq6w
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 28, 2020
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill took to the air trying to put a dent into the large deficit. In the second half, he was a measly 5-of-16 passing (31.3 percent) for 55 yards and an interception. The Packers’ pass rush generated 17 QB pressures on Tannehill with many coming in the second half. Stopping the run early can make an opponent one-dimensional and much easier to attack.
Motion magic
While the focus on defense was stopping the vaunted Titans rushing attack, it was the Packers’ run game that stole the show. Green Bay finished with 234 yards and two TDs on the ground (6.3 avg. per carry). For the Packers, it was the second game this season with over 200 yards on the ground.
The pre-snap motions were producing many of the open rushing lanes. When the Packers used motion, the run game produced 21 attempts for 174 yards (8.3 avg.).
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In these three clips, note the movement of the linebackers on each motion. The second-level defenders are late in adjusting and aligning, gaps are then voided and eyes are in the wrong spots. These motions force defenders to think and adjust quickly. And a slight hesitation or misstep is all it takes in the NFL to generate explosive plays.
Packers Run Game w/ Motion
🔸Week 16 vs TEN: 21-174yds, 8.3 averageBest since beginning of season usage:
🔹Week 1 vs MIN: 20-121 yards
🔹Week 2 vs DET: 23-209ydsWatch how unsettled the 2nd level defenders are with the motions – late alignments, gaps voided, eye violations… pic.twitter.com/Fgv7G1O6EC
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 28, 2020
Rookie breakout
AJ Dillon played a season-high 37 snaps on offense against the Titans and his production didn’t disappoint. He rushed 21 times for 124 yards and two TDs. Previously, the most carries he had in a game was five.
It was the most snaps and carries he’s received since Nov. 29, 2019, when he was at Boston College.
The running back position is one based on feel, flow, timing and rhythm, and it’s extremely tough to get comfortable in select spot snaps late in games. Without a proper training camp or preseason games to get acclimated to NFL speed, we haven’t been able to fully evaluate Dillon.
Seeing him Sunday in extended game action was likely due to the absence of Jamaal Williams. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dillon’s performance was generating 93 yards after contact. A 250-pound back in the open field will give some defenders nightmares.
'We don't block corners or free safeties… We make them tackle'
Not too much fun when the assignment is a 250lb workhorse like AJ Dillon – welcome to the show rook! @ajdillon7
Nice digging out safety from @AllenLazard pic.twitter.com/F4gKQGGqaY
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 28, 2020
(Photo of Ryan Tannehill and Za’Darius Smith: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
