Packers Vs. Eagles - 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.
Why Xavier McKinney is not a RB or WR.
Well, this is embarrassing. How does Xavier McKiinney (4.63 40yd time) get tackled in the open field by a 365lb offensive lineman (Jordan Maialata, 5.50 40 yd time)?
Kickoff Success
This was probably the best kickoff execution I saw this weekend (and I watched a lot of football). The nice thing about this approach is if you successfully bounce it in the landing zone, your players can start running on the first bounce and get a "head start" while the returner is busy trying to corral the ball. I can understand not trying this all the time, but I was surprised we didn't see it again.
Power - That's the Ticket
We saw early in the game how Josh Jacobs had almost no success running the ball. In comes Emaanuel Wilson and he rips off three straight excellent runs to the left side of the formation for a total of 37 yards, First reaction is, wait, Emmanuel Wilson is better than Josh Jacobs? Nah, can't be. Something else was afoot and running those plays back revealed the secret. All three plays were similar in several ways; they were all to the left, they were all power scheme runs and they all involved Sean Rhyan pulling from his right guard position. The video below is the third of those plays. I picked it mainly because it best illustrates the design of the play and Sean Rhyan being the key to it's success. Precise execution all around - Lombardi would have been proud. By the way, once they had the Eagles thinking left side, the very next play was the end around to Jordan Reed around the right side for a touchdown.
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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 (26)
Minniman
September 10, 2024 at 02:27 pm
The new kick-off rules are ripe to be exploited (on both sides of the ball). Teams need to consult a Rugby coach ASAP (preferably a kicking coach) to get ideas on how to attack these new formations. Balls rolling on the ground are way less predictable than in air (advantage to the kicking team). Also, a well-placed lateral could easily unlock more return yards (advantage to the returning team).
splitpea1
September 10, 2024 at 03:01 pm
Play #1: Not as embarrassing for McKinney as one might think. Mailata is big and slow, but he's also an experienced ex-rugby player capable of making a perfect tackle. Xavier probably thought he could easily scoot around him, but no.
Suggestion: It might time for a new picture now that Aaron Jones is wearing purple.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:36 pm
AJ was #33, not 32.
ThunderFromDownunder
September 11, 2024 at 02:17 am
You are right there`s no shame in being tackled by JM .Mailata is an ex Rugby League player to put it correctly . There`s a big difference in athletic ability between Rugby and League , as a " League " player you have to be able to tackle or you don`t play.
Coldworld
September 11, 2024 at 08:10 am
The issue of speed is not really relevant unless a player is chasing. If the slow guy is in front then it’s anticipation of the runner and agility versus the ability of the defender to maximize their positioning and reach and then tackle. A rugby big man must have that experience and ability in open play.
calabasa
September 10, 2024 at 04:27 pm
Holy cripes guys. I can barely use the CHTV app. The pop-up videos are non-stop and repeat- first the most recent Packers Daily and then the pop up ads. I respect you need to monetize and am all for it, but having to close out the SAME pop up ad several times is really killing the whole experience. Anyone else dealing with this?
crayzpackfan
September 10, 2024 at 04:45 pm
I enjoy a good game of whack a mole or "close an ad" though. I'm weird that way.
Pizzadoc
September 10, 2024 at 07:24 pm
Same
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:38 pm
Do NOT use the app. Use the website.
There are other ways to bypass ads, which I probably should not mention but you can still investigate.
JerseyAl
September 11, 2024 at 07:57 am
We're working on it. Tried something new and not working out...
Since'75
September 10, 2024 at 04:33 pm
This was (believe or not) the first Packer game i missed in easily over 3 decades.
The last time i missed a game i remember golfing in the mid to late 80's.
As you all know, Packer football back then was not must see tv.
But nonetheless, still was a diehard fan.
Fall football...Leaves falling, cold beer, life was good.
Of course, being Packer fans, we had a radio with us to listen to the game on wtmj.
I refused to buy the game out of principle (yea i know, old school).
Yes, i have subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch the Packers on Thur. nights. But also got all the other Thur. night games
But for whatever reason, this time around i just said..."F Peacock.
Leatherhead
September 10, 2024 at 05:12 pm
$5 to watch the game. $20 for Peacock over 4 months.
Back in the day, to watch the game, we had a black and white TV and rabbit ears. No remote control. No channels,in the beginning, except CBS. But it was free.
Hell yes I'm willing to pay a little money. I remember having to watch games at Fatso's, and it'd be a couple of drinks and some food and a tip and it was a lot more than $5.
So to be able to sit in air-conditioned comfort and watch it in color on a flat screen for $5....that's a bargain, IMO.
dblbogey
September 10, 2024 at 05:17 pm
I was going to do the same. Then I discovered that we already had Peacock so my wife could watch her one soap opera. The Peacock - Prime - Out of country games are all just to make more money. Sad for the fans and it will probably get worse.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:44 pm
I didn't see the game until about 10 minutes left in the first half, because I thought it was only on Peacock. It was on broadcast TV, the free stuff you get with an antenna. So I was just in time to see the failed 2 point conversion attempt, and when I fell asleep GB was ahead. I woke up to post game interviews of GB players, so I assumed we won. I didn't find out we lost until Tuesday morning, and saw JL10's injury in slow motion.
I still want to see more film analysis of our O line, and specifically who let Iggles players through, including on that play. Last year our O line play would have gotten JL10 hurt if they continued like that, and even after their improvement they were still letting pressure in JL10's face immediately after he got the ball out. Not exactly confidence inspiring.
LambeauPlain
September 10, 2024 at 04:42 pm
The power run was excellently blocked.
Wilson was outstanding waiting for first Rhyan, then Kraft to finish the excavation on the hole to the left.
And it started by Jenks with a wall to the right. He's back!
I really like Wilson. Great vision and just enough patience to keep his quickness productive.
Jacobs and Wilson need to be the one two punch early and often on Sunday. Run to open the pass for Willis....or Love...either one. Lloyd can be schemed in with his skillset...but Emanuel should be #2.
Leatherhead
September 10, 2024 at 05:17 pm
''The power run was excellently blocked.""
Nothing good happens on offense unless people get blocked. Despite the critics, we blocked well enough to get 29 points on the board, more than most teams managed.
I hope this analysis puts an end to the narrative of "Bench the Pro Bowler and put in the backup more". We should be happy that the one-two punch that we'd done for years is doing well. Jacobs had a good game, Wilson had a good game. The Packers had a good game on the ground. The Offensive line helped make that happen.
Coldworld
September 10, 2024 at 06:32 pm
The narrative is to go with the hot hand. Even if one accepts that Al is right and, in addition, the Wilson runs were the only power runs, (because if they weren’t the numbers still put Wilson ahead on the day) then the hot hand becomes power blocking and the question why that was abandoned after such success?
Bitternotsour
September 10, 2024 at 06:53 pm
it wasn't the next play on the play sheet.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:48 pm
I remain a fan of Emmanuel Wilson!
Don't overlook Rasheed Walker's role in blocking that play open, but yes Tucker Kraft's contribution was invaluable. I think Vince Lombardi looked down and smiled at that one ...
GPG!!
LLCHESTY
September 10, 2024 at 06:25 pm
They went with an IOL of Rhyan-Jenkins-Morgan when Myers went down for the last couple plays. If they want to take pressure off Willis and run the ball a bit more they should seriously consider keeping that lineup. The Packers had some big runs Friday but also quite a few duds and a lot of the inside duds were on Myers.
Unfortunately you can't link things on here anymore but his olé at the goal line on one of Jacobs runs was embarrassing. I doubt they're thinking of extending Myers so might as well try some different combos. I was surprised his 50 PFF grade was that high.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:50 pm
Why use BOTH Sean Rhyan and Jordan Morgan on the sides where they have 0 experience? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep Rhyan at RG and Morgan at LG?
JerseyAl
September 11, 2024 at 11:45 am
You can link things. Others have done it. There are restrictions for brand new users, however.
Bitternotsour
September 11, 2024 at 01:55 pm
Al, the only way you can link is to actually break the link. You have to include spaces that render the hyperlink inoperable. It's a workaround, not an actual link. You can cut and paste a broken link and a browser will redirect you to the actual spot.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 10, 2024 at 09:55 pm
Thanks for this film analysis Al! Not just because it's positive and there IS a lot of positive stuff to take away from that game, but because this is exactly the type of content that keeps me coming to CHTV. I don't know why Dusty won't be contributing here this season but I'm more interested in our O line anyway, because I can't take it all in watching the game live and I do not understand that aspect of the game as well.
I think our O line is the key to this offense's success, in that the other pieces are in place. I like to think there's plenty of talent to field a dominant O line too, but I don't actually know that.
PeteK
September 11, 2024 at 09:52 am
I agree the O line is key to our success offensively, and once Rhyan settles in, Tom knocks off some rust as he was injured preseason, and Morgan fills in as a rotation , we will be good.
JerseyAl
September 11, 2024 at 11:48 am
Well, Dusty got an offer he would have been nuts to turn down, but when he does analysis for his own youtube channel, we will publish it here. Or, you can just subscribe to his youtube channel. I also am on the lookout for someone else that can do film breakdowns. What I do isn't really a "breakdown."