Changes in store for McCarthy's scheme?

Are the Packers in store for big changes on offense this season? There's evidence to suggest the answer is yes. 

Are the Packers in store for big changes on offense this season? If you were to ask McCarthy, he’d probably say that during his tenure in Green Bay, the offense has never stopped changing. Ask folks paid to analyze and write about pro football, and they’d argue, instead, that staleness has swept over the Packers offense in recent seasons. 
 
Two of the main culprits, they’d argue, are the Packers’ over-reliance on isolation routes and their “11 personnel” grouping. For years, the bread-and-butter for Rodgers and Co. came from the deployment of three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end. In the heyday, this featured some combination at receiver of Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, Donald Driver and James Jones, with Jermichael Finley at tight end, and whomever was healthy lined up at back. 
 
This isolation route spread attack was deadly, in no small degree to Aaron Rodgers’ legendary skills, and the fact that those skill players were gifted at getting open. Along the way, though, McCarthy’s scheme continued to evolve. In 2011, with Rodgers just reaching the height of his powers – where thankfully he’s remained to this day – McCarthy employed a multiple-formation attack. 
 
Defenses couldn’t rest with Packer substitutions coming on and off the field every other play. On one play, an inverted wishbone with multiple backs and tight ends; on the next play, an empty set with four or five receivers. Combined with the team’s iso attack, the Packers posted absurd numbers and led the league in yards per play, points per game and other categories, to boot. 
 
The continued infusion of hurry-up concepts may have been responsible for the move away from the team’s multiple formation attack. In 2015 and for a chunk of ’16 before things turned, the Packers were hammered by experts for their seeming addiction to isolation routes, which largely weren’t working, and that 11 personnel – which wasn’t working. 
 
Opposing defenses were content to drop two safeties deep, man-up underneath, and let the pass rush do its job with just four. When the Packers made a big play, it usually came in the form of a free play from a Rodgers’ dummy count drawing a lineman offside. Other times, Rodgers would dance around in the pocket and find an outlet several seconds into the play. Backyard football. 
 
In any event, it’s not a reliable or consistent way to move the chains. 
 
For all that was stale in 2015 and part of ’16 evaporated down the stretch last season. It’s hard to argue the offense played poorly when Rodgers finished the season leading the league in touchdown passes. Clearly something changed. 
 
Green Bay lacks top-end speed with Nelson, Adams and Cobb. In a pure straight-line sense, Nelson is probably the fastest of the three – and he’s 32 years old and about a year-and-a-half removed from a significant knee injury. But with Jared Cook on the field, and Ty Montgomery operating out of the backfield, the Packers had enough set pieces to once again challenge opposing defenses. 
 
The question for now is: Will McCarthy return to multiple, rather than at-times myopic? There’s some suggestive evidence that’s the case. 
 
As Rob Demovsky wrote for ESPN.com, McCarthy and his coaching staff recently went through the most thorough self-scouting process in his tenure. Looking at every single game from the season and postseason, the offense scouted the defense and vice versa – with the goal of pointing out strengths, weaknesses and ways to attack. 
 
A season ago, Green Bay rarely used two tight end sets. When they did, they were highly successful. They’ll go into 2017 with three veterans at the position, led by free agent acquisitions Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks, as well as Richard Rodgers. 
 
The Packers took a hard look at the themselves, and the hope here is that McCarthy is learning that a balanced attack – using multiple players, personnel groupings and formations, combined with the isolation spread concepts they’ve had success with – best positions the team to put up points. 
 
McCarthy’s offenses have been looked at as cutting edge – like the aforementioned multiple sets, or the team’s use of packaged plays – but that piece of his resume was challenged for over a calendar year when things appeared to be getting stale. 
 
If their recent offseason exercise and free-agent focus on tight ends is any indication, there’s hope that conceptual shakeup is underway. 
 
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Comments (14)

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Matt Gonzales's picture

March 24, 2017 at 12:33 pm

There are so many packages/formations that can be played with a 1 or 2 TE grouping and will Ty in the backfield I think we could see some interesting stuff this year.

Put 2 TEs, Monty, and either Jordy or Adams on the field. The same personnel could give you a jumbo running package, traditional run with a TE as the lead blocker, or an empty backfield with anywhere from 1-4 receiving options. Not to mention multiple screens, slants, draws, or even the occasional end around or sweep (multiple possible play options from the same formation).

I love the idea of GB playing hurry up, lining up exactly the same way 3 times and calling 3 totally different plays. It would be the most balanced pick your poison offense we've had for years.

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zoellner25's picture

March 24, 2017 at 01:37 pm

Hopefully the self scout produced the findings that most of us have talked about for a long time. MM is predictable with formations and routes on offense and our defense is slow and terrible on the corners. MM should watch tape of Kyle Shanahan's offense against our D and it is pretty obvious.

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croatpackfan's picture

March 24, 2017 at 04:41 pm

If this is so, I would like to know, why Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) were able to keep that unstoppable offense at 14 points, and why Giants was able to stop that offense in divisional round at Lambeau. I'm asking seriously, I'm not joking...

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dnicholson's picture

March 24, 2017 at 05:33 pm

Turnovers. Those were the only two games they lost that season, and on the whole the GB defense took a massive step back.

You don't reasonably think they should have dominated offensively every single time out?

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croatpackfan's picture

March 25, 2017 at 03:11 pm

Thank you, David. I really wanted to hear some kind of explanation. It may be that simple, I don't know...
As I recall, there was some analysis which states that the problem with KC game was cover 2 played by KC D, which removed a lot of pass possibilities for Packers O. And I think Giants were playing same D at Lambeau. But I might be wrong...

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TXCHEESE's picture

March 24, 2017 at 04:52 pm

It became obvious that the Packers couldn't run the ball at the end of 2011. The front four of KC and NY were talented enough to rush the passer with 4 and flood the zones. With a 2 tight end set GB will have enough horses on the field to attack a light in the pants, pass defense. It's about matchups. If the defense pulls down safeties to help with the run, you hit them down the seam or over the top, or on the edges. One additional defender in pass defense makes a huge difference.

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worztik's picture

March 24, 2017 at 06:37 pm

I just love it when the comments made are about past seasons! This is 2017 and forget the past but, hopefully and most assuredly, the men in power have learned from it as most intelligent coaches do!!! We can talk smart about what our team should do and how they should do it but, what the hell do we know... for sure??? NOTHING... Let's discuss and cheer the Pack on, as I have for 57 years but, to critique MM's play calling or game plans or schemes only shows how ignorant we truly are!!!!!!

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Michael Grunewald's picture

March 24, 2017 at 07:28 pm

I have bled green and gold my entire life. My first chldhoood memory is the Ice Bowl. I commend you for your loyalty. However, understand it doesn't diminish the loyalty or imply "ignorance" to challenge the scheme, the play calling, or the personnel brought in by the GM. I remember all too well the twenty year stretch of futility, starting shortly after Starr's retirement and lasting through Favre's emergence. Rodgers window is closing. The odds of catching lightning in a bottle a third straight time at the quarterback position are slim and none. This team could be staring at another trip through the Dark Ages ....so it is critical for the staff to evaluate their performance and Thompson to look in the mirror. Would especially like to see Capers shake things up. Get away from that 2-5 BS, stay aggressive with a lead.

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worztik's picture

March 24, 2017 at 06:40 pm

Next I'll be reading about how we should be running the wildcat option!!!!!!!!!

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canadapacker's picture

March 24, 2017 at 11:41 pm

I like this article. I would also like to see the Pack change their strategy a bit. I used to get very frustrated with getting 8 yards on first yard, have a running play stuffed for a loss of 3 yards because the Oline gets pushed into the backfield, followed by an incomplete pass - 3 and out. I like having Monty in the backfield with 2 big Tight ends and Adams and Nelson or Cobb and Nelson on the field. Imagine the plays that can be run. I hope that perhaps with Spriggs 6' 6" 310 lbs bulking up and Bakts, Bulaga, and even Barclay - all over 300 lbs - we can push some guys around. I dont know about this zone blocking scheme but somehow we need to be able to convert 2 and 3rd and 1 or 2 yards more regularly on the ground - even if the other teams stack the line of scrimmage. That will allow us to get the big plays off of play action. Without that it is same old same old - When AR is on we win - if he is so - so it is a tight game.

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Matt Gonzales's picture

March 25, 2017 at 08:26 am

I'd love to see more effectiveness in the short yardage running game, but third down efficiency seemed to really improve last year after Cook came back and you had Monty/Michael in the backfield. Not sure how or if stats support that - just an anecdotal observation.

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porupack's picture

March 25, 2017 at 12:30 am

Good points David. Thanks for article.

IIRC, packers had some years with pretty weak Oline. Ironically, 2015 and 2016, had probably the top Oline in the league. So one would conclude all the isolation routes stood a high chance of working if Rodgers has time in the pocket.

Yet, it seems Rodgers had time largely because of his knack for eluding a sack and scrambling, and receivers couldn't get open consistently...even with solid Oline. So I sometimes wondered if the Oline was overated. You suggest a little the same, when you stated 'other teams content to rush with 4'. Curious for you to elaborate on whether the Oline (on good or poor years) had a key factor in MM scheme.

But back to the point, yes, glad you mention the potential of 2 TEs able to bring out new formations/schemes.

Finally; I'm cautious on the Bennett signing, and felt its not necessarily an upgrade over cook. One can't take 'chemistry' for granted, and if it starts to work with Cook-Rodgers, then not necessarily works with Bennett-Rodgers.
What has the savior Jimmy Graham done for Seattle? So, I'm not ready to say Bennett makes us better than last year, but very hopeful.

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canadapacker's picture

March 25, 2017 at 01:20 am

Cook got chemistry near the end of the year. But he started off injured and then had another injury later. Also we remember the catch near the end of the game but what about all the drops. I am hopeful that with Bennett and Kendricks we will have at least one of them on the field all of the time ( and maybe we will still have Rodgers as a 3rd tight end). I also like Bennett in the end zone. Not having to wait for Cobb to get open - bust it down to Bennett like Brady did all year long.

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Spock's picture

March 25, 2017 at 11:57 am

I've been saying on multiple threads here that I expect this season to have a WAY different look with the addition of two tight ends. Ever since Kendricks was picked up along with Bennet I've been excited about all the possible formations/plays that can be put in. I think MM got a "refreshed" coaching mindset when he had to get creative after Lacy and Starks went down. It seemed to make him an even better offensive coach and I believe he will be much more creative this season. Should be fun to watch!

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