Packers Vs. Bucs - 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm

Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons.

Hold me Close -  So let me start out by saying I am generally in the "let them play" and "there's holding on every play" camps. As a former offensive lineman in my purely average high school football career, I'm sensitive to bad holding calls. But if this isn't an "it's Tom Brady - look the other way" non-call, I don't know what is. Jarran Reed is arm-hooked by one lineman, and pulled back by his shirt for a good four or five steps by another. Somehow he still manages to get a paw on Brady and knocks him off balance where Kenny Clark finishes the job. By the way, it was very kind (and smart) of Clark there to not bury Brady into the turf and potentially draw a "don't hurt Brady" penalty.

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Charmin Soft - My God, why does Joe Barry turn into Mike Pettine at the end of games? There are three minutes left in the game! The quarterback is Tom Brady! That's way too much time to go into prevent or soften up your coverage. On a previous play of this drive, Kevin Olsen had this to say, "Don't get conservative defensively. You've shut them down all day. Now you're just playing so soft!" With 10-yard cushions, as you see on this play, Brady could be throwing to you or I and complete enough passes to get down to the goal line. With a minute left and 90 yards away, I would understand - Brady would be forced to throw longer passes, where the risk level rises. But in this set of circumstances, you were GUARANTEEING Brady would have a shot at tying the game. Insanity.

 

Onside Kick - For the rest of my time on this earth, despite the odds against a successful onside kick attempt, I will never be able to see the Packers line up to  defend an onside kick attempt and not be in total fear. It's an emotional scar that will never heal.Even when the Packers secure the ball, as they did here, I still have to find things that make me nervous. Like Adrian Amos and Rasul Douglas not blocking anyone on this play. The Bucs' #31 flys by them both and is likely so surprised he isn't touched, he overruns the play. If he had looked back, he would have seen the ball within arm's reach. And what is Tyler Davis doing here? I get that his job is to come over and help block, but he runs right at Lazard and almost collides with him. Things could have gone very wrong - and my paranoia requires me to let you know about it.

 

 

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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP

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9 points
 

Comments (25)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
splitpea1's picture

September 27, 2022 at 03:50 pm

Play 1: That was a pretty flagrant hold by two linemen that shouldn't have been missed or ignored.

Play 2: Just hoping for a sack, holding call, or mistake while killing the clock in the process...you see it all the time from DCs in the final minutes. With the Bucs receiver shortage and lack of a deep threat, there wasn't a huge danger in playing tighter coverage; maybe Barry wouldn't have loosened up with Alexander in there, but I'm not prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Whatever the case, we were very fortunate for the delay of game preceding the 2-pt. conversion attempt.

8 points
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jlc1's picture

September 29, 2022 at 12:39 pm

There may have been a shortage of receivers but there was still Scotty Miller. That too, a stupid DC call, is a scar that will never heal.

-1 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

September 27, 2022 at 04:33 pm

I really do wish Barry would let Walker green dog blitz a bit more. He did a little on Sunday and Fournette did a good job picking it up but you don't have anything to lose in that final drive. If Fournette stays in to block you have 5 on 6, if he trails out for a pass he's still covered. Maybe they don't trust Walker with the timing yet but he did green dog at Georgia a bit. I also wouldn't mind seeing him at Edge and Gary inside occasionally too, especially with a backup OT other game. Show them some speed after dealing with Gary and Preston all day.

8 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

September 27, 2022 at 11:22 pm

I will give props to Barry for this formation though. Even Brady had to wondering on this one!

https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1574851956627148810?t=n2071SR2...

3 points
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PeteK's picture

September 27, 2022 at 04:41 pm

--I would add O line play to the list of sub anticipated play. However, a win is always great even it shouldn't have been a nail biter. We might get another beatable opponent next Sun With Mac Jones injured. This should give us time for our O line and young WRs to progress.
--Many funky things happen in that mass of humanity of the trenches, but that blown call on the roughing the punter was ridiculous because there is a referee right in back of the punter.

6 points
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LeotisHarris's picture

September 27, 2022 at 04:57 pm

Watching Kenny high plank over Brady made me think of Tony Siragusa pancaking Rich Gannon all those years ago. Smart move, but oh how times have changed.

You're not alone with the onside kick trauma, Al. I'll be living life just fine when an image of Jordy feebly clawing at Brandon Bostick shoehorns it's way into my mind and the wound is ripped open. I didn't notice Amos and Douglas not blocking in real time, but I did catch Tyler Davis beating azz for the ball. Felt like a nightmare where I was witnessing something awful about to happen and couldn't scream.

6 points
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Tntinc20's picture

September 27, 2022 at 06:18 pm

Big-time Packer fan hete however I couldn’t help Laughing out loud watching closely us covering that onside kick. Seriously, there’s only one guy doing his job besides Lazard. Two guys literally wiff and run into each other and the third looks lost.
Special teams still looks special.

3 points
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Tundraboy's picture

September 27, 2022 at 09:23 pm

Honestly all I could see and was fixated on was the ball and hoping there was a lot of green bodies near it to fall on it.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

September 27, 2022 at 07:01 pm

Here is what makes me go hmmmm: LaFleur has made a couple of subsequent statements this week that really start to tear down the Illusion of Competence.

So our new ST coach wanted to have his guys practice in pads. Think about that! What a radical thought. Now LaFleur is worried about that and soft tissue issues. How many of Clark and Lewis (Groin) and Watkins/Watson (hamstring) were significantly involved in STs? If they were not then actually it’s a light day for them.

What this does give us an insight into one reason why our prior STs were so bad. Honestly, it strikes me as clueless that Bisaccia had to ask for this.

Then I read that LaFleur thinks the reason that we had a scoring drought was a few key missed blocks. How about the fact that you let them stack the box and short area and just ran at that and then tried to pass into it almost exclusively (look at the routes run—that’s not all Rodgers).

Matt LaFleur is gradually revealing why this team can’t get over the hump under his leadership and why we perennially repeat failings. The reality is it’s him. It’s not surprising he can’t influence Rodgers. With the levels of insight and acuity he’s now revealing, I doubt many take him seriously.

I think after this I see why we can’t adjust effectively and regularly get outthought in advance. Count me off the LaFleur bandwagon definitively. As long as he’s here with Rodgers, Rodgers will make him look good, but this is not a man who can help Rodgers win or balance his traits. It’s not a man who can tilt the field in favor of his team.

It’s exactly the kind of man who repeats the same faults, creates a Drayton, allows the rejigging of his OL in the biggest game if the year and can’t stop Pettine playing prevent despite multiple post game statements. LaFleur us a guy I doubt leads anyone but leans on everyone.

It’s hardly a surprise that he hasn’t grown as a HC and is subservient to Rodgers. It’s difficult to lead when one misses the woods for the trees so obviously. The signs have been there, in retrospect. The veil was never going to hold out forever, even with a affable personality to distract. LaFleur is nothing more than a bluffer.

6 points
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splitpea1's picture

September 27, 2022 at 07:29 pm

Glad you got that out of your system....The problem is that Murphy takes him seriously. Now how long was that contract extension?

2 points
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LeotisHarris's picture

September 27, 2022 at 07:48 pm

Strong points, CW, and I don't think you're wrong on any of them, I like your reference to the illusion of competence, and will add the illusion of imposter syndrome. Who really knows what Matt thinks when he's encouraging the crowd to cheer?

3 points
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Tundraboy's picture

September 27, 2022 at 09:31 pm

Agree with your all of your observations. I've reached the point where I think Lafleur is simply a "young offensive mind ", Nothing more and was hired to fill that role to give Rodgers a jolt. The broad football knowledge, experience and depth is just not there. Let's hope the veterans on the team and the players frustration and anger will overcome all that.

6 points
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Fubared's picture

September 27, 2022 at 10:38 pm

There are those that will point out, LeFluer winning record says otherwise.
I say your spot on about him. First, he came here with the Rams playbook in his head.
2. He inherited an HOF QB not a developmental in need of work.
3. He came to a division with two weak sisters out of four.
But your point is proven, he cant coach when it counts and he is to blame with Rodgers for the playoff beat downs. Good teams come in and know the weakness of this team, to many runs and a pass d that gives up a lot of yardage and they exploit that and we change nothing to stop it. Bad coaching all around

1 points
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2
Johnblood27's picture

September 28, 2022 at 01:34 am

yo cw, i have grown tired of saying exactly what you state with each and every poster on this site reaming my ass as a "non-fan".

soft, soft, soft... and it starts at the top.

have a nice day.

4 points
4
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croatpackfan's picture

September 28, 2022 at 02:56 am

While I agree on the most you wrote, I'll add that this game shows us additional problem with Packers offense. After the game, and after I listen some of the interviews I had feeling that it is not all, if any on AR in this game. I believe MLF is surprised how good Doubs played and that he is the one who affraids to give the trust in Packers young players. It looks like MLF is affraid to scheme or to call the plays for rookies. Also, promotion of Winfree for game day, with neglection on Toure shows me that he wants to play on "sure things" knowing what you get and not willing to risk inovation that comes with rookies specific traits. Not using Deguara in passing game is the another brain farth of his brain. What we learned of Josiah Deguara that he has sure hands. After you used him as blocker exclusively, surprise the opponent with quick pass for gain short yardage, like they occasionaly use Lewis in the last 2 season.

Also, his subservent behaviour towards some players (not only to AR) and unwillingness to use different formation are ridiculous.

Part of the problem may be Stenavich too. This is the first time he serves as OC and that may be the problem. Lack of experience in that part of coaching (Peters Priciple).

I was pleasently surprised with Henson at center. It was not a lot of plays, but it looks like he is exclusively center, and not that bad how we feared he will be. Maybe the guard position does not suits him well.

So, lack of balls is the first thing I noticed in MLF coaching. Not only to AR, but in general. He forget very important take "no risk, no profit". Second came to my mind after Bears game. He is acting as OC, not HC. That is the reason why he did not fire Drayton, this is why he did not influence on DC decision during game. This is why he playing on "known qualities" when he chosing what player he will activate for games, this is the reason why he hasn't vision and goal what he want the team looks like at the end of the season and what and how he want the team to looks like in the playoff. This is something that worries me. He might be perfect OC, but he does not looks like confident HC.

0 points
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Bearmeat's picture

September 28, 2022 at 06:26 am

Really good points, CW. I will say that I still have hope for MLF to grow over time. He has shown in the past a willingness not only to take blame (unlike Rodgers) but also to at least make efforts towards changing.

The truth is that we're not going to see who is great and who is bad between 12 and MLF until 12 retires now. That's too bad.

1 points
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GregC's picture

September 28, 2022 at 06:59 am

My estimation of LaFleur has declined as well, and for the same reasons. After the most recent playoff debacle, I figured that LaFleur was a good coach who was not good enough to win a hard-fought playoff game against a strong opponent. But the first three games of this season have been even more concerning, in spite of the fact that the Packers have won two of them. I think LaFleur's teams will only go as far as their talent takes them, and maybe not even that far. The question at this point is whether the OL and WR groups can improve enough to offset the lackluster strategies of the coaches.

2 points
2
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Since'61's picture

September 27, 2022 at 08:31 pm

Coldworld now you know why I’ve been posting that our losses in the last two playoff games is on the coaches. Except now it’s becoming obvious during wins in the regular season.

MLF does not get this team thoroughly prepared for their games. 2020 playoff loss to Tampa, where is the help for Kevin King covering Tampa’s fastest player on the TD before the half. 2021 season and playoff loss to SF. Why are STs allowed to fail for the entire season and ultimately cost the Packers their season in a game where SF did not score an offensive TD.

Yes Rodgers gets the blame because he is the QB but that is just a distraction from the core, ongoing problem. The Packers, especially on offense are not prepared to make adjustments when the opponent stops the offensive game plan.

Fortunately most of the teams we face cannot play defense as well as Tampa. But I think we are going to see more of the 3 heavy DLs to the right side of our OL Tampa used from more of our opponents. We’ll see if MLF comes up with a plan to counter it.

The HC needs to prepare his players for the game but he also needs to have solutions for his players when our opponent has answers for the Packers game. MLF was saved by the defense this week. But that can’t work every week or in the playoffs. Thanks, Since ‘61

9 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

September 27, 2022 at 11:00 pm

Makes you wonder if they're placing side bets ? Take care, stay safe.

3 points
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Tundraboy's picture

September 27, 2022 at 09:19 pm

Thanks Al. I really enjoy this one. The joys of being a Packer fan these days! Felt the same thing on the onside kick and probably a few other plays throughout this game. I think it was the 3rd and impossibly long situation for Tampa. Certainly had flashbacks to the 4th and 26th game in the playoffs against the Eagles.

1 points
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Fubared's picture

September 27, 2022 at 10:49 pm

Thanks Al. The pass D is not very good. Barry coaches the same D as Pettine.
My only take that I can figure in my pea brain, both coaches assessed the talent of our d backs and found them lacking in brains, skills, speed, size, tackling ability and coverage skills and to make up for it have gone to what I call the "twilight zone coverage" which is out of this world.
Our pass d looked pretty good in that game for all but the last three minutes. This is on Bary for not knowing what he is doing.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

September 27, 2022 at 11:02 pm

Three One Picks in the Secondary and they are asked to stand in a picket line.

1 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

September 27, 2022 at 11:10 pm

You're thinking of the Vikings pass defense, which is 29th, not the Packers, which is 7th. Now take your 🤡 show back to a Viking site where it belongs.

1 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

September 28, 2022 at 01:01 am

From Peter Bukowski:
"#Packers have the second-best success rate as a passing defense in the league.

A couple big plays vs. the Vikings belie how good they've been on a down-to-down basis this season. Only the 49ers have been better."

ImaPayne isa NotTooSmart.

1 points
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GregC's picture

September 28, 2022 at 05:48 am

Aaron and Andy pointed out after the game that if the Packers had played tighter defense on the last drive, maybe they give up a TD more quickly, but then even if the two-point conversion is good, the Packers have time to get a field goal to win the game. Instead, they play defense precisely in a way that gives the opponent a chance to tie the game with just a few seconds left on the clock. Dumb.

4 points
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