The Cincinnati Bengals game is quickly fading in the rearview mirror for the Green Bay Packers, but I wanted to take a quick look at 2 plays before it fully fades from view. Both of these are short-yardage
plays with the same basic set-up, but with slightly different ways to win.
Play 1: 4th & 1, 10:51 remaining in the 1st quarter
This first play takes place on the Packers’ first drive of the game. After a good start to the drive, they’re now facing 4th & 1 at the Bengals’ 26-yard line. They want to end the drive in a touchdown, so they go for it on 4th down in field goal range in an attempt to achieve that goal.
They’re in 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) in an empty formation. It’s a tight, 3×2 formation, with Josh Jacobs [8] in-line on the right, Tucker Kraft [85] in-line on the left, and the receivers in tight splits on either side.
Before the snap, Jordan Love [10] approaches the line, looking like he’s giving instructions at the line. The Bengals’ defense is still getting set, with one defender telling another where to get lined up. The defensive line is in place, but there is a relaxation on that side of the ball.
As Love gets behind the center, he quickly ducks under, gives the signal, and the line shoves forward for a QB sneak. They pick up 2 yards and the 1st down, and I want to make sure we take a look at the linebackers. They’re spread out, and none of them are running downhill until after Love is already pushing forward.
They didn’t end up scoring a TD to end the drive – it ended a few plays later on an interception – but I like that they went for it, and I like the slow-play of the sneak itself.
Play 2: 3rd & 1, 9:07 remaining in the 4th quarter
We now find ourselves in the 4th quarter, with the Packers facing 3rd & 1 at the Bengals’ 38-yard line. The Bengals kicked a field goal to end their previous drive, cutting the Packers’ lead to 7. Now up 17-10, the Packers want a touchdown here to put 14 points between themselves and the slow-charging Bengals.
This time they’re in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) and Love has Jacobs in the backfield with him, but the general approach is the same. They’re in a tight look, and Love approaches the line. The first couple of steps are fairly slow, but then it’s a hard charge. He’s trying to get a reaction from the linebackers, and they kindly oblige. “We are not going to fall for your tricks again, sir.”
Only this time it’s a different trick. With the linebackers biting hard up to the line, Love snaps the ball, fakes a handoff to Jacobs, then boots out to the right. It’s basically a frontside PA Boot – something we’ve seen a thousand times in the LaFleur Wide Zone era – but dressed up a bit.
To their credit, the Bengals do a good job of covering the routes. Luke Musgrave [88] is running a Slam route off the line, where he initially blocks, then simply releases and sifts through space for an opening. If Love has another half second, he likely finds Mugrave leaking out behind the pressure. But, since inviting pressure is kind of the name of the game on this concept, it’s not surprising that he doesn’t have that extra half-second.
Love ends up finding an escape hatch, picking up 3 yards and the 1st down.
The Packers would score a touchdown on a Tucker Kraft TD 2 plays later to take a 24-10 lead.
Album listened to: D’Angelo – Voodoo
