Cheesehead TV Matchup: Week 10 Offense

  • Bring the TE's Back Into the Backfield

Back when Mike McCarthy first got the job as Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers, he was promptly handed a rookie 7th round pick and two of the worst street free agents imaginable to take over the starting guard positions for the recently departed Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle. Rather than leave the likes of Adrian Klemm and Will Whitaker as the only things standing between a blitzing defense and his starting quarterback, McCarthy came up with the up-until-then novel approach of motioning not just one but two tight ends into the backfield from a shotgun set.

And you know what? It worked.

Then, in 2007, with a maturing offensive line and a veteran quarterback able to get himself out of most trouble that instant pressure presented, McCarthy got away from it. Oh sure, you still saw Donald Lee motion inside at the behest of the quarterback - examples abound in the 07 season, all the way up to the Championship game. But both tight ends in the backfield? On a passing down? Gone.

Then, at the beginning of the 2008 campaign, with a new signal caller taking over the reins and in charge of making the protection calls for the first time, McCarthy brought it back, albeit in limited doses. But it was definitely there - in fact, one of the best examples from last season is from the game against...the Cowboys. Take a look.

Fast forward to this season - and the look above has all but disappeared. Once again, you see Lee, Finley or Havner motioning into the backfield at Rodgers' behest on passing downs from a shotgun set, but only ever one at a time.

Well, it's time for McCarthy to bring back the two tight end shotgun backfield in full force.

If we've learned anything this season it's that this offensive line simply can not hold up over the course of a full 60 minutes of football. Sure, they may have nice stretches here and there - but sooner or later, the dam is going to break and all hell breaks loose in the Packers backfield. With both tight ends back there, sure there are fewer guys out in the route, and sure defenses will simply start to play coverage when they see that look (in fact, we saw some of that in the Cowboy game shown above) but getting them back there would certainly solve a lot of the issues that have plagued McCarthy's protection schemes this year.

The other thing having them back there would do? Settle down the quarterback. Watch Rodgers in the clip above. Watch how he gets the ball out in perfect rhythm. Watch how he makes his read and decisively makes his throw without hesitation. In that one play, he's doing all the things he's NOT doing this year - or at least doing less and less of as the year goes on.

McCarthy has been a stubborn son of a bitch up until this point regarding leaving his offensive line to fend for itself. Yes, he's had his backs and tight ends 'chipping', but not nearly enough and rarely in obvious passing downs. If the Packers are to survive not only the Cowboy's pass rush, but the bevy of pressure that is coming on their schedule from the likes of the 49ers, Ravens and Steelers, McCarthy has to swallow his pride and get this protection problem solved once and for all.

It starts with getting his tight ends back into the backfield - full time if needs be.

 

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Comments (15)

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NickGBP's picture

November 14, 2009 at 12:17 am

They've done that set numbers of times this season, but haven't seen them motion two TEs to it though.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 14, 2009 at 12:21 am

We kept 7 in to block 5 in the clip above. Might save the QB from a career ending hit, but won't do much else over any sustained period of time, allows a good defense WAY to many options in coverage. And this year, it might take 8 to get the same result. Hate to be so bleak, just disgusted with our protection issues.

Thanks for doing that on your Friday night Aaron, seriously.

GBP 4 LIFE

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 14, 2009 at 12:26 am

Some TE screens out of that would be nice. Especially when J-Fin gets back. Burn 'em with that a couple times, might slow down the pass rush???

GBP 4 LIFE

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PackerAaron's picture

November 14, 2009 at 12:36 am

"won’t do much else over any sustained period of time" - it doesn't need to. I don't expect to see it every down. But the sacks are destroying this team. The best chance McCarthy has is getting them back there in obvious passing downs - nothing says they have to STAY back there. Yes, screens, middle smash routes, the options are endless. But first and foremost, McCarthy needs to say "Our QB is DONE getting hit" and put the onus on the guys out in the pattern to get open. They have the talent on hand to make it work.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 14, 2009 at 02:19 am

"But first and foremost, McCarthy needs to say “Our QB is DONE getting hit” and put the onus on the guys out in the pattern to get open. They have the talent on hand to make it work."

AHHHHHH, there's that sticky wicket. God Da--it Aaron, I hear ya man. But, If coach hasn't said it YET (after being the laughing stock of the league as far as pass pro goes), what makes you think it could happen now? Shoulda happened after Cincy, that's the first time I realized we were in trouble... EH' HEM... Antwan Odom anyone (If Adawale didn't get your attention week 1)?

BUT, youre' absolutely correct,

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 14, 2009 at 02:22 am

^^^^^^^^

We DO have the talent to make it work. That's why I will NEVER count us out of a game. I'm hoping I lose $$$ on this game just so we can flip the MOJO!

GBP 4 LIFE

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Dilligaff's picture

November 14, 2009 at 09:25 am

It takes a combination of things to make this offense work with the personal we have. I like the change in the line with starting Lang at RT. Still have serious questions about Colledge. A-rod will have to work within the 3 second or less rule. Anything comes open in that time hit it, don't wait for something to develop. I would rather see the Pack take 8 to 10 minutes to score than a one play 48 yard TD pass. We win this game with time of possession, keep Romo off the field. With this offensive line that big play deep pass should not even be in our game plan early, use only when have to. TIME OF POSSESSION WINS THIS GAME, plain and simple. Quick scores combined with 6 or more sacks, spells trouble. The only good that comes out of that is A-rod's QB rating.

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PackersRS's picture

November 14, 2009 at 02:35 pm

I prefer the Patriots, and now Broncos, approach. 5 wide spread, quick patters. I know we have used 3 and 4 wide sets, but rarely there are quick routes.
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And even better, do what the Cardinals do: make routes so that a quick pass is open, and the other receivers are already set to block. A lot of times you'll see Boldin run a deeper route than, say, Breaston. When the ball is passed to Breaston, Boldin is in perfect place to block the incumbent defender.

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nerdmann's picture

November 14, 2009 at 04:27 pm

We've got three FBs this year. LOL.

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Ron La Canne's picture

November 14, 2009 at 05:41 pm

Dear Offense.

P;ease keep Aaron Rosgers alive. Don't fumble. throw interceptions of continue to commit stupid penalties. Any thing more is asking too much!

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Cuphound's picture

November 14, 2009 at 09:17 pm

> McCarthy has been a stubborn son of a
> bitch up until this point regarding
> leaving his offensive line to fend for
> itself.
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I think you've isolated a key personality trait there, Aaron. He is hell bent on imposing his vision on these men, irrespective of their ability to live up to that vision. And yeah, football is about imposing order on chaos. This isn't hockey. But his utter lack of fluidity, his complete inability to adapt his vision to his material (meaning the men) suggest he's a weak and arrogant strategist.
*
Moreover, I'm beginning to wonder if you're right about his emotional range. You once wrote that he was capable of yelling. Perhaps he is, but he's as affectively flat a man as I've ever seen on television. I don't think he's capable of lighting a fire under players' asses and, even worse, I don't think that he can inspire the men.
*
Professional sports is different from other kinds of work. The only thing that is similar is combat and combat has the advantage of being a life and death affair. Pro sports requires every ounce of a soldier's dedication but can't provide the same consequences. A coach has to make men live for a dream. I don't see that here.
*
I'd love for us to get better this year. I don't think we will, but this despite the pain, this is a learning opportunity for me. We get to see just how self-destructive this man really is. It ought to be interesting. It'll hurt like hell, but it won't be boring.

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Glorious80s's picture

November 14, 2009 at 09:34 pm

AN: "The best chance McCarthy has is getting them back there in obvious passing downs – nothing says they have to STAY back there. Yes, screens, middle smash routes, the options are endless..."
I like the idea of middle smash routes for the TEs in pass situations. Middle smash routes may be the key to the game -going after the Dallas front lines, wearing them down.
But, I would rather hope they would do that with the running game to start and continue as needed. Yeah, three FBs, why not, or a combination RBs and FBs. Right in the D line's face.
Until they soften up that front, force them to bring in help, prove the GB running game is effective, AR won't have a second against the size and speed of that line. Lead with the passing game and GB will lose.
Also the ability of the FBs and RBs to run, catch and block gives some unpredictability.
Neither will the D get into the Dallas backfield without going after that line.
PackerRS, agreed re: using the WRs to help block or at least tie up some defenders when they are not in on the play.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 14, 2009 at 10:42 pm

Cuphound,

I totally agree about Coach. I don't think Mike is the kinda guy to inspire greatness or get the most out of his players. Watching the guy on the sidelines is about as pathetic as watching him in a post game press conference. If he had control over his men, the penalties would "get cleaned up", the pad level would "get cleaned up". 3+ years in, my opinion is formed, Mike won't take the GBP where we want them to be... it's time to move on (after the season of course).

GBP 4 LIFE

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WoodyG's picture

November 15, 2009 at 08:15 am

Love all the psycho-analysis by fans based on a TV image....... Kinda like having your doctor determine your illness via a telephone conversation.... Not very reliable ...... But leave it up to fans to grasp at straws when the problems & (of course) the solutions are so obvious .......... At least to that fan who can be right or wrong with zero consequences...... Just as real combat is a different animal from the 'movies' I would suggest that a HC could very well be unlike his 3" image transmitted on your LCD screen..........

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PACKERS's picture

November 15, 2009 at 09:47 am

All great ideas, but, as usual, Mike will doing something completely illogical, and blow the game again. I think that the only way that Ted could save himself is to hire you as his offensive coordinator ;)

By the way, has anyone seen the New York Times sports section. Painfully hilarious.

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