Packers Vs. Vikings - 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm
Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' last game.
By JerseyAl
After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons. In general, I either focus on a theme, more nuanced observations, or just things I didn't notice watching live. These can be but are less likely to be "highlight" plays. I present these to you with a short explanation why I picked them and then let you readers discuss the plays.
Eyes on the QB - You can call this the Collin Oliver edition of "Three Plays..." With The Packers playing their JV team against the Vikings (with a few upperclassmen snuck in there when no one was looking) I was most curious about the debut (in Game 18!) of Collin Oliver. The Packers drafted Oliver in the fifth round of last year's draft, viewing him as a versatile DE/LB who can serve as a speed rusher (something the Packers lacked) in a designated pass rusher role. Here I'm giving you a two-fer of clips (I couldn't pick just one) where I am impressed by his discipline on the edge, always with his eyes on the quarterback and affecting both plays as a result. As the Packers prepare to face Caleb Williams, maybe they might consider using Oliver in third and long obvious passing situations at left defensive end. He has enough speed to help keep Williams from rolling out to his much-favored right side, where he has been dangerous passing the ball on the run.
Speed to Power - As I viewed all of Oliver's pass rush snaps, I was most surprised by one thing - his speed to power ability. I was especially pleased to be able to study him going up against a two-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, 6'7" 310lb Brian O'Neill. In this clip, you see the 6'2" 240lb Oliver put O'Neill on skates and push him back into the the quarterback. This is probably what earned him the nickname "Baby Micah" amongst his teammates, as the ability to overpower offensive linemen much bigger than himself is something we see Micah Parson do all the time. Now, no one is saying Oliver can be a Micah Parsons, and actually, Oliver doesn't like the nickname (a lot to live up to, I'm sure). But regardless, for a player seeing his first real NFL game action, this was surprisingly impressive.
Mad Pursuit- Whether Oliver would be able to hold up on the edge in run defense is a bit of an unknown for now, but here you can see him looking like a linebacker and pursuing the ball carrier (also Micah-like) to the opposite side of the field, closing fast and making the tackle. It would be hard to imagine the Packers usual starting left defensive end doing this. (I had to get one dig in...).
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (28)
KenEllis
January 06, 2026 at 01:44 pm
Looking forward to Oliver and Sorrell getting legit looks in 2026.
I feel confident they could match Rashan Gary's 0 sacks/tackles for loss over the last 10 weeks or Van Ness's 1.5 sacks on the season.
jannesbjornson
January 06, 2026 at 03:19 pm
I want to see legit looks coming against the Bears, Saturday Nite. If you count on Gary and Van Ness to show up, you may have a long wait. Sorrell also has to be part of the pass rush package. Play performers, not nepo-babies.
jlc1
January 06, 2026 at 02:33 pm
3 plays that make me go Yesssssss. Thanks Al.
ThunderFromDownunder
January 06, 2026 at 02:57 pm
Hmmm why has he been riding the pine with plays like these ??? He looks better than the guys playing ahead of him .
dblbogey
January 06, 2026 at 03:01 pm
Perhaps because he's been injured and unable to play.
ThunderFromDownunder
January 06, 2026 at 03:27 pm
Thanks for reminding me of that .
LeotisHarris
January 06, 2026 at 03:12 pm
My neighbor has a friend who went to every U of Michigan practice and home game during Gary's tenure. He (the friend) was also tight with Conner Stallion FWIW. Anyway, the friend said *everyone* knew Gary was lazy and sometimes would take entire quarters off. As far as work ethic, he wouldn't put in an extra rep in the weight room unless the strength coach was watching. Gary's former roommates said he'd often call them from the other room to fetch the TV remote for him if he couldn't reach it. Yet, Gute drafted him and then overpaid him. SMH.
I know a guy who lives next to someone that went to college with LVN's dad and still visits the family in Barrington. LVN was a great hockey player (The Barrington Blade), but his dad made him go to Iowa to play football. The guy said people in Barrington still call on LVN if they need anything heavy pushed a short distance. He loves to help. Oh, yeah, and did you know he didn't even start in college, but Gute drafted him 13th overall? His DL coaches must be awful or maybe Gute is just so RAS-obsessed that he can't see the body builders from the football players. SMH
Oliver and Sorrell appear to possibly look like players that belong on the field. Someone should make that happen. GPG
ThunderFromDownunder
January 06, 2026 at 03:20 pm
" maybe Gute is just so RAS-obsessed that he can't see the body builders from the football players. SMH"
Totally agree with your point , I wish he would apply the RAS to the best football players . Gute seems to just pick players with only a good RAS .
Guam
January 06, 2026 at 03:48 pm
I would love to know what Gute's specifications for edges are.
Until last year Gute seemed to draft bigger edges in the mold of the traditional 4-3 defensive ends - good run defenders with some pass rush. Gary and LVN both fit that scenario. Last year Gute drafts Sorrell and Oliver, two fast, bendy edge types that are completely different than previous edges. And then he acquires Parsons, the prototypical fast, bendy pass rusher.
Is Gute changing or am I just making crap up.......
murf7777
January 06, 2026 at 04:09 pm
Looks like he's changing, the Smith Brothers were larger as well. Time will tell which is better for the Packers. Probably a mixture.
Coldworld
January 06, 2026 at 06:45 pm
The D has changed since Van Ness was drafted. I think that gets forgotten.
Leatherhead
January 06, 2026 at 05:40 pm
When we started this season, we had Parsons, Gary, Enagbare, and Van Ness on the edge, and we were one of the more successful defenses.. That's a GOOD rotation.
Everybody wants fast, bendy edge rushers, but half of the plays are runs where they're getting blocked by a 300 lb guy.
When Gute first started running things, he got the Smiths in FA and drafted Gary with his first pick. Obviously, he puts a real premium on guys who can create pressure, like Parsons. He's stated several times that these are "premium positions".
It was nice to see Oliver and the other rookies on the field.
GregC
January 06, 2026 at 03:34 pm
I would like to see Oliver get on the field vs. the Bears, but it may be difficult to squeeze him onto the game day roster. Barryn Sorrel had a good game in Minnesota and is probably still ahead of Oliver, and Aron Mosby has been an important special teams player. As strictly a pass rushing specialist, Oliver may be a luxury they can't afford to make room for at this point. Going six deep at DE would be a stretch.
murf7777
January 06, 2026 at 04:10 pm
I think we are forgetting Cox...that man was a wrecking crew for the last 8 games last year!
Coldworld
January 06, 2026 at 04:43 pm
Cox was good last week too, as was Sorrell.
I wasn’t as impressed by Oliver as Al, though his potential is there. His tackling needs to improve significantly. He missed ones he has to make. Also, there was one play where—and this isn’t really his fault—he gets inside and is simply trucked to the ground and run over, comic book style.
He’s definitely a pure designated pass rusher only as a DE. I don’t know how we get him on the field. Sorrell and Cox earned more snaps and provided both threat and run stoutness. They should be the priority. As to spying Williams, I think we’d be just as well off using an ILB or Oladapo.
GregC
January 06, 2026 at 07:39 pm
That's right. Cox is definitely ahead of Oliver, so Oliver might be #7 in the DE group.
PeteK
January 06, 2026 at 04:12 pm
Don't forget Cox, who should also be in the mix. Should be a very interesting watch next preseason. I wonder how much interest Gary would bring as a possible trade candidate.
13TimeChamps
January 06, 2026 at 04:43 pm
Trade him to Dallas to bring Kenny back. Just kidding. Sort of.
FumundaStank
January 07, 2026 at 09:28 am
There will be no trade interest. No team is going to take on his huge salary for what he produces on the field. He'll be cut by the Packers.
dobber
January 07, 2026 at 10:02 am
If the Packers shop him, he's a pedigree guy and the Packers will be eating his guarantee proration. He has sack totals, they just aren't commensurate with his expectations. I think they can get a day 3 pick for him, but it won't be a glitzy one.
egbertsouse
January 06, 2026 at 04:22 pm
C’mon Al! You know that Gary would have jogged after that run and then waved his finger to be subbed out after that exhausting 7 yard trot.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 05:42 pm
I especially like your thoughts on Oliver playing on obvious passing downs. Our edge rushers have often been sucked inside.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 05:49 pm
For the bears game and maybe more in the future, I’d like to see LVN at DT bull rushing the passer and stopping the run.
Sorrell, Gary, and Oliver on the edges. Ford in the middle with LVN.
Go Packers!!!
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 05:50 pm
…forgot about Cox—for now taking him over Gary.
splitpea1
January 06, 2026 at 05:55 pm
Nice to see the talents of the mystery man Oliver on display. Plays 2 and 3 are impressive. Looks like we might have something with the combination of Oliver, Sorrell, and Cox, Jr.
Get younger and getting better is on its way. Jeez, Gary aged quickly.
Starrbrite
January 06, 2026 at 09:00 pm
Right - it seems he (Gary) has dropped off the grid.
Leatherhead
January 06, 2026 at 06:27 pm
We have a very good DE group under contract for next year, including Parsons, Gary, VanNess,, Cox, Mosby, Oliver, and Sorrell. I don't think we'll keep Enagbare, unless we release Gary, take the dead cap hit, and use the money to retain Enagbare.
Anyway, that's about 7 guys, but we only play about 2 of them at a time. We'd usually have maybe 5, or 6, on the active roster.
BAMABADGER
January 06, 2026 at 06:42 pm
Al, great clips highlighting Oliver. Mr. Oliver played with heart and hustle. What concerns me on tape #2 - "Oliver speed2 power" is the pass rush route taken by rookie DT - Warren Brinson. He took his rush to the left causing two problems: 1) He impeded Oliver finishing his rush to the QB, 2) Brinson's rush to the left opened a wide visual lane for the QB to complete an easy pass over the middle for a 1st down D-line coach needs to correct that.