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

Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' last game.

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

This week, I decided to highlight the often-missed work done in the running game that helps break average runs into bigger ones -- downfield blocking.

Lazard

Of course, Allen Lazard is no secret among Packers fans. We've seen clips of him laying out unsuspecting DBs in the past, but not every block needs to be a big hit to be effective. Here the Packers are in a big fourth and one in the third quarter and the play call is actually brilliant.  It's a play that in my opinion, isn't used often enough in these situations with defenses bunched up expecting an inside handoff. In any case, the play works beautifully and would have earned a first down for the Packers regardless of anything Allen Lazard does, but his simple controlling of the DB takes what might have been a four or five yard gain and turns it into a 15 yard gain and gets them into the Red Zone. If you watch the downfield blocking on every play, as I did for this week's iteration of "3 plays...," you'll see Lazard with a block on EVERY run play. 

 

Doubs

Much like the Lazard block above, there's nothing particularly exciting about the block Doubs executes here. It does, however, guarantee that Watson gets into the end zone untouched. Doubs walls off the only defender that might have had a chance to get a hand on Watson. I must admit though, as I'm writing this and watching the play over and over, that safety is taking a bad angle and would have whiffed on Watson anyway. Still, it doesn't diminish the coolness factor of one rookie WR helping out his fellow rookie WR score a touchdown. Watching Doubs throughout the game, he has a lot to learn in terms of blocking techniques, but he's a willing participant, consistently trying to kelp out downfield.

 

Myers

Finally, I couldn't let this pass without an OL shoutout. While there were plenty of downfield blocking examples I could have chosen, I picked this one because I was quite surprised by the speed Myers shows getting to the sideline. He's basically running parallel to and mirroring Aaron Jones and arrives at the end of the play to eliminate a would-be tackler and allow Jones to pick up another 5-6 yards. BTW, you'll also notice Christian Watson executing a key block on the edge to allow Jones to turn the corner. Watson ends up taking two Patriot defenders out as David Bakhtiari carefully tiptoes around them, likely to protect his knees from getting taken out. The aforementioned ever-present Allen Lazard is just inside Watson and walls off the Patriots DE to keep him from taking down Jones for a loss. There's a lot going on here, but what originally caught my eye was the swiftness Myers showed from center to sideline.

 

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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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8 points
 

Comments (20)

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

October 04, 2022 at 03:22 pm

Doubs: Yes, made a comment about that in the previous article....Watson could be our version of Deebo Samuel in the making--he needs more touches any way we can get the ball to him.

5 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

October 05, 2022 at 01:58 am

I don't want to see Watson taking handoffs in the backfield. There's a huge difference between 6' and 6'-5" between the tackles. Teams might be looking for the next Deebo but they aren't looking Watson's type to fill that role.

2 points
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marpag1's picture

October 05, 2022 at 04:51 am

Totally agree. I don't know how much I really even want "Gadget Guy" to take up a lot of snaps on my team. The traditional roles of football positions like WR have developed over the decades because teams have found that this is the most effective way to utilize those players on the field. Let's have Watson show that he is at least competent as a traditional receiver before we try to make him into the proverbial "Swiss army knife" (Sorry. God, I hate that tired cliché).

A lot of people still remember that Kordell Stewart was called "Slash." And dang, he did a lot of different things. What people don't seem to remember as much is that he wasn't very good.

1 points
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Swisch's picture

October 04, 2022 at 04:07 pm

I love the Lazard effort on the pitch to Jones. It's not always necessary to throw a block, just get in the way.
Even if the defender was to eventually get off the block, don't grab him or lunge after him. Whichever way the defender goes if he gets off the block, Jones can go the other way (if he's not already past the defender). In any case, don't get a penalty, which seems to happen so often when it really isn't necessary.
In general, the rule of thumb for me on downfield blocking (and special teams) is to do your best to block the defender from the front, or if that's not possible to simply wall off the defender by getting in the way -- but, please, don't grab (holding penalty) or lunge (illegal blocking penalty).
Oftentimes, it's better to block smarter than harder.

6 points
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packerbackerjim's picture

October 04, 2022 at 04:22 pm

Thanks for the clips that illustrate what is required of WRs in GB. Myers making up for his slow snap. I kid. Love that Doubs is so excited after the score by CW.

7 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

October 04, 2022 at 05:58 pm

Lol

0 points
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wildbill's picture

October 04, 2022 at 04:40 pm

Thanks again Al

4 points
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croatpackfan's picture

October 04, 2022 at 05:00 pm

I have to say I did not noticed neither of your pick ups while I was watching game. For Alan Lazard it is become so common to help RB, TE or fellow WR with blocks that he pampered us and we get that as normal. I saw someone make that block which helped Watson to run easier for TD. Now I know that Doubs was the one. Myers block was mention by Romo during the game, but he did not named that OL "who showed nice speed and burst".

Thank you, Al.

2 points
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Swisch's picture

October 04, 2022 at 06:41 pm

Hi, croatpackfan, I just wanted to say that if you're going to the Packers game in London, have a great time.
If I was going, it would be great to meet you -- but maybe someday, somehow, I'll get to Croatia for a visit.

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

October 05, 2022 at 07:25 am

Unfortunately, I have some health issues (nothing serious) because I had to cancel my plans on visiting London and be at Packers game for the first time in my life. I'm so sad about that.

If you ever decide to come to Croatia, I'll for sure welcome you and I offers you to point out some places that are must visit destinations. I can even promise you, depending on situation, I'll bring you to some of those places.

2 points
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PeteK's picture

October 04, 2022 at 05:13 pm

One bright note is the willingness of the rookie WRs to block. I think as weeks pass the route running and (ugh) catching and ball security will come because if it doesn't .......

2 points
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DoubleJ's picture

October 05, 2022 at 10:40 am

Watson came into the league as a known good blocking WR. At NDSU if you cannot block as a WR you will not play as they ran like 75% of the time. During Watson's senior year there was one instance on a long run where he blocked like 4 different players during the run.

2 points
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gkarl's picture

October 04, 2022 at 05:56 pm

Wasn't a play but MLF challenging Doubs' touchdown catch/drop was definitely a Hmm for me. Could have cost the GBP the game. Bad challenge, obvious incomplete.

1 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

October 04, 2022 at 05:58 pm

Reminds me of some of Pete Carroll's weird challenges.

1 points
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JerseyAl's picture

October 04, 2022 at 06:12 pm

He admitted it was a bad emotional decision. He went against what he was being told by their guy upstairs who advises on whether it's worth challenging.

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

October 05, 2022 at 07:33 am

I understand why MLF challange on that play, as it was tricky to be sure just on one or 2 angles. But, I agree, he should listen his assistance as I'm sure they have better view of complete event.

But his "emotional" challange may gives us why he is so hard to part away from coordinators that are not so good in their jobs. He must develop control of his emotions or he will fail as HC. It is not bad to have emotions while you are doing your job, but it is bad if you do not have control over your emotions. Mistakes are just waiting to jeopardise your success.

0 points
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GBPDAN1's picture

October 04, 2022 at 08:35 pm

Love our Run game. I hope BG can work out an extention for A. Jones. I know his cap number next year is extremely expensive, so this could be a hard next contract to navigate through.

2 points
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Tundraboy's picture

October 05, 2022 at 12:22 am

Jones has been as exciting and as good a RB as we have had in a long long time. A great Packer in the making still.

1 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

October 05, 2022 at 02:04 am

I think you're better off enjoying him like it's his last year here. It was set up to be a two year deal when he signed it and they've futzed with it since then.

1 points
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DoubleJ's picture

October 05, 2022 at 10:33 am

On the 2nd play I think the safety might have taken a bad angle because he didn't know how fast Watson is. When you watch Watson run, he doesn't look like he is moving that fast because his stride is so long. Then you watch closer and he is pulling away from people like you would see Nelson do, except Watson is even faster than that.

0 points
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