Jets Film Review: Bulaga Struggles In Win

It may be glossed over in a victory, but rookie right tackle Bryan Bulaga was guilty of several bad runs and giving up a sack on Sunday in New York.

Taking a look inside the Xs & Os, personnel and schemes after watching video of the Packers' 9-0 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday...

Offense

  • If there's evidence that Mark Tauscher will return to the starting right tackle job once he's fully healthy, Sunday may have been it. Very quietly, rookie right tackle Bryan Bulaga struggled against the Jets. There were four plays in which Bulaga was guilty of "bad runs" where he either couldn't get to second level or couldn't sustain blocks. Bulaga also appeared to be guilty on third quarter first-and-10 play where he had no help in the offensive backfield and failed to pick up edge blitz. The victory will go a long way to overlooking Bulaga's shortcomings, but make no mistake, he had more than his fair share of struggles.
  • With only three running backs on the active roster to begin the game and then injuries to both Donald Driver and Andrew Quarless during the game, the Packers were quite limited in their offensive personnel late in the game.
  • For what it's worth, tight end Donald Lee took part in only 2 of the team's first 28 offensive plays. Then he played in 18 of team's final 36 plays, in which the injury to Quarless played a part.
  • The Packers used a T-formation (for lack of a better term) two times on Sunday in which Korey Hall and Brandon Jackson flanked quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the shotgun. To my knowledge, it's the first time they've used that formation this season. It was particularly effective in the fourth quarter when on a first-and-10, Jackson got the ball, criss-crossed with Hall, and ran for a first down.
  • It's too bad Aaron Rodgers went to Donald Driver on his first quarter drop. The screen pass option to Brandon Jackson was set up perfectly underneath.
  • Is it just me or have the Packers gone to the well one too many times on the misdirection rollout? It hasn't worked for a couple weeks.

Defense

  • I couldn't really discern a pattern for which situations the Packers chose to use newly acquired outside linebacker Eric Walden, except that he only played in the nickel for seven snaps and he was strictly used as a pass rusher whereas Frank Zombo would occasionally line up at inside linebacker and would drop into coverage. Zombo played 66 snaps.
  • For the second consecutive week, Brandon Chillar appeared to be "benched" late in the football game. The company line may be that the Packers are limiting his snaps as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury, but his so-called benching happened to come not long after he was flagged for pass interference, one of only three Packers penalties on the day. Earlier in game, Chillar had been playing in place Desmond Bishop in third down (though not first or second down) nickel situations.
  • The Packers had Cullen Jenkins, Jarius Wynn and Michael Montgomery to choose from, but they still used T.J. Lang anyway on the Jets fourth quarter fourth-and-1 conversion.
  • The Packers played 33 snaps in base defense, 37 in nickel, 1 in "Hippo" and 1 prevent defense on the very last play of the game with Anthony Smith and Jarrett Bush on the field.
  • I don't know if he's taught to do it or not, but B.J. Raji dropped into coverage on a Jets second quarter third-and-15 play when he saw LaDanian Tomlinson come through the line of scrimmage.
  • The Packers did some of their least blitzing of the season, sending someone off the line of scrimmage only 12 times total.
  • Charlie Peprah looked even better on tape than he did live.

Special Teams

  • Before he left the game with an ankle sprain, Tim Masthay could thank Pat Lee for a lot of his success. On Masthay's first two punts, both were directional punts to the right sideline (Lee's side of the field) in which Lee beat a double team on both plays to force a fair catch.
  • Credit Jarrett Bush for forcing a fair catch on Masthay's third punt of the game in which was also a directional punt to the right side of the field where Bush worked his way all the way over from left side to get in front of Jim Leonhard. Of course, Masthay also deserves kudos too for having fantastic hangtime to allow these fair catches to occur.
  • James Jones replaced Pat Lee as a jammer on punt returns, and Brett Swain replaced him a a gunner on punts. Even as a backup, Swain did a fantastic job first forcing the punt returner to fair catch and then immediately getting in position behind the returner to possibly down a punt let go over his head.
  • Matt Wilhelm doesn't appear to be very fleet of foot, which didn't help him on kickoff.
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Comments (19)

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Aalshinard's picture

November 01, 2010 at 03:41 pm

Have been impressed with the D-Line as far as sniffing out screens go - even going back to last year with Jolly. They seem to have a very good sense as to when the offense is setting up screens. Watching the game, Raji got through the line way too easily, knew it, then dropped back. Not sure if he ended up making a play but I'm sure it had some kind of disruptive effect on the overall play and it definitely seems like something Trgovac spends some time on with his players. The three-man rush was strangely effective last week too - even though its the most stressful thing ever to see lined up pre-play.

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bomdad's picture

November 01, 2010 at 09:23 pm

Trgovac is a great coach.

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Ryeguy812's picture

November 01, 2010 at 03:54 pm

So wait, Bulaga's bad run blocking is worse than Tauscher's bad run blocking?

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Idiot Fan's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:04 pm

And that Jets Dline is no slouch. I say let the young pup learn this year - we will thank ourselves next year for giving him the experience.

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briank029's picture

November 01, 2010 at 11:26 pm

touche

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jay's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:00 pm

Brian, from your film review, do you lay the blame for 3rd and short failures mostly on the Oline, Running backs, play calling, or is it hard to tell?

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Brian Carriveau's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:48 pm

I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at. By my count there were only two plays yesterday of third-and-less than five yards, and one was on the goal line.

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jay's picture

November 01, 2010 at 05:06 pm

Really? I thought there were several more than that. Thanks for the clarification.

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redlights's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:38 pm

I think, too, that BB should be allowed to continue to develop.

Now, will Todd from MN be crying more for Randy Moss or the third round pick that they won't have next year?

Will MN even have enough players to complete the roster? Only with a new coach!

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WoodyG's picture

November 01, 2010 at 05:34 pm

It's fun watching the Vikes implode ..... This whole "Moss Mess" could lead to Chilly going out the door & Frazier put in as interim HC ...... Frazier wouldn't have to report to Chilly anymore, just BF ........

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Wiscokid's picture

November 01, 2010 at 06:38 pm

Another good article from the Pioneer Press calling for Chilly's head.

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_16486525

They are imploding in Minnesota. Fun to watch.

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Wiscokid's picture

November 01, 2010 at 06:43 pm

So the Vikings dumped Randy Moss today. That's too funny.

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_16493220

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jay's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:47 pm

I saw Green at DE frequently beside Raji, while I thought the idea was to spell Raji. How many snaps did Raji take? I know Green gave him some relief, but I'm not sure how much.

Imagine the Hippo when Pickett gets back: Pickett, Green, Raji, Jenkins! 1300+ lbs of beef on the line.

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Brian Carriveau's picture

November 01, 2010 at 04:50 pm

Didn't count Raji's snaps, but you're right. There were a handful of times Green spelled Raji, but not very often. He played alongside him a fair amount. Raji still played a ton of snaps.

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PackersRS's picture

November 01, 2010 at 05:24 pm

"I don't know if he's taught to do it or not, but B.J. Raji dropped into coverage on a Jets second quarter third-and-15 play when he saw LaDanian Tomlinson come through the line of scrimmage."

Wasn't it on a screen? I think he plain sniffed it.

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Brian Carriveau's picture

November 01, 2010 at 05:27 pm

No, it was't on a screen, that's why it caught my attention.

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foundinidaho's picture

November 01, 2010 at 07:44 pm

I saw that too, and usually I miss some of those nuances. I was like "what the hell's he....ooooooo yeah!"

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davyjones's picture

November 01, 2010 at 10:14 pm

It was not only that he sniffed it out, it was how a guy that size, rushing up field, changed directions as quickly as he did and turned to follow LT. I rewound that play and showed it to my daughter. It was amazingly athletic & quick for a behemoth like him.

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northnsouth's picture

November 02, 2010 at 12:22 pm

I told you Bulaga's arms are too short!

Sincerely,
Mel Kiper

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