Tag: David Bakhtiari

ESPN says the Saints still have a major roster hole ahead of 2024 draft

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says the Saints have yet to address a major team need going into the 2024 NFL draft. It’s obvious they need more help at offensive tackle:

It’s hardly a surprise to see someone suggesting the New Orleans Saints aren’t good enough at offensive tackle — watching any of their games from last season will give them all the proof they need to back that statement up. Still, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell took a deeper dive than most in exploring why this is such a problem, and how the Saints can clean it up.

The good news is that the Saints have just one outgoing free agent at the position, and it shouldn’t be hard to re-sign them; the question is whether Andrus Peat will agree to return to New Orleans at a price point that makes sense for the team, or if he’ll try to find a better offer in free agency. Barnwell says that’s the easiest solution for their problem at left tackle, where Trevor Penning hasn’t met expectations.

But James Hurst had a rough year at left guard and Ryan Ramczyk’s degenerative knee condition makes leaning on him tricky. So far, the team has only added Oli Udoh, one of first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s former players on the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s how Barnwell laid it out:

Hurst and Ramczyk took pay cuts to stay as opposed to the sort of classic contract restructures the Saints use in which they pay a player in full but spread the money over five seasons. The only addition they have made on the edge is Udoh, who had served as a utility lineman for the Vikings before tearing his quadriceps muscle in September and missing most of the 2023 season. He’s more likely a replacement for Hurst as the swing lineman (with Hurst penciled in as the full-time left guard) than a potential starting tackle. Landon Young, who took over for Ramczyk in December before getting injured himself, is also on the roster.

Young was less-than-impressive when stepping in for Ramczyk, and he suffered his own injury that sidelined him for the last two weeks of the season; veteran backup Cameron Erving (an unsigned free agent, at the moment) came up from the practice squad to take his place. If nothing else, the Saints need more depth than they worked with a year ago. Signing Peat could achieve that but the Saints could have already brought him back if they viewed him as a priority. Head coach Dennis Allen has left the door open for a reunion but it doesn’t sound very likely.

So what’s the best path forward? Again, Barnwell argues, re-signing Peat could make the most sense. But it’s not the only option. Here’s what he proposes with the 2024 NFL draft on the horizon:

It would have made sense to agree to a deal with Peat before the start of the new league year to mitigate the dead money on his deal, but the Saints might have been more optimistic then about Ramczyk’s chances of being healthy. Peat’s market hasn’t developed, and there aren’t many other players left in free agency with a track record of playing left tackle. David Bakhtiari and Mekhi Becton have significant injury histories, and Peat might have been better than Charles Leno and Donovan Smith a year ago. Reuniting with Peat would also afford New Orleans the flexibility of moving Hurst to left tackle and bumping Peat back inside to guard.

The Saints also have the 14th overall pick and could use that on a tackle prospect, but would there be any hesitation on their end after seemingly swinging and missing on Penning? This organization has used five first- or second-round picks on offensive linemen going back to Peat’s selection in 2015, and while that’s a perfectly reasonable way to build a football team, they have needs elsewhere that they can’t fill with high-end veterans in free agency. At the same time, if they’ve given up on Penning and Ramczyk can’t play, they might need to re-sign Peat and use their top pick on an offensive lineman.

The Saints have invested a ton of draft capital into their offensive line over the years and going back to that well might be their best path forward. We’ll have to see if they make any more additions in free agency over the next month, or if they’re counting on one of their early-round picks (at Nos. 14 and 45 overall) to cure what ails them.

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Packers announce release of LT David Bakhtiari: ‘One of the best linemen in the history of the Packers’

The Packers officially announced the release of five-time All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari on Monday.

The Green Bay Packers officially announced the release of five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari on Monday, ending an 11-year run for one of the NFL’s most decorated and successful offensive linemen of the last two decades.

The Packers separately announced the releases of Bakhtiari and running back Aaron Jones, two of the best players in the franchise’s history.

As was the case with Jones, general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur commented on Bakhtiari’s departure in a press release.

Gutekunst called Bakhtiari “one of the premier tackles of his generation and one of the best linemen in the history of the Packers.” LaFleur described him as “one of the best offensive linemen that has played in the NFL” and a “cornerstone” of the Packers locker room.

A fourth-round pick in 2013, Bakhtiari emerged as one of the NFL’s best left tackles and one of the best pass protectors in NFL history. Across a five-year stretch from 2016 to 2020, Bakhtiari made five All-Pro teams (two first, three second) and made three Pro Bowls.

According to Pro Football Focus, Bakhtiari allowed 32 sacks and 234 pressures across 5,757 pass-blocking snaps during the regular season and postseason with the Packers. He allowed one sack every 180 pass-blocking snaps.

Bakhtiari injured his knee on Dec. 31, 2020. He then battled through three nightmare seasons in which he played in only 13 games, including just one last season. Bakhtiari’s injured knee required a fifth operation during the 2023 season.

Perhaps of note for the Jets, Packers release LT David Bakhtiari

Perhaps of some interest to the offensive tackle-needy New York Jets, the Packers are set to release left tackle David Bakhtiari.

Perhaps of some interest to the New York Jets, left tackle David Bakhtiari posted a farewell to the Packers’ faithful, signaling that his time in Green Bay is now over, with the team set to release him on Wednesday when the new league year begins.

Of course, there are two big reasons why this news may draw the Jets’ interest: one is Bakhtiari’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers. The two weren’t only teammates for ten seasons but were also noted best friends.

From a football perspective, the Jets’ biggest roster need right now resides at the tackle position. The best-case scenario is that they have to find only one starter, with Alijah Vera-Tucker able to man one of the starting tackle openings, and most likely, that would be on the right side.

However, if the Jets feel Vera-Tucker will be better suited at guard long-term, because as Joe Douglas said, it is not the Jets’ intention to continue moving him around, then the Jets have two holes at the tackle position to fill. My guess is that who the Jets add in free agency and the draft will dictate where Vera-Tucker starts the season.

After suffering an ACL injury late in the 2020 season, Bakhtiari has played in only 13 games over the last three years, including one game in 2021 and one game in 2023. After being placed on IR early last season, Bakhtiari underwent two more procedures on his knee that hopefully fixed the ailing issue for good. 

Prior to Bakhtiari’s injury, he was on a Hall of Fame trajectory and was named an All-Pro five consecutive seasons. While Bakhtiari’s availability moving forward is an obvious concern, when he has been on the field, he’s still played at a very high level.

In 2022, when Bakhtiari played in 11 games, he didn’t surrender a sack and allowed only 10 total pressures. He ranked fourth among all tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency that season.

Even in Bakhtiari’s lone start this past season against Chicago, he played extremely well, not surrendering a single pressure.

What Bakhtiari’s market is going to look like from a financial standpoint is very much an unknown, given that there is still quite a bit of uncertainty around his game-to-game availability. Perhaps this leads to a more team-friendly deal, at least for the 2024 season.

It is also still not known when exactly he is going to be available. For Bakhtiari, the hope is to be ready for training camp this summer, but that is dependent upon how his recovery goes.

For what it’s worth, Bakhtiari has also been very outspoken about turn fields and how they are detrimental to a player’s health, specifically with lower body injuries. The Jets, of course, play on turf at MetLife Stadium. Who knows how much, or if at all, this plays a factor into where Bakhtiari wants to end up.

While there has been movement early on in free agency at the guard and center markets, the offensive tackle position remains relatively untouched during the early portions of the legal tampering periods. It may take players like Tyron Smith or Trent Brown signing somewhere – two players who the Jets could be in on – to help establish what this market is going to look like for Bakhtiari and others.

This also happens to be an extremely rich tackle draft class, with the Jets holding the 10th overall pick. However, at least somewhat addressing the need in free agency gives the Jets some added flexibility in the draft–not to mention that they have potentially two starting spots to fill – plus depth – and only two picks in the top 100.

Individual accolades aside, Bakhtiari made it clear during his last press conference with the Green Bay media prior to being placed on IR that he wants to win a Super Bowl. Joining a team that has that potential will likely be a box that Bakhtiari will want to check this offseason.

Packers releasing LT David Bakhtiari, will save over $20M in cap space

The Packers are releasing left tackle David Bakhtiari.

The Green Bay Packers are releasing left tackle David Bakhtiari, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro who has fought through knee issues for three straight seasons, announced the end of his 11-year run in Green Bay earlier Monday.

The release is the end of the line for an elite player who was the best in the game at his position for over a half decade but suffered one terrible injury. Over the last three seasons, Bakhtiari played in just 13 games — and he missed all but the season opener in 2023.

Bakhtiari was set to count $40,018,311 against the Packers cap in 2024. Instead of committing 15 percent of the total cap to Bakhtiari and his still recovering knee, the Packers will move on, saving $20,935,294 while pushing $19,083,017 onto the cap as dead money. In other words, the Packers will count over $19 million on the cap for Bakhtiari this season despite him likely to play elsewhere.

But the $20 million is also valuable for a team that has two starting-caliber offensive tackle and needs help at safety, linebacker and running back. The cap space will allow general manager Brian Gutekunst to be aggressive in free agency, which opens officially on Wednesday. The legal tampering period arrived Monday.

The Packers originally selected Bakhtiari in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.

Between 2016 and 2020, Bakhtiari made three second-team All-Pro teams and two first-team All-Pro teams.

Per Silverstein, Bakhtiari wants to keep playing and will now be free to find a new team immediately.

David Bakhtiari announces end of 11-year run with Packers

David Bakhtiari announced the end of a 11-season run with the Green Bay Packers in posts on Instagram and Twitter.

David Bakhtiari announced the end of his 11-year run with the Green Bay Packers in a post on both Instagram and Twitter on Monday.

Bakhtiari, who is likely being released, called his 11 seasons a “hell of a run” and thanked the city of Green Bay, the Packers organization, coaching staffs and support staff.

The Packers picked Bakhtiari in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. He went on to become a five-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. One of the NFL’s most dominant pass-blocking offensive tackles, Bakhtiari is almost certainly headed to the team’s Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t out of the question if Bakhtiari can return to the field and produce over the next few seasons.

He’ll be doing it in a different uniform.

Bakhtiari was entering the 2024 season with a cap hit of over $40 million. By releasing Bakhtiari, the Packers would save over $20 million on the cap despite taking on over $19 million in dead money.

Here is Bakhtiari’s farewell post on Twitter:

Bakhtiari tore his ACL during the 2020 season and has been fighting to get back on the field ever since. He underwent another major operation in an attempt to fix his knee during the 2023 season.

Packers Wire will have more on Bakhtiari’s departure as information becomes available.

Packers still evaluating future of LT David Bakhtiari

The Packers are in wait-and-see mode while David Bakhtiari recovers from a surgery on his knee.

The Green Bay Packers are in wait-and-see mode when it comes to left tackle David Bakhtiari. During his season-ending press conference on Thursday, general manager Brian Gutekunst stated that the team is still trying to determine how to move forward with Bakhtiari’s seemingly never-ending knee concerns.

“We’re still at the very beginning stages of looking at how we’re going to move forward with all that,” Gutekunst said. “Obviously, David has been through a really rough stretch with the injury stuff, and he’s going through a really major surgery trying to be able to get back and play. We’re monitoring that. I know he’s working his tail off. Once we get down the road and see where he’s at health-wise, we’ll make those decisions.”

The knee injury Bakhtiari suffered toward the end of the 2020 season turned into a complete nightmare. The five-time All-Pro has played in just 13 games over the past three seasons.

He appeared in just one game in 2023 before being placed on injured reserve. In October, Bakhtiari told reporters his season was over and he was scheduled to have his fifth surgery.

Despite such rotten injury luck, Bakhtiari plans to continue his football career and is rehabbing in hopes of returning to the field next year.

“He’s in the middle of it,” said Gutekunst. “This is not a short one; this is going to take some time. You guys know his work ethic and how important it is for him to get back playing. It was a tough one. He’s got a ways to go.”

Outside of his recovery, the Packers must also be concerned about Bakhtiari’s impact on the salary cap. In 2024, his cap number skyrockets to over $40 million. Green Bay could consider releasing Bakhtiari but would have to be willing to eat over $19 million in dead money due to past restructuring.

Fortunately, the team did find an alternative solution at left tackle during the season. Former seventh-rounder Rasheed Walker emerged as a formidable replacement for Bakhtiari, appearing in all 17 games, including 15 starts. Early on, Walker struggled to find consistency but played extremely well down the stretch, earning praise from the GM.

“I think he did a great job,” Gutekunst said. “You have to give the kid a lot of credit. First of all, his work ethic over the offseason and how tremendously he improved. He fought through some things this year injury-wise, he was a warrior out there. He’s done a great job, I’m really glad we have him. I think he can play left and right. We’ll see how it all shakes out…he did a lot of good things. He’s got a bright future, and he’s only going to get better. We’re excited about him.”

The jury is still out on Bakhtiari, but the Packers appear to have a solid backup plan in Walker.

Everything is on the table for David Bakhtiari’s future with Packers

David Bakhtiari will miss the rest of the 2023 season. The All-Pro wants to play in 2024, and he’s under contract with the Packers for one more year, but an uncertain path lies ahead.

Everything is on the table for David Bakhtiari when it comes to his future with the Green Bay Packers.

After missing Weeks 2 and 3, Bakhtiari was placed on injured reserve prior to the Detroit game. At the time, it was reported that he had undergone surgery, another was required, and that his 2023 season was in jeopardy.

For the first time since being placed on IR, Bakhtiari spoke with the media on Friday. He confirmed that he had knee surgery six days prior, and a more invasive one was upcoming. He also confirmed that he would not be back for the remainder of 2023.

In short, it’s not the ACL that is giving Bakhtiari issues, but rather a femoral condyle cartilage issue, which provides cushion for the knee, although it hasn’t been providing that in Bakhtiari’s case. This is something that many athletes experience but Bakhtiari, in particular, was affected more so by it, specifically with his knee swelling with fluid. In one instance, 160 ccs of liquid had to be drained.

“It’s the surface (cartilage) on my femur that is not smooth,” said Bakhtiari. “There’s a bunch of guys, I mean we play a wild sport, certain guys you hear are bone-on-bone, that’s the crazy thing, am I even bone-on-bone? They’re like no. I have most of my meniscus, it’s just the defect I have, I’m a symptomatic individual and that’s where I have just accepted.”

Following the initial ACL injury that took place on New Year’s Eve of 2020, Bakhtiari and the medical staff knew that this current outcome was a possibility–although that was not considered likely at the time.

“I’m a symptomatic individual when it comes to this specific injury,” said Bakhtiari. “We tried every which way to see, to not have to get the surgery or to make sure this really is the option we have to take the course of action to take, and that was where I kept trying to make sure I was out there to play. Then obviously we hit a point where it’s been drawing on so long that clearly we just need to fix this because I don’t think this is a very sustainable way to play to continue to the latter part of my career. No one knows when I’m going to play no one knows when I can, when my body tells me no, that’s just not a good recipe.”

But before undertaking this much more invasive approach, Bakhtiari and the medical team had to eliminate other variables, which is why he had two other scopes since the original ACL injury.

“We knew it could be a variable,” added Bakhtiari, “we just couldn’t singularly point to that variable because we had other variables in place. Can we clear out the forest and then see is this the root of the problem. And now we are at the point, where that is the root of the problem. We always knew it was there. It wasn’t like it wasn’t. That’s why I said at the beginning back to that’s what happened on New Year’s Eve.”

Bakhtiari’s goal is to return and be ready for 2024 training camp. The question, however, is will that be with the Green Bay Packers?

Bakhtiari is still under contract for one more season in 2024, but he comes with a massive $40.5 million cap hit. Even if it is the Packers intention to keep him, he isn’t going to play on his current deal—an extension would have to take place to lower the 2024 cap hit. If Green Bay were to release or trade Bakhtiari over the offseason, they would still incur a dead cap hit of $19.08 million but free up $21.5 million in savings.

“I think you can ask him (Brian Gutekunst) that,” said Bakhtiari about his future. “I know I have one more year left and I think for me, I’m just trying to make sure that I attack this rehab, get done with everything, making sure it’s behind me. I think the No. 1 thing is just proving the health. I don’t think the heart, the preparation, or skill was ever in question. It’s the availability and the health part has been the constant question for over a year. For me, if we can cure that answer, I don’t see much of a problem with anything else.”

From a financial standpoint along with the unknown around Bakhtiari’s availability, moving on in some capacity is probably the prudent move for the Packers. However, complicating matters is that Bakhtiari is still playing at a really high level at one of the game’s most important positions. Week 1 against Chicago was a prime example of this with him allowing no pressures and being on of PFF’s highest-graded performers.

While, yes, the Packers have options at offensive tackle, none of them are at Bakhtiari’s level. It goes without saying, but Green Bay will have to do its due diligence on the matter once Bakhtiari is healthy, but does his current level of play coupled with the upcoming surgery hopefully being the solution change things? That’s an answer I’m not sure anyone has at this time.

The decision on whether or not to bring Bakhtiari back for 2024 is also a two-way street—Bakhtiari has to want to return. He made it very clear when speaking with all of us that a big reason he wants to continue playing is for the chance to win a Super Bowl. So naturally, he’ll have to view the Packers as in a position to accomplish that.

For now, the first step is for Bakhtiari to have the final surgery and to get healthy from there. These decisions will come further down the road but his relationship with Brian Gutkeunst is strong and the communication lines will continue to be open. But as far as Bakhtiari’s future with the Packers goes, all options are on the table.

“I have a really good relationship with Brian,“ said Bakhtiari. “I pick up all of his FaceTimes. Whatever it’s gotta be. I’m not ignoring those sides. Do they suck? Yeah. I would love to play here until I decide that I’m done.

”I think everything is on the table like I said earlier. I can only control what I can control. I think making sure I attack the rehab, win the day, take the bites out of the elephant, finish the elephant. Then decide and see. They have decisions to make that are best for the franchise, I understand that the moment I got in here.”

Packers LT David Bakhtiari to miss rest of 2023 season

Packers LT David Bakhtiari needs another surgery on his knee and will miss the rest of the 2023 season.

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari confirmed he needs another surgery on his knee and will miss the rest of the 2023 season. The five-time All-Pro addressed his never-ending injury issues and the path ahead during a conversation with reporters at his locker on Friday.

“No, it’s done,” Bakhtiari said when asked if he’ll play again this season.

Bakhtiari, who was placed on injured reserve last week, already had arthroscopic surgery on his knee recently but now needs a more significant operation, which will mark the fifth surgery on his knee since suffering the original injury on Dec. 31, 2020.

Bakhtiari isn’t planning on retirement and said his goal is to be available by training camp next year. He just turned 32 years old in September and will be 33 early next season, and the Packers have him under contract — on the four-year, $92 million deal since in 2020 — through the 2024 season.

“My goal is to be ready by training camp,” Bakhtiari said. “I’m going to do what I can to be in that place but there’s a lot of variables that can come into play between now and then.”

Bakhtiari said he wants to return to the Packers in 2024 but realizes the decision is out of his hands.

The big hurdle: Bakhtiari’s cap number balloons to over $40 million next season. Even if the Packers release him and clear his $20 million base salary, Bakhtiari would leave behind over $19 million in dead money on the salary cap due to past restructures. Releasing Bakhtiari isn’t necessarily a straight-forward path because he will be in the middle of rehab and unable to pass a physical when the decision likely needs to be made.

Bakhtiari finally returned from the injury last year and did start for the Packers in Week 1 of this year, but he’s played in just 13 total games since suffering the injury.

Here is video of Bakhtiari’s appearance in the locker room on Friday:

Quotes received from Packers Wire contributor Paul Bretl were used in this story.

Packers place LT David Bakhtiari on injured reserve

Packers LT David Bakhtiari will miss games against the Lions, Raiders, Broncos and Vikings…and maybe more. He was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

The Green Bay Packers placed left tackle David Bakhtiari on injured reserve on Thursday, providing another twist in an on-going saga of unavailability for the All-Pro.

Bakhtiari injured his knee on Dec. 31, 2020. He needed three surgeries to get back on the field. Since the injury, Bakhtiari has played in exactly 13 games.

Going on injured reserve now means Bakhtiari — who has already missed two consecutive games — must miss at least four more. The five-time All-Pro will miss Thursday night against the Detroit Lions, Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Week 7 against the Denver Broncos and Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have a bye in Week 6.

He would be eligible to return on Nov. 5 against the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s currently unclear when Bakhtiari will have a legitimate chance to return to the field.

Bakhtiari, who hasn’t practiced in an official capacity since Aug. 30, played 55 snaps against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 but hasn’t been available since.

With Bakhtiari out of the picture, second-year offensive tackle Rasheed Walker will take over as the starting left tackle. He has been impressive — especially in pass protection — over the last two games, both starts. Per Pro Football Focus, Walker has allowed only two total pressures over 85 pass-blocking snaps this season. It’s possible Walker is both the present — with Bakhtiari out — and the future at left tackle for the Packers.

While a discussion for after the season, the Packers will have a big decision to make on Bakhtiari’s roster status once 2023 is over. His cap hit balloons to over $40 million in 2024.

Film breakdown on what the Lions should expect from the Green Bay Packers passing attack

Film breakdown on what the Lions should expect from the Green Bay Packers passing attack in Week 4

Whenever the Detroit Lions play the Green Bay Packers, it’s always a highly anticipated match-up. Whether one team is good or both are bad, it doesn’t matter. It’s that division game destined to bring fireworks.

Looking at the injury reports for both teams, they’ve both got banged-up offensive lines, but the Lions are now expected to have left tackle Taylor Decker active tonight. As for the Packers, they’re expected to be down David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.

Fortunately for the Packers, they’re supposed to have Aaron Jones and Christian Watson back into their starting lineup for Jordan Love. That could help Love who has been very “up and down” this season. For starters, Love has a 42.2 passer rating when under pressure, per PFF.

Meanwhile, 3.5 percent of plays from Love are turnover-worthy, and 31.5 percent of Love’s throws have been “uncatchable” this season. That number is the highest in the NFL, per PFF. Let’s jump into the film to see what to expect from Jordan Love and this Green Bay Packers offense.

When the Lions played the Seahawks in Week 2, we saw a lot of quick passes from Geno Smith. Much of that was due to the pressure that Smith saw from Aidan Hutchinson with both of his starting offensive tackles out for that game. Much of that could be the same tonight between the Lions and the Packers.

On the play above, you’ll see the Packers faced with a 3rd-and-3 situation from their own 32-yard line. Aligned in a 2×2 set, quarterback Jordan Love will send tight end Luke Musgrave on an exit motion toward the sideline.

In the process, it allows Musgrave to be faster up the field on his quick hitch route. This gives him separation from the safety over the top of him. Knowing the down and distance, Love fires this to the tight end for the first down.

One thing the Lions will most definitely see from the Packers tonight is their Pony personnel. Traditionally, this is when there are two running backs aligned out of the backfield. For the Packers, they will mix-and-match players such as Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon or you can see on the play above they’ll put third-string running back Emmanuel Wilson and wide receiver Jayden Reed back there.

The play above is a perfect example of how the Packers could look to move Lions defenders in and out of the box. Prior to the snap, you’ll see how Love motioned Reed (WR 11) into the backfield. This gives the Packers backfield a two-back look alongside the quarterback.

However, you’ll notice Love motion Reed back out towards the sideline right before the snap. This sets up a swing pass that leads to some positive yardage, but it was called back due to a penalty. Whether it’s Reed, Watson, Jones or someone else, there are plenty of formation variations within the Packers offense to keep the opposition guessing. This is certainly one of them.

Next, I want to focus on a deep shot that was very well thrown by Jordan Love. On the play above, the Packers come out in an empty set near midfield, and it’s actually a completed pass for a first down.

Operating out of the slot on the bottom of the screen you’ll see Romeo Doubs (WR 87) run a stop-and-go route. Love reads the blitz from the slot corner that hovers over Doubs, and he realizes that he’s got Doubs one-on-one with the safety. On the throw, Love places this right over the shoulder, and it’s the only place he could have put it.

Despite the penalty on the defender, the pass was completed, and it was one of the better throws from Jordan Love against the Saints in Week 3. With how active Brian Branch has been blitzing out of the slot for the Lions, this play could be something the Packers call a few times on Thursday night.

It sure felt like the game plan for the Packers offense shifted to just throwing it deep and try to get some type of penalty in the closing minutes against the Saints. On their second to last drive of the game, the Packers drew two pass interference penalties. It took them from their own 20-yard line to the Saints 13-yard line.

To cap that drive off, the Packers used a read option on 4th and goal to get within one score of the Saints. I’ll give credit where it’s due, it’s a smart strategy and if you have a quarterback that can run, you take advantage of that. So far this season, Love has 14 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown.

With Jordan Love, he can run when it’s improvised or when it’s designed. One thing for sure, he will extend plays in and out of the pocket with his feet so the Lions will have to be prepared for that.

Despite the offense having plenty of struggles in the game, they did score on three straight drives. Saints defensive penalties aside, that’s impressive for any team that was down 17-0 in the 4th quarter.

So with that, I want to focus on a great back shoulder throw from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs. On the play above, you’ll see how the Packers are aligned in a trips left formation on a 3rd and 3 from the Saints 8-yard line. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see Romeo Doubs (WR 87) matched up in man coverage.

Once the ball is snapped, Love throws to the back shoulder of Doubs on a fade route. It’s a good ball and an even better adjustment by the receiver despite the tight coverage from the defender. If the Packers are faced with any type of red zone opportunities against the Lions on Thursday night, I’d expect them to attempt this type of throw to either Doubs, Musgrave or Watson.

Overall, the improvements made by the Detroit Lions defense are encouraging. In Week 3, they held the Falcons to just 2.8 yards per play but Jordan Love appears to be a touch better than Desmond Ridder. However, if the Lions are able to bring the quarterback down another six or seven times, it’s possible for the Lions to limit the Packers offense like they did with the Falcons.

So far this season, Love has earned a 65.3 PFF grade but the tools are there for him to have a big day at any time.

Personally, I think the key for the Lions is to continue to stop the run. If the Packers run game can’t get going, it should prevent Love from getting in some type of rhythm. It makes their offense one-dimensional, and that’s never good for any quarterback.

This season, the Lions offense is 5th best in stopping the run with only 72.0 rushing yards allowed per game. In addition to that, the Packers only average 3.4 yards per carry and have only averaged 90.3 rushing yards per game. Keep in mind, they’ve been without running back Aaron Jones for two games so if he does play tonight, he could rejuvenate the Packers offense that desperately needs it.

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