Packers Vs. Bears - 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm
Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' last game.
By JerseyAl

After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons. In general, I try to focus on a theme, the less obvious, or things I didn't notice watching live. These are not likely to be "highlight" plays.
Love in the Pocket - Last week I showed you an example of Love hopping and backpedaling and throwing completely off balance. I'm back today to show you more of the same - but why? Because after watching the Lions - Vikings game Sunday night, it was clearly evident the big difference between Jared Goff and Love is the willingness to step up in the pocket and take a hit to deliver a throw with proper footwork and body position. Love is downright skittish when he feels pressure and his reaction is to back away. Now, let's remember, this is only his second year as a starter. The book on Goff had always been that if you pressure him he will wilt and make mistakes but with more experience, he's overcome that. Even Darnold, who has been even more prone to mistakes under pressure has improved with experience and showed a willingness Sunday night to stay in the pocket and take a hit. In this clip, Love is falling away so much he can't even complete an 8 yard pass. I believe this is the main thing that is holding Love back from playing to his talent level.
Willis in the Pocket - For contrast, I bring you this play from Mailik Willis. Now let's get this straight - I'm not here telling you Willis is a better quarterback or should be the starter or anything close to that. So don't try to put those words into my mouth. I'm just showing you the difference in handling pressure in the pocket. Here Willis is facing a direct on hit from a looping DT and stands firm in the pocket and delivers a perfect throw just before taking a big hit. This is a "big boy" NFL quarterback move. Love needs to stop being more concerned with avoiding getting hit than delivering the pass. When he gets to that point, the Packers will once again have a true franchise quarterback.
Sean Rhyan Downfield - This is a Sean Rhyan appreciation post. Over the last few weeks, while re-watching the game, I've been noticing Rhyan blocking downfield quite a bit. It seems the Packers are using him quite a bit on combo blocks, where he starts out on a double team with either Myers or Tom and then peels off in search of a linebacker. I watched every run play from the Bears game and focused on Rhyan. I can confidently tell you that if any interior run play gained more than two or three yards (7, 8, 10, etc.) it was probably thanks to Rhyan eliminating an inside linebacker from making a tackle. For sure, Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards got sick of seeing #75 coming for them play after play. In addition, Rhyan's pass blocking (an area he can improve on) was better than usual this game making this perhaps his best overall game of the season. Here are two plays to demonstrate what I've been seeing on tape.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (57)
pantz_bURp
January 07, 2025 at 02:29 pm
Good stuff Al, thanks. I am stoked we have Willis...I like everything about that dude.
Now, the only request for Coach LaF is I hope he looks right into the camera (without blinking) and states firmly to the Philly coaches and players:
" You don't back baby in a corner".
He leaves the podium. It's as quiet as a church mouse... We got this!
GPackG,
Pantz " 32" waist 32" inseam " B
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 06:02 pm
That movie was so fake. If it was real that girl would have been wanting to do the horizontal Mambo with Swaze. She would have been asking where's the beef.
pantz_bURp
January 07, 2025 at 06:25 pm
I hear ya clucking there LLC. Makes me wonder if she would have been wearing Chanel #5? May have put the Dirty in the Dancing...
Uffta,
P
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2025 at 07:25 pm
swayze is such a terrible actor
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 09:41 pm
Was. I agree but was generally considered an all around nice guy and he's passed so I won't hold it against him. Not everyone can be Steven Seagal.
Hey wait a minute....
dblbogey
January 07, 2025 at 07:43 pm
The movie wasn't real life? Well, that changes everything.
mnbadger
January 07, 2025 at 03:00 pm
Thanks Al for the setup then video to reenforce the point.
Helps me fully appreciate your point.
How does one gain access to the "All 22"?
I love watching line play, both sides.
You don't get that from the broadcast.
GPG!
JerseyAl
January 07, 2025 at 03:42 pm
Subscribe to NFL+ Premium - $99 for a year.
dblbogey
January 07, 2025 at 08:04 pm
Yep, we appreciate Al's stuff.
barutanseijin
January 07, 2025 at 03:06 pm
Some people’s heads are going to explode when they read that Al has said something positive about Rhyan.
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 09:47 pm
Rex Ryan?
splitpea1
January 07, 2025 at 03:27 pm
Play 1, Love: It almost looks the football equivalent of a fadeaway jump shot--which doesn't work too well when your goal (the receiver) is moving ahead instead of being stationary like a basket. You would think Clements and the coaching staff would be able to correct this.
Willis: He still has a lot of untapped potential, and as pointed out, does some things better than Love. And in every one of his meaningful appearances, he has either won or put us in position to win.
PeteK
January 07, 2025 at 06:55 pm
Yes, also I often wonder, if receivers are covered, why he just doesn't high tail out of there.
TOMMY'63
January 07, 2025 at 03:37 pm
Love blackmailed gutey and Murphy at training camp,they should have fined him and make an evaluation at the expiry of his contract, not giving him that massive extension!! They pissed on themselves out fear! Murphy and the good art had the knive by the side of the handle ,not the blade! Love will never reach levels of talent of Herbert or burrow, full stop!!
PeteK
January 07, 2025 at 06:57 pm
Ok, then I'll take a Stafford career.
Savage57
January 07, 2025 at 03:57 pm
Moose mentioned during the game how good of a job the interior linemen were doing getting off their initial block and being effective at the second level.
The difference between a 3-4 yard carry and a 7-8 yard gallop.
Coldworld
January 07, 2025 at 06:21 pm
PFF, for what it’s worth listed Tom, Walker, Jenkins and Rhyan as 4 of their best 5 on offense (the other was Jacobs). Rhyan and Walker had their best rated games in aggregate as both run and pass blockers. It was the Bears, but Rhyan’s pass and equally Walker’s run performance were both rated as excellent and those have been their weaknesses. I only partially rewatched, but I’d have to agree. Herman did too, if I recall correctly.
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 09:49 pm
Jenkins has really been playing well the last month or so.
Coldworld
January 08, 2025 at 12:28 am
After he recovered from being dinged up. He started the year out strong too.
Leatherhead
January 07, 2025 at 04:02 pm
l like QBs who step into their throws and rifle the ball. Love throws off his back foot more than he should.
Willis is absolutely an asset, we're lucky to have him, and we should keep him.
The line blocked pretty well. We moved the ball well but we didn't score enough points.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PeteK
January 07, 2025 at 07:00 pm
I also like him, but would you take a mid 3rd rounder( doubtful) for him?
dblbogey
January 07, 2025 at 07:50 pm
Too valuable as a back up. If Love was hurt and we had nothing as a back up, I'd trade a 3rd in a heartbeat to get Willis, having seen what he's capable of.
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 09:52 pm
No, they're likely to get a 3rd round comp pick for him. They'll just have to wait a couple years. In the meantime they have a plus backup for another year.
TXCHEESE
January 07, 2025 at 04:06 pm
I'm not at all disputing Love's back peddling, but I'm also not a 100% he wasn't throwing that one away.
Not that those guys are all world, but GB has a pretty efficient OL.
Sunday night, I saw one really calm QB, and another that looked like he was in panic mode. Very similar to Love and Dak in Dallas last year. Goff has simply elevated to another level. Detroit will be a very tough out in the playoffs.
JerseyAl
January 07, 2025 at 05:42 pm
I'd say there's zero chance he was throwing it away. He has a wide open receiver 8 yards away. You throw it away if you are about to get sacked. That wasn't the case.
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 06:10 pm
I read somewhere last week Love is top 5 this year when it comes to escaping pressure(I think the measured it as a sack to pressure rate) which is a little surprising given his injury earlier. My main issue with him is his poor footwork in a CLEAN pocket. Unnecessarily making off platform throws is bound to effect your accuracy and certainly effects his. He's made the OL look better than it is but he needs to work on his footwork and make things easier on himself when he has a clean pocket. My fear is if he doesn't fix it this year it probably won't get fixed. It will only get harder to break ingrained habits.
PeteK
January 07, 2025 at 07:05 pm
However, a clean pocket has been allusive many times this season. I watched the Vikes/Lions game and Goff had what I call a clean pocket even with the Minnesota's pressure D.
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2025 at 07:33 pm
favre did the same thing. I was so happy when Rodgers took over and showed great fundamentals and accuracy. then on the backside of his career, Rodgers started showing poor footwork, throwing off his back foot routinely. we all saw how that affected his accuracy.
Coldworld
January 07, 2025 at 06:25 pm
Goff has been playing for years and now for several he’s done so behind a line that seldom gets pushed into him or gives up rapid sacks. When it has had a slump, so did he. Darnold had had a similar luxury this year and looked a different player, till last week. Players get used to such things, increasing comfort. We on the other hand have not afforded Love that opportunity. Even Rodgers got skittish at times when he didn’t trust a T or the Newman/Hanson pairing most recently. Fix it and there’s a very good chance this problem evaporates.
Starrbrite
January 07, 2025 at 06:54 pm
CW—I don’t know. Love seems to other throw off balance whether or not he has a clean pocket. I recall we discussed more than a year ago that Love misses many more layup throws than he should. It has to be mechanics and footwork.
I have called him a stud several times, but he has not looked good the last few games.
Coldworld
January 08, 2025 at 12:39 am
Once a QB has lost trust that he will be protected, that’s what tends to happen. He’s not always going to wait for imminent impact . Particularly when penetration is up the middle there is not time for that.
.
PeteK
January 07, 2025 at 07:07 pm
Fully agree, line has been inconsistent all season.
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2025 at 07:35 pm
good point
jlc1
January 07, 2025 at 04:25 pm
Great point about him being shy in the pocket. I wonder if when you are designated, via a contract, the franchise QB (basically the franchise) you know that you are not supposed to take hits downfield. It might get confusing as to when you should and shouldn't take hits? Mostly kidding, the difference should be clear.
NJ-RICK
January 07, 2025 at 05:31 pm
Eagles 34 - Packers 17... Packers are not playing their best football right now...
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2025 at 07:36 pm
c'mon, man
dblbogey
January 07, 2025 at 07:54 pm
Packers win if they are +2 in turnovers and Love runs for 30 yards.
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 05:58 pm
Rhyan is a better athlete than Myers so it makes sense to let him move up to the 2nd level while Myers tries to hold the fort against the big guys up front. I don't know about his aptitude for the position but ever since Wahle mentioned the possibility of moving Rhyan to center next year, and knowing he got quite a few snaps there in TC, I've been wondering if that's how it winds up next year. Does he have the mental makeup to make the line calls and adjustments is the big question. No matter how it shakes out I think they have their starting 5 on the team as long as Morgan has a full off-season to get stronger. What they really need is depth at T and competition inside.
Jonah Manheim out of USC is a total Packers type. Over the last three years he's played over 700 snaps at RT, over 300 at RG, over 750 at LT and last played over 800 at center. I doubt he can play outside in the NFL but he looks to have the versatility they look for inside. PFF has a 3rd round grade on him at this time.
Leatherhead
January 07, 2025 at 06:21 pm
Rhyan will be in the last year of his contract, so that would just be a stop gap move at Center unless you plan on resigning him, while at the same time signing Tom, Doubs, and Walker.
More likely, IMO, is drafting a Center and starting him as a rookie, just like Myers and the guy before him. Rhyan and Jenkins on either side, Walker and Tom at the tackle. Morgan is the 6th guy.
Love has a window. If he's going to win a Super Bowl, it'll before he's 31 or it isn't going to happen. You can lock up a couple of pieces of this line for that entire window. He turns 27 next year.
Mister Chievous
January 07, 2025 at 07:40 pm
right, we spend a first round draft pick on Morgan to put him on the bench. well, at least that's one way to avoid your sophomore slump
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 09:58 pm
Sound plan except PFF has a total of four of them in their top 250, the highest having a 3rd round grade as of now. If you wanted a starting center last year was the time to get. Pretty much all the ones picked early are playing well too.
dblbogey
January 07, 2025 at 08:00 pm
I think Morgan, if his shoulder issues are over, should be a very good OG. The weak link is Myers. Perhaps moving Rhyan or Jenkins to Center. I could live with Walker, Jenkins, Rhyan Morgan and Tom. Still need a competent inside backup and swing tackle via draft or free agency.
Coldworld
January 07, 2025 at 06:15 pm
It might have been Rhyan’s best all around game as a pro on Sunday. One of the few bright spots. One has to consider the opposition of course, but he’ may now be coming on. Recently he’s been good at one and not the other typically, but not both together.
I agree with you on Love. I also believe that this is a change from last year. I don’t know if the injury started it, or if it’s just developed. The best way to stop it would be to improve center play, both in terms of pressures and being pushed back into Love, which has happened a lot.
CanPackFan
January 07, 2025 at 07:20 pm
While You acknowledge that Myers gets pushed back a lot, I don't think that's the main reason behind Love's inconsistentcy. I think it has more to do with him not getting into rhythm as we run so much more this season.
Coldworld
January 08, 2025 at 12:35 am
I did not intend to say it was the main reason. It is probably one reason though.
tobinrote
January 07, 2025 at 06:37 pm
The promise Love showed in the Dallas game last year has not been borne out. His play this year has been mediocre at best. Ever notice how most all his throws either end up in the dirt or require receivers to make hard catches for a low ball. Al has shown us why this happens. So far Willis has quite simply played better ball than Love, but since they decided to pay Love they will play him, and we see what we are getting. Bad qb play.
pantz_bURp
January 07, 2025 at 06:39 pm
Sorry JerseyAl, but not sure where to put this:
I have a darn good idea. Maybe raffle off tickets for 2 or 3 night stay at Corey's place which is a football's throw from Lambeau for the 2025 NFL Draft.
If I win, I promise to work on my aim, bring my pooperi spray bottle, CPAP, not even think about bringing a beautiful older lass "home" with me. No dad jokes or jokes that even come close to being distasteful. My own pillow (drool issues), and my own toiletries along with towels.
Don't say no yet, just noodle on it.
Thanks in advance,
Pantz
JerseyAl
January 07, 2025 at 06:43 pm
Get in line, Pantz. (It starts somewhere around Sheboygan)
pantz_bURp
January 07, 2025 at 06:47 pm
On my wayyy good sir ............... (still got some Rat Piss to add to the tank).
Go, Go, Gooo
*Dont expect me to let little old ladies or children butt in line either. THIS IS THE NFL DRAFT in GREEN BAY we're talking about!! I am going to be claiming my territory like a tall dog.
Your Packer NFL Draft edition must be special. A LOT of pressure on you boyz and galz at CheeseHead TV. You can do it!, you were born for this...
*I will wait for Corey's address so as to know where to forward my mail. This will be FUN!
P
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 10:08 pm
Not hard to imagine Corey saying to Pantz "We have a pool and a pond. The pond would be good for you."
LLCHESTY
January 07, 2025 at 10:05 pm
You drool through your CPAP mask? It's a wonder you don't drown!
pantz_bURp
January 08, 2025 at 12:00 pm
It doesn't fit snug, so a couple safety pins and duct tape later.👍
I never tried taking down my 1976 Farrah Fawcett poster...wonder if the drooling would subside?
Hitnhope23
January 07, 2025 at 09:04 pm
Love plays scared, you can read it in his body language, he looks overwhelmed out on the field. There's no fire like favre, favre would throw a deep interception, and the next play he'd throw a deep touchdown pass and then he'd run to the end zone to celebrate. Lafleur is too conservative, in this day and age of Dan Campbells, that's proven it's not going to cut it. Lafleur also looks lost on the sideline, not knowing how long of a field goal your kicker can attempt cost the packers the game. He's indecisive, conservative, incompetent in my opinion. The fact that it took until the last game of the year to win a coaches challenge tells you everything you need to know. I could go on and on.
GreenAndGold_1963
January 07, 2025 at 09:26 pm
Love has regressed and MLF is not a good HC. Maybe another 6 years of mediocrity and people will start to realize that he isn’t the guy.
bjkdad44
January 08, 2025 at 01:54 am
Hitandhope23… couldn’t agree with you more!!!
Major Snafu
January 07, 2025 at 11:56 pm
My obs. When Willis casme in and they needed a first, he rifled the ball tonpick it up. Thought wow what a pin point throw and what velocity, Love couldn't have done that.
Loves passes are sqeemish and lack speed. I think it's one reason there are dropsies on this team, receivers know if they have to wait for the ball a defender will plant them.
They was a Willis or farve ball. Bullet pass to catch and turn upfield. Love doesn't do that.
I still think he is concerned about interceptions. When he got to 11, his passes changed and he started being selective throwing more short sure passes, often for little gain. Not to mention hee missed two games and tossed 11.
Boneman
January 08, 2025 at 05:41 am
Confidence is the name of the game at QB, and Love currently doesn't have it. I believe that Lefleur and the other offensive coaches have put 'fear' into Love's game. Fear of interceptions. Fear of injuries. Fear of making a mistake. This has warped this young man into a tentative, conservative, anxious player who has no confidence in his game. This team will not beat a really good opponent with their QB in this state. Expect an early exit for the Pack against Philly and a long rough offseason unless Love has the gumption to stand up to the pressure and start cutting it loose. It's the only way...