Packers Vs. Falcons - 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 the less obvious or things I didn't notice watching live.
Flat Out Failure - This play was in the first quarter, but it foretold some real issues that would crop up later in the game. Covering receivers in the flat appeared to be a Packers blind spot on Sunday and Atlanta happily took advantage of it. It turned out to be a major problem in the 4th quarter when nobody covers Bijan Robinson in the flat and he ended up with a 29 yard catch and run. Here, you can see Quay Walker looking to his right, paying more attention to the run play action, and forgets the TE leaking out is his responsibility. This is likely a product of a young player wanting to be everywhere and be involved in every tackle. Eventually he'll learn to trust his teammates more and take care of his primary responsibility first. On the Robinson catch, Quay gets picked rather easily, but Rasul doesn't react to that and switch over to Robinson. Blame goes to both of them on that one.
Trail of Bodies - If there's one play that exemplifies how the Falcons ran over the Packers, it's this one, where they literally ran over the Packers. Enagbare, Wyatt, Slaton, Alexander and Walker end up on the ground. with only Walker being in on the tackle. Yikes!
Bear Defense - While everyone has focused on the fourth quarter, the Falcons domination in the run game got well underway in the third period. "Barry in the Booth" did actually try a few things early on, like going to this version of the "Bear" defense. If I have it correct, the standard of a "Bear" defense is to have three DL matched up with the center and guards. Then the rest of it is open to interpretation. In this case, the Packers actually had four DL (Slaton, Wyatt, Brooks and Wooden) and two Edge Rushers all up on the line of scrimmage. Quay was the only linebacker, leaving just four DBs in the secondary. That's something "Barry in the Booth" is loathe to do, but he does it here at the right time, with the Falcons in 21 personnel on 1st and five after Brooks got called for encroachment. I think I noticed this defensive alignment another time in the 4th quarter, but perhaps it should have gotten more of a run (no pun intended).
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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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Comments (43)
Lphill
September 19, 2023 at 03:52 pm
7 yards net offense and 10 plays in the 4 th QTR is not on Barry .
mrtundra
September 19, 2023 at 04:35 pm
No, but having the DBs play 25 yards off the LOS when the Falcons needed 20 to get a 1st down, is on Barry. Not having a better scheme for the run defense is on Barry, too.
Gman1976
September 19, 2023 at 04:07 pm
Al, maybe you should rename this column, "3 Plays that Want to Make You SCREAM!!!"
splitpea1
September 19, 2023 at 04:19 pm
Play 2: There's a familiar sight: getting pushed backwards on the LOS and subsequently getting run over. When the FO heavily prioritizes quickness and pass rush ability on the DL, this is what ends up happening sometimes. So we have not learned our lesson here. And how come J. Ford wasn't called up form the PS for this game? You never know, it might have made a difference in addition to one of the six or seven other things we could have done right to pull out the win.
Tundraboy
September 19, 2023 at 11:16 pm
At times it feels as if it's the coaching that will be the ones going through a season long learning experience. Yikes.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 05:15 pm
The Packers should have come into the game using the "Bear" defense from the beginning. They should have set the tone and sent the message that we are going to stop the run game and force Ridder to pass.
This is what is so frustrating about this Packers coaching staff. They know that Atlanta is going to run the ball and yet they don't do anything specific except for a few plays to adjust to the opposing team's offense. Why not go with 4 DLs from the beginning stop the run, build a lead which they did and then get after Ridder.
Instead they allow 200+ plus yards on the ground and allow their defense to get ground down to the point where they could not stop anything in the 4th quarter.
No excuses for this coaching staff's game planning and preparation.
Yes the offense could have helped with more production late in the game but they did put up 24 points on the road without their 2 best weapons, Bak and then Jenkins for the second half. No excuses for them either but a better defensive game plan focused on stopping the Falcon's ground game from the beginning of the game may have left the defense stronger for the 4th quarter and may have given the offense more TOP and points. Thanks, Since '61
CheesedDeadHead
September 19, 2023 at 05:22 pm
"Why not go with 4 DLs from the beginning stop the run, build a lead which they did and then get after Ridder."
You mean like putting 7 players in the box like almost every team did last year to the Packers? That was pretty dang successful.
Tundraboy
September 19, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Best comment of the day for sure!
Jgilmor08
September 19, 2023 at 06:20 pm
This exposes the defense to a lot of big plays. The defensive front they were in to start was just fine. Three down linemen (Center 0 tech, 4 tech to the weak side and a 5 tech or 6 tech to the strong side) two stand up ends and two Mike linebackers. The biggest weakness and my guess why they got away from this defense is it requires either Preston Smith or Rashan Gary to cover the flats if the RB flares across their face. Whenever you have almost full time pass rushers adding that responsibility can be difficult. You can’t rush 5 every time or risk leaving a zone uncovered if it’s a zone blitz. My thought is they were burned by this. But regardless the team spent a first round pick on an inside linebacker who’s been hailed as a good cover backer. He was never used in that capacity.
The reason that the front you mentioned stops the run isn’t because of the d linemen. It’s actually because it keeps the offensive line from climbing to the second level and blocking the backer. Letting them roam freely to make plays. Which is why it’s used in definite running situations and on the goal line in short yardage. However I’m sure you’ve seen times on a forth and short where a team runs the ball and instead of the one yard or whatever they end up with a fifty or sixty yard touchdown. That’s the downside no backside help.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:34 pm
You make a good point on how Walker was used by the defense. Again that is an issue of coaching.
My point is that if the strength of our defense is our pass rush and our CBs then we should be forcing our opponents to pass against us by first stopping their ground game. Take their strength away, make them one dimensional and force them to play into our strength. Instead the Packers play to prevent the big play and they end up giving up big yards on the ground.
Yes, 5 yards per play is better than 7 yards per pass but when a team is gaining 5 yards per play they are still converting to another set of downs on those 5 yard plays and keeping the defense on the field and being worn down which is exactly what happened in the 4th quarter against Atlanta. Thanks, Since '61
Tundraboy
September 19, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Death by a thousand cuts comes to mind.
Since'61
September 20, 2023 at 07:39 am
Exactly Tundraboy. Teams are going to take 5 yards per rushing play until the Packers prove that they can stop it. If the Packers can't stop the run why not just keep running the ball? Best way to protect the QB.
Thanks, Since '61
Leatherhead
September 19, 2023 at 06:21 pm
"""sent the message that we are going to stop the run game and force Ridder to pass. """
So it would be better, in your opinion, to "force Ridder to pass"....where he's averaging about 7.5 yards/attempt against us, than hand the ball off to guys who are getting 5.0 yards/attempt?
barutanseijin
September 19, 2023 at 07:02 pm
It’s an aesthetic issue. A good chunk of Packers fans want to see a defense play a certain way, no matter what the consequences.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 19, 2023 at 09:43 pm
We want to see our defense be effective. That means stopping both the run and the pass. We get 11 guys on the field too.
MainePackFan
September 19, 2023 at 07:09 pm
If I recall correctly, Atlanta threw a wrench in our game plan and came out throwing the ball when the Packers were keying on the run. That forced the Packers to change up their game plan which they did with success.
When Atlanta went run heavy we weren't able to make the adjustment. Combine that with the Packers failure to move the ball on offense, it wore the defense down.
Frankly, I'm not sure that Atlanta wouldn't have dominated this game if they drove the ball down our throat from the start. Run defense is obviously still a big problem with this team.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:27 pm
Agree MainePackFan -run defense and poor tackling are still problems for this defense. Al's #2 play is a clear indication of that. Thanks, Since '61
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 01:26 am
By what definition did you think it was important to change the defensive play calling and adjust to Ridder throwing the ball? When they had 3 points after the first quarter and 13.5 of the second? That’s not a wrench that’s productive play calling and smart coaching. Why they went away from that is beyond me. At those points described above Ridder had an INT maybe a hundred yards passing on 60% completion percentage and the run game was nowhere to be seen.
Later in the game when Ridder was more effective passing the ball the defense had been on the field by the fourth quarter equal to a full game at that point. When you are tired the legs get heavy and your technique goes south. Dbs start looking into the back field and backers take a little harder bite on play fakes because they were running down their throats.
ATL simply reacted to what they had in front of them. Nickel and dime run the ball. Heavy front then throw the ball. Where Barry was poorly calling plays is his lack of exotic pressure and blitz to ensure Ridder didn’t have eternity to sit back and find an open receiver. People forget that the guys on the opposing team are paid too. So giving a pro QB five seconds will always spell disaster for a defense.
MainePackFan
September 20, 2023 at 08:00 am
My point was that the Falcons came out passing the ball when everyone thought they would be running the ball. That's why the Packers were successful on Defense early. Once the Falcons went to what they do best, the Packers were unable to stop it. Hence their run defense is still a big problem.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:25 pm
LH - Well we let them rush for 5 yards per attempt and we allowed 211 yards on the ground and lost the game. So yes, I believe that forcing Ridder to beat us with the pass would have been a better strategy since we were defeated by allowing them to run all over us.
5 yards per play is enough to convert to another set of downs which keeps our defense on the field and being worn-down which is exactly what happened to the Packers in the 4th quarter against Atlanta. The strategy of trying to prevent the 7 yards pass failed versus not stopping the 5 yards runs. The final score of the game and the TOP for Atlanta proves my point end of story. Thanks, Since '61
Coldworld
September 20, 2023 at 09:13 am
If any team can consistently modally average 5 yards per attempt on that a large sample (so without that coming from a couple of exceptional big runs), they will win time of possession, reducing their opponents chance to score while accreting points.
Unless the red zone stats are markedly different or they turn over the ball multiple times, there is a very strong likelihood that they win the game. That’s exactly what Atalanta discovered they could do.
Equally unsurprisingly, it eventually opened up some passing opportunities too. You can’t win games giving up 5 yards per run that automatically unless your opponent implodes in some other aspect.
PhantomII
September 19, 2023 at 09:52 pm
Yes, LH...Maybe we get 3-4 INT's and catch 2....Maybe even catch a pick six, like Chicago. The run game is our Achilles heel....Nothing has changed. Barry is not getting it done. Coaching needs more help than the rookies do.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 01:52 am
It’s not focusing on one thing or the other as much as it’s Barry is playing checkers while everyone else is playing chess. When the offense runs 21 or 22 personnel onto the field and it’s 3rd and 1, yes I think it’s fair to assume the D coordinator isn’t lined up in nickel as his response. If it’s 10 personnel or even 11 sure come out in Nickel or dime but don’t line your safety up on the TE to the offensive strength expecting him to stop C zone power. It’s just not happening. Don’t have your first round pick aligned weak with your mlb head up on the Center with a fullback and tight end on the field and think they aren’t going to get walled off in the running game.
The reality is every real authentic packers fan has seen this movie before. Part 1 through 8. Like the Star Wars movie set we’ve seen them all. A defense that can’t stop an opponents running game and giving up 200 yards. I’d eat crow in a heart beat if I watched a Packers game where they give up 200 yards rushing and win the game. However the common theme is they all end in losses. So the question becomes should our stud DBs and cover backers and pash rush specialists be able to do what they were drafted to do? Only if Barry puts them in the correct position on first and second down. An elite pass rusher has let’s say 12-13 sacks in a season. Assuming 60 plays are ran per game that’s 1,020 plays a season and only having 12 or 13 times where the impact is felt. The opportunities to change a games outcome are so few and far between. So yeah getting your defense in third and long is important instead of 3rd and 1 or 2.
Last point then I’ll shut up. Let’s remember a few important reasons why stopping the run is so utterly important in the grand scheme of things. San Fran, Detroit, Los Angeles, Dallas all are teams that stand in the Packers way to a Super Bowl. All have formidable rushing attacks. All will be obstacles in the playoffs. Yeah I’d prefer Purdy, Goff and Prescott to be the reason Green Bay loses. Why because we’ve seen the giving up 200 yards rushing movie way to many times.
greengold
September 19, 2023 at 06:26 pm
LaFleur needs to do a better job of game planning, and insuring his coordinators have game plans that make sense, and the players called up to the roster where needed.
I’m still amazed they failed to call NT Jonathan Ford up. That makes zero sense if you’ve got a RB like Bijan Robinson to contend with -all day - and you want to go to a Bear D.
???
Adding to that, Barry failed to use a real, solid, smart rotation at DL to keep everybody fresh against Robinson. He gassed his own starters needlessly by Q4. Our O becoming ineffective compounded the problems, leading to a LOSS.
Packers D was on the field 31 more snaps than the O.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:43 pm
gg you're perfectly correct. This coaching staff is poor at game planning and preparation and I've been posting that since MLF took over. They are and have been out coached a consistent basis especially against strong physical teams. And as you correctly point out with the offense missing its 2 best weapons and its 2 best OLs the offense compounded the defenses on going problems with stopping the run and poor tackling.
Thanks, Since '61
Tundraboy
September 19, 2023 at 11:23 pm
"Lafleur needs to do a better job of game planning, and insuring his coordinators have game plans that make sense, and the players called up to the roster where needed."
How many times has this been said by you and countless others.
Does the man really not see this?
Packer_Fan
September 19, 2023 at 07:25 pm
Since'61, you are absolutely right. I think that Barry just goes half-way to come up with something significant and then reverts to his normal plan of bend, but don't break. Running 30 more plays than the Packer just gassed the defense and allowed the ground game to be even more effective.
The Falcons seemed to be able to pick the right play. Especially the bootlegs by Ridder. And he was able to scramble several times which really hurt stopping drives. Also, the swing passes and screens always seemed to be effective. Not sure how that happened. It was obvious they were going to use that a lot.
And one comment about Lafluer. The second drive in the fourth quarter where they were unsuccessful making the 2nd and short yardage two straight runs. This happened several times last year too. He needs to come up with some more creative play calling. Making that first first down in the fourth quarter is so important. I don't think that the O line was dominating the line of scrimmage, so don't get too focused on grinding out the first down.
There was creative play calling with the Bears, but not so much with the Falcons.
Jgilmor08
September 19, 2023 at 06:11 pm
Not to be a jerk, but I don’t quite understand your problem with the first play. It was played very effectively and within the confines of the defensive scheme. A play action boot to the field with a tight end slipping out to the flats and getting a 7 yard gain is fairly routine in the NFL. If you go through the highlights on YouTube where ATL is on offense you’ll see some very very frustrating plays. To counter watch when ATL is defending the packers and the difference between the two.
Green Bay said they wanted Bijan to beat them. ATL said they wanted Love to beat them.
Green bays defense was so bad that ATL with 1 time out and under a minute to halftime and 60 yards to cover still ran the ball. That’s about as sad as sad gets that a team does the preferred option from a defensive standpoint and still gives up yardage like they are running a hurry up and three step drops down the field.
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:47 pm
"That's about sad as sad gets that a team does the preferred from a defensive standpoint and still gives up yardage like they are running a hurry up." Excellent point Jgilmor08. Thanks, Since '61
JerseyAl
September 19, 2023 at 08:00 pm
My only problem is exactly what I wrote - that Walker didn't worry about his main responsibility first, instead looking at a run fake on the other side of the field. And I brought this up in the context that they were slow to recognize/react to such plays, which cost them big time in the fourth quarter when a short pass in the flat becomes a 29 yard gain.
Also, "Green Bay said they wanted Bijan to beat them." Where did you get that from?
SicSemperTyrannis
September 19, 2023 at 09:50 pm
Al,.
on that clip Quay was right there to contain the reception and deny YAC. This was pretty consistent throughout the game, by everybody. Allowing the completion rather than PBU.
Ritter had a good day.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 02:00 am
By virtue of the defensive coordinator lining up in a predominantly pass defending defense (nickel and dime) rather than playing the run from approx the 2 min warning all the way until games end. This in my opinion is the coach saying (without actually needing to say it aloud) ‘we are gonna make Bijan beat us not Ridder’. Up to that point they had played fairly stout against the running game and Ridder wasn’t lighting the world on fire. But the last drive going into half they put in nickel and the rest is history.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 02:07 am
Lastly, a linebackers responsibility first and foremost is to read his keys (offensive linemen) through the ball carrier (the running back). Then to react to the pass. To say that it was Quay walkers responsibility isn’t fair. I personally don’t know the play you are talking about but the only time an interior linebacker ends up on the sideline in coverage is cover 3 (Green Bay doesn’t use a lot of cloud which brings the backer out otherwise safety and nickel have hook to flat responsibility) AWAY from the field. Or man coverage with a back wheel which with what you’re describing wasn’t the play either. The only other coverage option would be cover 4 which they use id say maybe 30% of the time. Which is tough option specifically because the middle backer needs to cover #3 on an out route but when this coverage is played well it’s a great defense. Think legion of boom in Seattle. If the formation is trio or trips it becomes insanely difficult to play your run responsibility and cover three on an out. The big problem with the defense last year and seemingly again this year is communication, carry and deliver, two guys on one receiver or just covering grass and nothing else. These all fall on coaching. That’s why the best defensive coaches are always a sumbitch. Barry is too nice and soft. You need the coach to be an asshole on that side of the ball.
JerseyAl
September 20, 2023 at 07:53 am
Just for fun, I re-watched the last Atlanta drive. The Packers had 3 DL on 7 of 11 plays. The ones where they didn't were mostly obvious passing downs, like 2nd and 10, for instance. So on the last drive, at least, they were not saying, let Bijan beat us. The Falcons, for their part, adjusted nicely by throwing it to Bijan instead. Chess vs checkers, as you said in another comment.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 08:42 pm
Again please re read my comments. I specifically stated defensive linemen aren’t supposed to be tackling the ball carrier on running plays with the way Green Bay schemes its defense. They are supposed to keep the lineman off the backers so they can tackle the ball carriers. The personnel group that was in the game is what’s important. It’s stupid having three down lineman along the defensive line but using a nickel and dime backers. Equally as stupid is just constantly running a five man blitz without stunts twists or games. Never using zone blitz schemes and dropping the pass rushing backer into coverage to confuse the quarterback or offensive line. Never bringing six rushers EVER to change it up. Never having the safety cover half of the field to the boundary and have two other dbs playing quarters to the field. This scheme is like pre season level schematically. So yeah checkers vs chess.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 08:46 pm
The fact you aren’t referencing what personal groupings ATL used kinda defines my exact point. Defense generally Is dictated by offensive personnel groups. If you don’t match up then you end up giving up 200 plus rushing yards.
So to summarize, regardless of the three down lineman who were the backers? Why aren’t they running stunts? Why tf aren’t they getting to the QB by overloading the LOS with possible blitzing backers.
dhazer
September 19, 2023 at 07:07 pm
Actually, the play I didn't understand was the 1st drive of the game, you line up for a 50-yard FG and get a delay of game and then punt. Now the part I am confused about is you drafted this kid because he has a big leg and you declined a 55-yard FG attempt? I hate to say but 55-yard FGs are normal in today's NFL. People didn't think much of it but with those 3 points the Packers probably win the game.
Jgilmor08
September 20, 2023 at 01:32 am
Definitely agree with this and understand your premise. I think the concern wasn’t so much being with Carlsons lack of leg or ability. Rather where that puts ATL if the kick is missed which it becomes about a 50% probability from that distance. You’ll see a lot of those kicks at the end of a game or before halftime for that reason. Although that only puts them at the roughly 38 yard line which isn’t quite mid field so yeah kind of a strange response to the penalty.
croatpackfan
September 19, 2023 at 07:11 pm
I will add only one thing! Carlson might secure the win for Packers if one chicken did not decide to put punter on the field instead of kicker. MLF drop in my eyes a lot. I have no problem when better team win over team I'm rooting for. My take after those games is just we need to be better in future.
But when team lose game because somebody does not have courage or he does not have trust in his players it is just so low!
Since'61
September 19, 2023 at 07:49 pm
Croat as you know I have seen and posted about these issues with the coaching staff for a few seasons. These issues come up too often with the HC and the DC. Thanks, Since '61
croatpackfan
September 20, 2023 at 01:41 am
I remmember, Since. You were right!
BAMABADGER
September 19, 2023 at 08:38 pm
1) Why didn't we stay with the Bear defense and force the Falcons to throw.
2) Croatpackfan is spot on. We win the game if Carlson is allowed to kick a very makeable 56 yard FG on the first series. Punting was a defeatist coaching decision.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 19, 2023 at 09:37 pm
Al,
this Joisey boy also saw your last video in the game, and wondered why our DC didn't do what worked more often.
Your clip that won't embed here but still works on YT, Hollins and Hooper were in. I'm not sure if they're at fault? ATL had a sea of players crowding us out, protecting the run. You'd think we might give #28 that benefit sometime ...