Bowen Breaks It Down
Matt Bowen breaks down a Rodgers-to-Jennings touchdown pass over at the National Football Post.
By PackerAaron
Do yourself a favor and check out Matt Bowen's latest installment of "Inside the Playbook" over at the National Football Post. Today, Matt breaks down the 1st quarter touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jennings against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bowen had mentioned yesterday on Twitter that he was going to be writing on this play and I, semi-jokingly, Tweeted:
"You mean the one where the safety totally screwed up?"
His response was perfect:
Wouldn't say that. Pack beat the defense on this one. Safety could have made the tackle, but the scheme wins here.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am a hack blogger and he is a true pro.
My counter to that:
Rodgers makes a perfect throw, for sure. Thought the safety drifted too far to the middle. Look forward to the post.
Now, I was at my desk here at work going strictly off of memory - but looking at Matt's post, it's hard to say he isn't right. Sure, the safety should make the tackle, but the matching up of Jennings on a linebacker running down the middle of the field is a win for McCarthy and his scheme. (More personel games in favor of McCarthy) Even more specifically is Bowen pointing out how Driver's route affects the play of the safety, something I didn't take into account. That's the danger of drawing assumptions from plays you've seen, even many times, and committed to memory. I'll consider this a lesson learned.
Seriously, check out the play below and then check out Matt's post. Just fantastic stuff.
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Comments (10)
June 09, 2010 at 09:33 am
Man, that's pretty.
June 09, 2010 at 09:59 am
Matt Bowen is the man. And that scheme is great.
The athletic Finley also drew attention on the right side even if just a quick glance from defenders.
TT has given MM so many weapons.
It should be another exciting offensive season for the Pack.
June 09, 2010 at 11:35 am
That play from MM is just brilliant. With the 3WR 1TE 1RB formation, he gets the opposing DC thinking: Allright. 3 CBs for the Wrs, a LB for the RB and another one for the TE.
But he aligns Finley at WR and Jennings at "TE"!. The DC can't put the LB open wide, he's gonna blow his coverage! So, in that move, MM won. Of course, it helps that Rodgers throws a perfect pass (if you look at the film, I would've pumped and thrown to DD, he was getting wide open in the corner, but it was a perfect throw)...
June 09, 2010 at 11:45 am
Actually, everybody but Finley is open! Jones is wide open, and even Grant, if given the ball, can make the 1st down... I'd have to say throwing to Jennings, though it was the best pre-snap matchup, was the hardest throw to make!
June 09, 2010 at 11:37 am
SWEET and MORE COMING THIS TEAR
June 09, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Great throw by and decision making by Rodgers. However you have to take into account that the Steelers had Tyrone Carter in there instead of Troy Polamalu. Sure Bowen says that no matter who was playing that position, schematically the Packers won. However Polamalu definitely would've made the tackle on Jennings resulting in a big gain instead of a TD. Polamalu even has the breaking speed to cop the INT or force a fumble. However we may never know, and I dare not imagine what could've happened.
June 09, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Aside from Finley who draws a double team what Packers WR wasn't open on that play. Driver or Jones both would have netted a first down but the throw to Jennings and his subsequent RAC was a thing of beauty.
June 09, 2010 at 01:35 pm
haha i run that play all the time in Madden
PackerAaron
June 09, 2010 at 01:38 pm
Me too! :)
June 10, 2010 at 08:40 pm
Might be one of the prettiest throws in rodgers' short career