Cheesehead TV Matchup: Week 1 Offense

OFFENSE

  • Enter: Jermichael Finley

Not since the days of Keith Jackson and Mark Chumura will Packers fans have seen as many two tight end sets as they are set to see in 2009. The second year phenom out of Texas is as good as advertised and will present a nightmare matchup, not just for the Bears but for almost every NFL defense the Packers face this season. I know there are sceptics that like to point to Finley's youth and lack of NFL experience, but I'm here to tell you, after going back and re-watching his preseason performance - the time is now for Jermichael. Yes, he still has miles to go, but you can already see the quantum leap forward his game has taken just by watching his blocking and comparing it to last year. It's night and day, and that's just in the run game.

In the passing game, obviously, is where Finley will do his damage and Chicago presents a perfect opponent for his coming out party. Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 can be beat two ways: By bludgeoning it to death with power runs up the middle and by knifing it down the middle with an athletic tight end. The Packers did the former last year at Lambeau and are set to do it again on Sunday night. And for the first time in a long time, they are set to do the latter with the explosive Finley. Be ready to see two or three plays early out of the classic two tight end Ace formation, with the Finely and Donald Lee serving as bookends to the offensive line in the run game. Then, watch for Rodgers to split Finley wide when he sees the Bears go into a Cover 1 look to try and help stop the run. With Finley out wide, the Bears will be caught trying to match him up either with Daniel Manning or Kevin Payne.

Here's what happened the last time Payne matched up with Finley outside:

  • Look For Jennings In the Slot In Four Verticals

Another way McCarthy likes to bust the Tampa 2 is by using an evenly spread formation and attacking the linebacker drops with four verticals, a play where the Packers will send all four receivers in the formation straight up the field. The inside receivers on either side are the main targets, though Rodgers definitely favored his open side to his right last season.

McCarthy likes to mix and match his personnel in his spread formations and will sometimes have a tight end as one of the inside receivers, but the play is truly effective when Jennings and Driver are moved into the slot as they are in the clip below. This play was run to both Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey last year with various degrees of success, but against the classic Cover 2 shown by the Bears, using Jennings is an absolute triumph for McCarthy. You can see that Jennings' whole job is to get past the linebackers drop and expect the ball immediately after. This was on 3rd and 5 on the Packers 17 yard line and you can see, as I wrote earlier in the week, how completely terrified the Bears are of getting beat deep because the safeties drop to near the 40. Payne especially (are we sensing a theme here?) is way too deep in his drop and it is what allows Jennings the room he needs to turn this into a big play.

Coming up later this afternoon, I'll take a look at the Packers defense and how I think they'll matchup against a revitalized Bears offense.

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

0 points
 

Comments (13)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
VApackerfan's picture

September 11, 2009 at 12:08 am

Great videos and insight. I think the TE's will be worked early in conjunction with runs up the middle. Then Rodgers hits Jennings/Driver deep once the defense shrinks. The beauty of Finley is that not many people know about him. Just the other day NFL network was highlighting some players to watch, and they mentioned Donald Lee. The much bigger surprise will be Finley.

0 points
0
0
Holly's picture

September 11, 2009 at 05:38 am

Great insight, Aaron - I like that you're using videos this year. The visual learner in me thanks you. I'm really looking forward to seeing Finley play, and if MM can call some 2-TE plays that have been collecting dust the last several seasons, I'm not sure how the Bears can prepare for that (even if they do practice against an offense with a great TE tandem). I have to admit, though, that after watching the Steelers-Titans game, there's nothing like seeing bruising hits to make me temper my expectations for our season. Each of those teams is scary-good. However...if our D looks anything like either of those teams this year, I'm going to have some trouble picking my jaws up off the floor. But, it's Friday, and so while I have to wear a blazer today, I'll be wearing my Packer T-shirt underneath. Go Pack!

0 points
0
0
Ruppert's picture

September 11, 2009 at 07:21 am

Nice work, Aaron. Finley stepping up really could turn this offense into a machine. It was fantastic, watching real football last night!!!

0 points
0
0
manolito's picture

September 11, 2009 at 07:58 am

Love these posts with video examples. Keep 'em coming, Aaron.

0 points
0
0
DaveK's picture

September 11, 2009 at 08:55 am

I couldn't agree more Aaron. The Bear's safeties and corners are not exactly great and they will be playing cover 2 in fear of Driver and Jennings. Look for Finley to run past the LB's and split the safeties. I also don't think the Bears have great NT's anymore and that will allow our lineman to get to the second level. Urlacher can run but if you can put a helmet on him he becomes very average. He just isn't great at shedding a blocker and making a play. The Bears just don't have the players to be a great tampe 2 defense anymore and the Packers weapons just match up well against this team. Turnovers are always key and can take sure points off the board but I see the Packer offense scoring at least 28.

Will that be enough? I really don't know. There are just so many unknowns about the Bear's offense and the Packers defense. I think all the pre-season turnovers masked some serious issues lurking on the defensive side for the Packers. I look forward to your post on the Packer's defense.

0 points
0
0
DanTX's picture

September 11, 2009 at 09:16 am

Nice analysis. I would be curious to see how Finley does down the middle going over the top before they hit the safeties, just like plays to Chumura. This way the ball could be more vertical and away from the LB, but there's more of a trust factor with sure hands.

0 points
0
0
PackersRS's picture

September 11, 2009 at 10:09 am

Great work. My take on the tampa 2 passing game is to call for the wide receiver to run a hitch, and the slot receiver, or the tight end in the same side to run an out post, between the corner and the safety. I's even better with the slot receiver, and one TE running a go. The corner follows the hitch, and the safety needs to decide if he takes the go or the post, freeing one of them. But you all knew that...

0 points
0
0
AdamInEngland's picture

September 11, 2009 at 10:32 am

Nice to see Smart Football having an influence on your posts recently Aaron ;)

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

September 11, 2009 at 10:39 am

AdamInEngland - ha! I've always wanted to do this type of thing but have been severely limited by the lack of available video. BIG thanks to Corey for making my dreams come true.. ;)

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

September 11, 2009 at 11:17 am

Finley has yet to earn the title, phenom. But, he will be one of the keys for Sunday. The cover two has limits. Covering all receivers requires mismatches in coverage by its' defenition. I can't wait to see a LB trying to cover Finley on a stop and go. AWSOME!

0 points
0
0
aalshinard's picture

September 11, 2009 at 12:12 pm

im definitely looking for Finley to give some lessons in "swagology" - as he likes to put it, on sunday. When I was watching the game last night, specifically the part where Collins got sacked twice in a row.. I couldn't help think that Aaron Rodgers would have turned those plays into an easy touchdown. Cant wait for the season!

0 points
0
0
Oppy's picture

September 11, 2009 at 12:30 pm

IMO, Finley's (hopeful) emergence is exactly what Green Bay needs to consistently break Chicago's Tampa 2...
.
Urlacher, while he may have lost a step over the years, still has the lateral agility and hip swivel to be the effective deep middle zone defender the scheme requires to be a stingy defense. Finley could be the Packers' first TE with the pure athletic ability and size combination to effectively challenge and negate Urlacher's blanketing and play making ability over the deep middle of the field.
.
Great analysis, Aaron. This is my first season as a CheeseheadTV Junkie, and your play break-downs are icing on the cake. Keep it coming.
.
Can't wait! Go Pack!

0 points
0
0
FITZCORE1252's picture

September 11, 2009 at 08:34 pm

Look for the PACK to use the "go to" inside slants early and catch the DB's getting nosy late... for a big SLUGGO over the top (Driver)!

GREAT WORK AARON

GBP 4 LIFE

0 points
0
0