Game Changing Play of the Week: Touchdown to Robert Tonyan Pulls Packers Away
The touchdown to Robert Tonyan gave the Packers all the space they needed to get comfortable (perhaps too comfortable).
By TimBackes
I had a difficult time selecting a game changing play this week, because it was such a "blah" sort of game. The Packers won, and it was an important win, but there weren't many plays that jumped out as being extremely important to getting them to victory.
The Packers never were in any real danger of losing this game, and yet to many people in the locker room it sure didn't feel like a victory.
The touchdown to Robert Tonyan was the closest thing I could come up with in terms of a single play that had a significant impact on the game. Up 14-0 by the end of the first quarter with a Redskins offense that had a hard time getting any traction, the Packers never appeared to be in serious jeopardy of giving up the lead. The Redskins did manage some points at the end of the fourth quarter to at least give themselves an onside kick opportunity, but until that point the Packers were comfortably ahead by two scores, thanks in large part to Big Bob Tonyan's touchdown.
Let's take a look.
The play
.@AaronRodgers12 to Tonyan! @Packers take a two-TD lead in the first quarter. #GoPackGo
: #WASvsGB on FOX
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Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/D5AfU98qAh pic.twitter.com/6PNh4xjffZ— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2019
It was really great to see Matt LaFleur get some involvement out of the tight ends and backs in the passing game in the first quarter. The offense looked to be in a good rhythm for the game's first 15 minutes, which made their struggles the rest of the game rather inexplicable.
Simple play design here. You have two wide receivers split left (where Rodgers looks first) who draw outside attention, a running back who goes out to the right sidelines in the flat and another receiver who sits in the checkdown spot underneath.
Looks like the Redskins' zone either got exploited or there was just some miscommunication, because there was at least one other open receiver in the endzone on this play. After Tonyan breezes past a middle linebacker, he's open in the endzone while both safeties are focused on either side of the field. By the time they notice Tonyan in the endzone, he's already plenty clear enough for a touchdown.
Smart play call, and great job by Rodgers to notice the hole in the zone. On a day that was, according to Ben Fennell, one of Rodgers' worst days as a passer in years, this was one of his best plays and a reminder that it shouldn't have to always be as frustrating as it often was watching Rodgers play football yesterday. Sometimes you just need to trust the play call and design and get the pass off in rhythm.
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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.
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Comments (50)
Lare
December 09, 2019 at 04:33 pm
Open receiver, throw on target, would be nice to see that more often.
Leatherhead
December 09, 2019 at 07:28 pm
Okay. 28 attempts with 18 open targets and accurate throws. 10 incomplete, where either nobody was open, or the QB couldn’t see anybody open, or there was a bad throw or catch. I’d have to look closely at those 10 plays but offhand I think we’ll see open guys on at least some incompletions. Draw your own conclusions
canadapacker
December 09, 2019 at 08:02 pm
I guess that you must have the coaches tape of the game to know that nobody was open. I would like to see that myself because since AR is being accused of not using all of his recievers - if they are open then yes. But if he only has a chance at looking at his number one before the pocket collapses - you cannot blame him for only looking at Adams first. Plus a lot of time he used to throw the back shoulder etc. I would also like to know how many times his 3 or 4th read is open and he doesnt have time to get to them. He seemed to not have much time except for a few times and maybe he is so concerned about not throwing the pick that he either eats the ball in a sack or runs or throws it away. It is hard to criticize that when you win - if he throws a pick and we lose ( ie remember the Eagles game where he threw it to the covered guy and missed the open guy and got picked on a bad bounce) different story.
Since'61
December 09, 2019 at 09:23 pm
Canadapacker - I agree with you but be careful supporting Aaron Rodgers will get you plenty of trouble around here. Plenty of posters here blame Rodgers not only for the offense results but for the defense and the STs teams as well. Go figure. Thanks, Since '61
Thegreatreynoldo
December 10, 2019 at 02:02 am
AR has no less than three open receivers on this play, with one about to come open for a chunk play. AR can dump it short easily and let Jamaal do some work, take Allison for nice yards, or wait for the safety to commit (to the crosser Allison is running) and try for a chunk play to Lazard. Instead it is a loss of 4 yards on a sack.
Since '61, the ball just has to come out. As MM said on the sideline during one game: "JUST THROW THE DAMN BALL!"
https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1204157571227115520
HankScorpio
December 10, 2019 at 04:22 am
That's a nice breakdown by Fennell that gives something you just didn't get as many as 5 years ago to understand QB play. However, from the resolution of my laptop screen, ultimately, there is some pressure and it is hard to pinpoint the timing of the guys breaking free and looking for the ball vs when Turner gets beat to influence the ability to deliver the ball. Fennell said that Rodgers played really poorly. I would have like to have seen a couple more cut ups that walk through that to drive the point home a little more clearly.
Still, I have no doubt that Rodgers does hold the ball too long. In the aftermath of the tweet you cite, it was pointed out that Rodgers is among the slowest in the league in terms of decision to release. The eye test backs that up. It's nice to have the ability to extend a play and turn it into a big gain. But that has to be the secondary after on time delivery in the framework of the offense, not the primary M.O. toward gaining yards.
Since'61
December 10, 2019 at 10:49 am
TGR - thanks for sharing Fennel's tweet. That play was designed to go to Lazard and IMO Rodgers should have made the throw to Lazard. His next best option was to hit Williams in stride and take what ever yardage Williams could pick up probably about 7-10 yards.
This play tells me that MLF has at least some killer instinct because if we hit that play we're up by 3 scores and the game is essentially over unless the defense goes home at that point. If it was me I would have thrown to Williams, take the yardage and chew up some clock. Then I would continue to do so until the defense adjusts their coverage to stop it. When they do I would hit Lazard for sure on the post route.
The problem is that we'll never know what was thinking or looking at, at this point in the play. He has Lazard one-on-one and the safety is moving up to cover the shorter crossing route. I can only think that he felt the pressure sooner than it was actually happening. I think this is an example of what I have posted on previous threads. That is the game is not as slow for Rodgers as it was in the past.
Maybe it's because of the new offense, maybe the different receivers, maybe Rodgers not as confident as he once was. Whatever the reason he needs to make these throws. I don't know what goes on in the film sessions but MLF needs to be coaching Rodgers on this stuff. This is an execution issue not a play design or a receiver issue, at least on this particular play, therefore the coaches need to get it corrected.
Later on in Fennel's thread Nagler posted a throw that Rodgers made that only he can make. It's almost unbelievable and dead on accurate. And yet on this play he doesn't let if go. We'll probably never know.
Thanks, Since '61
packergal
December 10, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Since61, I think your comment on coaching Rodgers is excellent but first some context…
It appears that many at CHTV defend Rodgers and insist that Rodgers is never at fault because the OL and Receivers are to blame. Conversely many believe Rodgers is 100% responsible for poor throws and none of the OL or Receivers have any culpability.
However, while I suspect (like many others here) that the truth about Rodgers is somewhere in between both extremes; I will bet all readers are wondering how much Coaching MLF has provided this season to Rodgers to point out the need for improvement. And that goes directly to your comment.
Well…well…well… it appears at a recent MLF presser he spoke of: “The misfire to Jimmy Graham, a poorly executed screen pass to Jamaal Williams, a disconnect between Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones on a deep ball and a lost chance to hit Allen Lazard down the field as missed opportunities"….
While in every one of these, Rodgers appeared to have missed the read or the throw or both (Fennel and TGR comments); the bigger question is what did MLF do about it? Did MLF have discussion(s) with Rodgers and his position coaches to point out the misses and HOW to execute better?
In a post on a different site, MLF suggested his coaches need to do a better job of teaching by communicating “WHY” certain play strategies are important versus just communicating to players “HOW” the plays should be executed.
If we read between the lines and are optimistic about MLF comments...maybe just maybe MLF is getting up the courage to “coach” Rodgers!
No one needs to teach Rodgers "WHY" but MLF should point out that improvement is required.
Finally, GO PACK and BEAT THE BEARSSTILLSUCK on Sunday!!!
Thegreatreynoldo
December 10, 2019 at 11:07 pm
Thanks for looking at it and having an open mind. I agree in general. I do think Kerrigan is pushing Bulaga back. So at the top of the drop AR can easily throw to Allison on the crosser for a nice gain: that would anticipate the break and mean that Allison might have to take a hit from the safety, or perhaps Allison gets the ball in time to make a move on the safety - hard to say. AR can take the dump off to Jamaal.
But I think AR needs another second to get it to Lazard. The safety needs to commit to moving forward to cover the crosser. I think AR stepped up to buy that second. That changed the spatial relationship between AR and the defender Turner was blocking such that the def. lineman can slide straight sideways (meaning that Turner has to hold to stop that). AR doesn't quite make it into clear space by stepping up.
Since AR would have to throw before Allison makes his break (maybe he can wait until Allison starts the break), AR has to trust Allison to make the break when and at the speed AR expects. Personally, I think he throws all day that to Allison if Jordy or Cobb were running the route. Maybe he tries to wait for Lazard instead of throwing it to Jordy/Cobb.
Anyway, AR has gotten better at letting it fly, but there is still work to do. I am not sure of down and distance: the crosser to Jamaal on 1st and 10 = easy yards and probably a good situation on 2nd down.
BTW, AR mentioned missing on this play to Lazard in his presser. It may be that AR thought there was enough distance between the safety and the catch point to the post to Lazard - hard to tell and judge by me, anyway.
Leatherhead
December 10, 2019 at 12:00 pm
And others insist Rodgers carries this team.
Guam
December 09, 2019 at 11:12 pm
Actually you can blame Rodgers if he is always looking for Adams first. The defense should dictate where you start your progression. In other words if the defense is rolling double coverage to Adams side, the progression should start where there is single coverage not where Adams is. Take what the defense gives you.
Additionally I think Rodgers has become too risk averse. Sometimes you have to throw into tight coverage and give your receivers a chance to make a play. Only rarely will Rodgers do that now and I believe it is hindering this offense. We play well enough to beat lesser teams but we don't play aggressively enough to beat top tier teams. In Rodgers defense, we may not have the WRs or TEs to risk throwing into tight coverage (except Adams), but as TGR put it, that is a chicken/egg question.
Grandfathered
December 10, 2019 at 08:26 pm
I don't know about the chicken/egg thing. The ratios of interceptions per passing attempts :
Rogers 441 Atts 2 Ints .004
Mahomes 392 4 .010
Wilson 419 5 .012
Brady 522 7 .013
Brees 280 4 .014
Based on this Rogers is unlikely to throw an interception in the next 3 games, while Brady will throw two and the rest 1 each. Is the loss of one or two picks worth continuing to avoid tighter windows and playing it safe? I would say not, and I wish Rogers would get in a zone and wing it, and/or throw more quickly on timing routes.
IDriveALambeau
December 09, 2019 at 08:59 pm
please get your LOGIC out of here Canada
stockholder
December 09, 2019 at 04:49 pm
I'm ready to see more of Tonyan. It's time to rotate the TEs.
Leatherhead
December 10, 2019 at 04:14 pm
Yes, let’s play the rookies with the #2 seed on the line.......
Leatherhead
December 10, 2019 at 06:08 pm
We’re gonna play the vets because they’re less likely to nut up in the pressure of a big game. Tonyan should get his chance next year, along with Sternberger. And I’m fine with that, because t from here on out, you go mostly with the vets if you want to win.
murf7777
December 09, 2019 at 05:13 pm
Thought I would share this article with you about Mike McCarthy.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001084451/article/expackers-coach-m...
Mike is a stand up man and has had to endure a difficult time especially while still living in Green Bay, which of course isn't a Metropolis and everybody knows you name. My hat is off to you man for trying to be a better person and not bitter towards the Packer family. Certainly, right after it happened bitterness is there, he's human, we all probably would of felt a similar way. There will be many teams looking to hire Mike in 2020 as he is a very good coach.
Thank you Mike McCarthy for all the wonderful moments you provided me, my friends and family.
jannesbjornson
December 09, 2019 at 06:01 pm
He's the next sherman.
dobber
December 10, 2019 at 07:26 am
Atlanta better look out...
scullyitsme
December 09, 2019 at 06:59 pm
I’m really not so sure how many teams will want mike. I don’t wish anything bad on him but the fact is he couldn’t get it done after 2010. Depends I guess if teams think it was McCarthy or more teddy t’s fault. People will want to put Rodgers in there also but ultimately it’s the head coaches job to control his qb. His teams were known for being soft, finesse and stale for years. Also the whole high school referee assault isn’t a good look.
stockholder
December 09, 2019 at 07:43 pm
Thanks for sharing. Rodgers castrated him. The press hung him. Murphy cremated him. Time heals all wounds. To forgive is Devine. thank you MM.
packerbackerjim
December 10, 2019 at 05:31 am
Sounds like Rasputin.
IDriveALambeau
December 09, 2019 at 08:58 pm
please get your LOGIC out of here Canada
NickPerry
December 10, 2019 at 06:06 am
I saw that too murf7777...Matter of fact just read it this morning. You can tell he still loves the Packers even though Murphy showed just how little class he had. Personally I hope he gets a job in the AFC, not the NFC because I think he'll turn any franchise he coaches into a winner.
I'm with you, MANY THANKS to Mike McCarthy and the McCarthy Family...Class act AND a hell of a HC.
WilsonMaywick
December 10, 2019 at 10:18 am
I agree Nick. Reading how MM took a long sober look in the mirror and has worked so hard to reflect and update his skills...wow. That's pretty impressive. I don't have any doubt he will be a winning coach again.
dobber
December 10, 2019 at 02:53 pm
Good to see you again, Nick.
egbertsouse
December 10, 2019 at 07:45 am
Yeah, poor Mike, sitting on his recliner eating Cheetos and collecting $10 mil a year for doing nothing. Boo-hoo! My heart bleeds for him.
ShooterMcGee
December 09, 2019 at 05:55 pm
The article credits MLF for getting the TEs involved when I say it's about time Rodgers threw them the ball. After this score Rodgers was atrocious. We had fantastic field position most of the game but squandered it with bad play from #12. Yes we still won but we won't against better teams without improvement.
Pierre
December 10, 2019 at 09:01 pm
Rodgers plays poorly against winning teams and his ineffective QB play was the only reason the Redskins remained close in the game. He seems unable to understand he cannot hold the ball 4-5 seconds each time before throwing the pass.
It’s just painful to watch Rodgers especially when Aaron Jones is such a weapon running the ball for the offense. Rodgers needs to play a lot better and earn his pay or it’s time to move on to Boyle. He can’t play any worse than Rodgers at this point.
ShooterMcGee
December 09, 2019 at 05:55 pm
The article credits MLF for getting the TEs involved when I say it's about time Rodgers threw them the ball. After this score Rodgers was atrocious. We had fantastic field position most of the game but squandered it with bad play from #12. Yes we still won but we won't against better teams without improvement.
Lphill
December 09, 2019 at 05:55 pm
I would have liked for Sternberger to have made that catch , I think his time will come.
Leatherhead
December 09, 2019 at 09:18 pm
I thought that stopping the two point conversion was big because it kept it a two score game.
albert999
December 10, 2019 at 03:34 am
Rodgers mistakes are unacceptable and LaFleur needs to put blame where it’s needed to get this fixed
His accuracy has been hideous and still holds onto the ball like a rookie
Start calling quick slants like Saints,49ers and Seahawks do
Leatherhead
December 10, 2019 at 07:27 am
And yet, we’re 10-3.
dobber
December 10, 2019 at 10:13 am
A quick slant does you no good if most of your receivers can't beat their defender off the ball.
jannesbjornson
December 10, 2019 at 04:27 pm
Christmas cookie
Cubbygold
December 10, 2019 at 11:24 am
Aaron Rodgers career completion percentage is 64.8%.
Aaron Rodgers 2019 completion percentage is 64.4%.
I'm all for calling out 12 for the areas he can be better, not sure overall accuracy is where he's significantly underperforming. I'm more concerned with the drop-off in net yards per attempt. The offense from '08-'14 was significantly more explosive than it's been in recent years. Likely a combination of a number of factors, but unfortunately nearly identical this year as it was last year, was hoping for improvement.
albert999
December 10, 2019 at 03:41 am
The Packers have defeated the 7-6 Bears, the 9-4 Vikings, the 5-8 Broncos, the 6-7 Cowboys, the 3-9-1 Lions, the 6-7 Raiders, the 9-4 Chiefs (with their entire team injured), the 5-8 Panthers, the 2-10 Giants and the 3-10 Redskins.
Not really worth boasting about?
dobber
December 10, 2019 at 10:31 am
The Packers are the only team in the division with a winning record against teams that currently have winning records...and recall that Dallas and Oakland both had winning records when the Packers played them. Chicago is 1-3 and the Vikings are 0-4. By definition, winning teams play more sub-.500 teams and .500 teams than teams with .500+ records.
Cubbygold
December 10, 2019 at 11:31 am
Yup, you can do that same exercise with just about any team and call them over-rated.
Saints are 10-3, but only 3-2 against winning teams. But apparently wins over Chicago don't count, so lets call it 2-2.
Texans (8-5)
Seahawks (10-3)
Cowboys (6-7)
Bucs x2 (6-7)
Jags (4-9)
Bears (7-6)
Cardinals (3-9)
Panthers (5-8)
Falcons (4-9)
Cubbygold
December 10, 2019 at 11:41 am
Patriots biggest win this year was a 6 point win at Buffalo in week 4.
Their second best win was beating the Eagles in Philly by 7.
Anyone want to count them out?
dobber
December 10, 2019 at 02:52 pm
Yep. Fundamentally, when you play 6 games in division, if you're the top team and you can't play yourself you're likely going to play 6 games against teams that are .500 (maybe two of them) and below. Your opportunities to play good teams are limited mostly to the interdivision series (so, vs. the NFC East this year) and to the interconference series (the AFC West). Good teams just naturally get fewer games against good teams...it's a product of the system.
In the case of the Packers, they've been winning those games. I don't care if they're works of art, I have a hard time faulting them for winning games.
Conversely, bad teams always seem to have better SOS because they get two games against each of the good teams in their divisional schedules, PLUS the interdivision and interconference scheduling.
jlc1
December 10, 2019 at 11:37 am
Ok then let's use your standard of judging a team by its record. What do you think of a 10-3 record? What's that you say?
GVPacker
December 10, 2019 at 07:21 am
By all means MLF please give Tonyan and Sternberger more snaps!
RedRight49
December 10, 2019 at 10:18 am
With four TEs on the roster it appears that Lewis is the designated in-line blocking TE who can also slide into space and be a good short yardage and red zone receiver.
That leaves 3 TEs for mid-range / long-range and also red zone targeting and was very pleased to see Tonyan in action with passes coming his way.
Believe along with many of you that Tonyan can be an asset in the passing game, he seems to run decent routes, can fight for and hang onto the ball and has earned " the trust" of his QB when in the end zone.
We need solid, consistent and reliable TE play as the season wraps up and the playoffs are on the horizon, and Tonyan looks to be a reliable TE.
Cubbygold
December 10, 2019 at 11:36 am
Agree with what RedRight says above. My question regarding TE's is, is there any benefit to rotating Graham/Tonyan/Sternberger?
With WRs and RBs you can argue that rotating guys in/out keeps them fresh and allows for different types of plays. MVS is obviously a different threat than GMO and Lazard. Williams is different than Jones. Is there that much difference between these three? Lewis is a different animal, I get why he gets rotated in. What I don't understand is why Graham and Tonyan are rotated, rather than picking the guy that the coaches believe has more talent and leaving him on the field.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 11, 2019 at 03:10 am
The team might want to know if they have anything behind Graham if they are eyeing releasing him. Long-term versus short-term view perhaps, though I tend to think Tonyan can do all that Graham can do. But I suppose the team needs to see it.
ILPackerBacker
December 10, 2019 at 12:45 pm
first, getting 'coaches' tape is not as tough as many think it is. Yet it is tougher than sitting on couch with your feet up. Waving your arms, and screaming drunken thoughts. I get how being drunk is so much more attractive than reality to many.
second here is a great break downs of the passing game incompletes from a very accurate and smart guy. It is always an eye opener to me how people refuse to believe reality and instead run to the idiot who shares their views on line. Read. Give reality a chance. Watch.
"Of Rodgers’ 10 incompletions, at least four were drops or a receiver in the wrong place. That includes a red zone play where Jace Sternberger ran himself out of being open — Rodgers put the ball where he thought the rookie should sit down in coverage — and another where it appeared Davante Adams ran the wrong route. Two were flat drops, with Adams’ coming on a crucial late third down."
"Despite a chorus of complaints Rodgers held the ball too much, that didn’t drive the four sacks Washington put up on Sunday. On a 3rd-and-4 play, Ryan Kerrigan pushed Bryan Bulaga right into Rodgers’ lap. Neither Geronimo Allison nor Adams were open on the slant and by the time Rodgers came off, he had big No. 91 grabbing his shoulder pads. In the fourth quarter, neither Billy Turner nor Bryan Bulaga blocked Matt Ioannidis, who was in Rodgers lap in 1.71 seconds. And on a screen pass Washington blew up, David Bakhtiari got walked right into Aaron Rodgers to the point that went he turned around off the play-action fake, the play was already a mess."
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2019/12/9/21003091/three-plays-separa...
jlc1
December 10, 2019 at 04:12 pm
Geez, where's the fun in facts? You call that being a fan? If we stop exercising our lungs we're all going to get way too heavy.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 11, 2019 at 03:25 am
I agree. That same very smart guy you have quoted was also a little more even-handed in other parts of his article. "He missed two would-be touchdowns on beautiful play designs. That is what you want Matt LaFleur to be doing." Or:
"Instead, Rodgers, possibly fooled by the coverage, fails to pull the trigger to Adams despite an early win off the release. Even after the initial play, Rodgers stays glued to him, fading into pressure he can’t feel. He does the only thing a quarterback can’t do in this scenario: take a sack/fumble. If he fires right away, he’s got a chance to hit Adams in the sweet spot between the cornerback and safety, but he hesitates and it turns into a turnover."
So, despite writing that holding the ball didn't drive Washington's four sacks, he describes the play above, which results in a sack after "AR fails to pull the trigger to Adams...."
I don't think AR's holding onto the ball is the major problem (I think it is lack of talent at WR #2 and #3), but I do think it exacerbates the problems on offense. We will see how it goes.