New Toys Make McCarthy & Rodgers Even More Dangerous
Look for the expansion of the tight end/H-Back personnel group to give Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers even more options when attacking defenses.
By PackerAaron
Last year, I wrote about Mike McCarthy's expert use of personnel and how he is such a nightmare for defensive coordinators to gameplan against and to adjust to mid-game.
When the dust had settled on the 2011 NFL Draft, McCarthy found himself with several new toys to play with on offense. Much has been written about the addition of Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb - for good reason - but the additions of D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor could end up being even more intriguing from an Xs and Os standpoint.
As previously noted, McCarthy can use his personnel groups as creatively as any playcaller in the NFL. Note again how, for the defensive coordinator, both plays shown below started with them watching as three tight-ends ran out onto the field and into the offensive huddle. Then each play broke out into completely separate formations and playcalls:
On top of the playcaller being able to manipulate defensive coordinators, the ability to have malleable personnel enables the quarterback to do so as well. Take a look at the play below, taken from the Packers game against the Patriots. This was the play that leapt into my head when the Packers took D.J. Williams. Many observers were surprised when the Patriots took two tight ends in last years draft. After watching how Brady was able to use them to exploit various defenses, it seems the Patriots were more likely prescient in their approach.
Look how Brady has the offense in a two tight end set with a single back in what appears to be a run formation. (There's no way of knowing what the playcall is for sure, obviously) When Brady sees the strong safety come down to the strong side of the formation, he notices that he has a single high safety and a corner (Sam Sheilds, who the Pats clearly targeted throughout the game) matched up on the tight end Hernandez. Brady makes a simple adjustment at the line, splitting out Hernandez and sending him on a quick Out pattern, which he runs shortly after Brady ensures that the protection is set with the back moved to the strong side.
Here's the same play from the eye-in-the-sky:
This is an incredibly rudimentary example of the flexibility an expanded tight end presence would give both McCarthy and Rodgers. They will have fun playing their chess games against defenses next year and it could be a joy to watch.
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Comments (20)
May 17, 2011 at 02:07 am
Dude great breakdown. I was shocked when the pack drafted two tight ends, But they could become great weapons in our offense as you pointed out. and with Ryan Taylor supposedly very good on special teams and haveing played some linebacker (although i doubt he plays linebacker at the nfl level?) he might replace one of the fullbacks on the 53 man roster.
May 17, 2011 at 02:20 am
Last year was the worst year for tight ends in a Packer uniform in quite a while.
What I want to know about the offense is how they plan to break out of the prolonged slumps they had in the first 2/3 of the season. The defense felt like it carried the team for an extended time - even causing McCarthy to want his defense on the field first if he won the coin toss to set the tone for the game. It seems like ages since we've had such a poor offense because of inconsistency. I'm not saying they were outright bad, but rather incredibly inconsistent, especially compared to Rodgers' first few seasons. I'd like an analysis of what clicked in the playoffs. Was it simply the introduction of a threatening running game? Did Rodgers have different receiver sets and make more productive reads? What was missing and how can we incorporate our playoff experience into the start of a new year?
Also, with the (pending) departure of Brandon Jackson, our offense will be missing that shifty/elusive running back. I haven't read any scouting reports on him, so I pose to you this question: is there a chance Cobb fills this role next year (not in the wildcat formation)?
May 17, 2011 at 06:24 am
I know this horse has been beaten to death, but I still think the major injuries at the beginning of the season played a big part in this. Losing your star running back and tight end will really mess with your scheme and preparation.
Because let's face it, no one was able to adequately replace Finley or Grant. (Keeping in mind that Starks didn't come around until much later in the season.)
PackerAaron
May 17, 2011 at 10:46 am
"What I want to know about the offense is how they plan to break out of the prolonged slumps they had in the first 2/3 of the season." McCarthy shares your concern. He addressed this several times at the Combine. He is def looking at this long and hard...
May 19, 2011 at 01:33 am
McCarthy does unusual things with fullbacks and tight ends. The bone (if they really call it that) is fascinating, encompassing all kinds of oddly loaded looks including a few things that almost look like a single wing. In general, he has shown a tendency to use them interchangeably. A player like Finley forced some changes. In 2009, Havner had a field day being the second tight end opposite Jermichael (mostly) and Donald Lee. When Finley went down, it took some time to ramp back up to a new kind of system that looked a lot like '08 with even more backfield duty. My favorite TE play of the season is the failed pass to Quarless on fourth down in the second quarter of the home game against the Vikings, it didn't work, but I loved everything except Andrew tripping himself.
That's the amazing aspect of 2010 from an offensive perspective. In the first five games, the Packers lost Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley; they were in flux for a while but still won it all.
Alex Green is the replacement for Jackson, should Brandon wind up leaving.
maxginsberg
May 17, 2011 at 07:21 am
I look forward to seeing McCarthy and Rodgers work next season (whenever that is).
Anyone else notice the blitzing linebacker Brandon Jackson picks up so well in the second video? B-Jax is great at that, and it allowed the play to happen. It would be nice to see him back there again next season.
May 17, 2011 at 07:56 am
And if you look in the first video, you'll notice Tauscher getting totally beaten on his block, then Wells whiffing his second block...
But yes, Jackson is definitely a commodity when it comes to pass protection.
May 17, 2011 at 07:37 pm
I also notice what appears to be a gaping hole to the right that Ryan 'no vision' Grant misses.
PackerAaron
May 18, 2011 at 01:14 am
...which is easy to see after the fact on film....
May 18, 2011 at 06:52 am
For a "peon" like Grant says, yes, it's only visible after the film.
For a starting RB in the NFL, that's a huge hole, one he should've seen.
(am a Grant supporter but that's unexcusable)
PackerAaron
May 18, 2011 at 08:51 am
Calmer than you are dude.
May 18, 2011 at 10:29 am
"calmer than you are dude."?
What is this I don't even...
PackerAaron
May 18, 2011 at 11:37 am
Obviously, you're not a golfer.
May 18, 2011 at 11:46 am
Is it possible some people have yet to see 'The Big Lebowski'?? :)
May 18, 2011 at 01:29 pm
That some kind of geek, lame movie like Star Wars?
/ducks
May 18, 2011 at 03:29 pm
Far from it. It's hysterical. Watch it.
May 18, 2011 at 03:31 pm
And you are correct, a starting RB in the NFL needs to notice a hole opening wide enough to drive a truck through... without film.
May 17, 2011 at 08:23 am
Hopefully the drafting of Williams and Taylor will not only be of benefit to us schematically but also from a personnel standpoint. As H-backs if they can get the job done it would certainly be nice to go from 4 TEs and 3 FBs to 2 TEs, 2TE/FBs, and 1 FB. In theory that would get the same (or hopefully better) production out of 5 roster spots that you are currently using 7 on. With all the talent this team has roster spots are going to be at a premium. Two "extra" roster spots would be huge.
May 17, 2011 at 10:06 am
I love how MM can scheme the extra TE/H-Backs creating a pick-your-poison for opposing DC's. Does the DC go big to combat their bulk or small to combat their speed. Either way there are mismatches AR can exploit. MM could even go 4 TE and Green...and then spread them out 5 wide...sweeeeet!
I could see our final roster breakdown of
WR-TE-FB-RB as
5-4-1-4 (If Jackson returns)
5-5-1-3 (If he doesn't)
4-5-1-3 (If they use the TE as WR, I'm also assuming Jones is gone)
This last choice does free a roster spot for somewhere else.
TE's fill the same role as FB's on ST's so no downside there either.
May 17, 2011 at 11:32 am
I agree that McCarthy does not always get credit for putting together creative packages that stress opposing defenses.
The Pack should keep just one true full-back(Kuhn,sorry Korey and Quinn)and 5 receivers(Jennings, Driver, Cobb, Nelson and possibly Jones) in addition to 4 TE's(Finley, Quarless, Williams and Crabtree) and 4 half-backs (Starks, Jackson, Grant and Green).
The permutations of passing plays, including screens, draws and reverses seems endless with this bunch since Finley is already a great receiver, Quarless could be and Williams is expected to be. Also, running backs Jackson and Green should be assets coming out of the back-field even if used as saftey valves.
I think the grouping in this e-mail provides depth in case of injuries(BTW, you heard it here first, Jordy will have knee problems throughout the next season unless he gets scoped or something) and great flexibility for a new form of McCarthyism.
P.S. Shields got caught looking in the backfield in the Pats video above and took a bad first step and angle(and poor tackle). Shows you how important technique is when you consider a good athlete such as Sam cannot shield himself from getting burned with speed alone.