Tag: Film Room

Jeff Okudah: Breaking down the Lions CB’s Week 1 performance vs. the Eagles

Breaking down Lions CB Jeff Okudah and his performance vs. the Eagles in Week 1

One year ago, Week 1 was a nightmare for Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah. Barely one half into Detroit’s opener in 2021, Okudah tore his Achilles tendon and was lost for the season.

It’s been a long road back to the lineup. Okudah worked and rehabbed very hard, and he earned the starting outside CB job once again as a result. He played well — mostly — during training camp and preseason, but the first real test came in Week 1 of 2022 against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

I went back over the game tape and charted every single defensive play from Okudah. I took notes on what No. 1 did on all 67 of his defensive snaps (he sat out nine plays).

Cornerbacks are not involved on every play, so I whittled out those reps. That left 21 plays where what Okudah did have an impact on the offensive play. I graded each of those with a simple plus or minus.

Okudah wound up with 14 plusses and seven minuses. Five of the plusses came on plays where Eagles QB Jalen Hurts wanted to throw the ball to the receiver Okudah was covering, but the good coverage forced Hurts to look elsewhere. Four of the minuses came in run defense or tackling after the catch, including one missed tackle and one blown run contain responsibility. Okudah did earn two plusses for successfully playing outside run contain and forcing the runner into a tackle.

I had Okudah on the hook for three completions allowed during the game on plays where he was clearly the person in coverage. One was an early third-down pass to A.J. Brown where Okudah played too far off and gave up the 10-yard conversion. The only other time Brown caught a ball with Okudah in coverage, No. 1 tackled him immediately for a loss of a yard. The officials generously spotted the ball back at the original line of scrimmage even though Brown never sniffed that progress.

He allowed one completion for sure to TE Dallas Goedert, an 11-yard gain where Okudah was late to recognize his underneath responsibility in zone that gained 10 yards. That makes three catches for 21 yards directly on Okudah’s ledger by my accounting.

The only other completion that could possibly be on Okudah was a screen to Goedert where he might have been the closest defender at the time of the pass while in zone coverage. I’ve seen the Lions practice this look several times and it’s generally the play-side LB who is responsible in coverage here, but rookie Malcolm Rodriguez got hung up inside on a fake. It’s understandable that outside analysts like Pro Football Focus would chart this one on Okudah, but my experience with the defense is that it was not his coverage mark. He happened to sniff it out well and his quick reactions actually became a negative in outside grading. Okudah didn’t play the run-after-catch well regardless and it earned a minus from me for that.

Against Devonta Smith, who was his primary coverage mark most of the game, Okudah did not allow a single completion on four attempts, including a pass defended on an early third down. Twice on the Eagles’ opening drive, Hurts wanted to throw to Smith but Okudah had him locked down. Hurts eventually stopped looking there, and Okudah deserves some credit for that alteration to the Eagles’ offense.

Overall, it was a strong day for Okudah in his return to the field. He did not allow a single big play. Okudah played with confidence and physicality against a really good Eagles offense. Hard to ask for more from No. 1 than how he played in Week 1.

Packers film room: Top pick Quay Walker shows he belongs in rookie debut

In this week’s Packers Film Room, @PackerScribe looks at the promising rookie debut of top pick Quay Walker.

The Green Bay Packers fell to the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener but saw a promising debut from rookie linebacker Quay Walker. Unfortunately, it was cut short when he exited the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. The good news is the injury isn’t considered serious, and Walker could suit up for this week’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.

“We’ll give Quay the week, but we’re hopeful that he’ll be back, ready to roll,” head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday.

Walker ended his first NFL game with eight tackles after appearing in 38 out of 62 defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him a defensive grade of 65.0, which ranked sixth on the team among players with at least 11 snaps. Walker was credited with one missed tackle but also had a team-high five plays that constitute “defensive stops” or a failure for the offense, per PFF.

Hopefully, Walker will be good to go for Week 2 so he can build off his opening performance. There were some positives but also some negatives that showed up in his tape, and with the All-22 readily available, let’s take a closer look in this week’s film review.

(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Walker isn’t a great coverage linebacker, at least not yet. His vision can be erratic, and we see that here as he loses track of Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is the only receiver in the vicinity of Walker and should be his primary responsibility. However, for whatever reason, Walker shucks him in coverage and then forgets about him. You can watch the quarterback when in zone, but you also have to be aware of the closest receiver. His failure to do that results in a clear coverage breakdown and an easy pitch and catch for the offense. Walker will have to clean this up moving forward.

As we see here, Walker has the size and athleticism to be disruptive in coverage. The Vikings run a run-pass option with their tight end leaking across the formation into the flat. Once the tight end makes the catch, Walker flashes elite closing speed to limit the run after catch and finishes with a big hit. This rep is a great example of his play speed and play strength.

This is why the Packers made Walker a first-round pick and the first inside linebacker off the draft board. It’s rare to find players with his size and speed. When asked to play zone coverage, Walker is much better when the play is in front of him. If the receiver gets behind him, as Jefferson did earlier, he can get out of position. Here, Walker finds the receiver running a drag and looks like a safety when he breaks on the ball. You love to see this type of recognition and response. The hit stick is an added bonus and will be fun to watch for the next few years.

When defending the run, Walker will pick up on blocking schemes and mirror running lanes. He does that here against Dalvin Cook, but the play shouldn’t have gained four yards. Walker is in position when Cook is still in the endzone, but he waits instead of attacking downhill. There is something instinctual about being a gap shooter that Walker lacks. Unfortunately, it’s not something you can necessarily teach, either.

Now this is where Walker shines. Opposing offenses will have a hard time running outside zone against this defense when Walker and De’Vondre Campbell are on the field. Walker is able to see past blockers and has a really good understanding of leverage. On this stretch call, Minnesota wants to get Cook to the outside, but Walker helps shut it down because he flows with the play so well.

Conclusion

It was great to see Walker flying around making plays. He looked like a player that belonged on the field with the starters and should help this defense if he can stay healthy. Obviously, there are things he can clean up, but nothing that you could call “rookie mistakes.” Hopefully, Walker will continue to improve in coverage, whereas his run defense is already pretty stout, thanks to his range and processing ability. Green Bay finally has not one but two legitimate linebackers in the middle of their defense.

Vikings film room: Justin Jefferson deep crosser touchdown

We broke down Justin Jefferson’s second touchdown catch of Sunday’s game

The Minnesota Vikings offense has already seen big changes.

After not prioritizing the passing game or using motion throughout the last three years with quarterback Kirk Cousins, new head coach Kevin O’Connell came to the organization to modernize the offense and try to get the best out of Kirk Cousins and the great wide receivers on the team.

The epitome of what the Vikings are trying to do is in this play which resulted in Jefferson’s second touchdown.

The concept that the Vikings are running is called the Wave concept.

On this play, the Vikings line up in a 1X3 look in 11 personnel before Irv Smith Jr. motions to the front side.

On the snap, they go play-action to Dalvin Cook with a shallow and deep crosser on the front side with a deep crosser and a post on the backside.

The shallow crosser and outlet route by Cook are designed to draw the linebackers forward to make fitting the ball to the deep crosser easier. The backside post is meant to clear the deep safety by forcing him to stay in the middle of the field to give Jefferson room to gain yards after the catch.

The Vikings catch the Packers in cover-3 and they don’t pass off Thielen once he crosses the hash mark leaving Jefferson streaking wide open and he works his way into the end zone.

Depending on the coverage, any of the three deep routes can be the priority. It also works really well if all three of the deeper routes are covered to have two shallow routes to fall back to.

Later in the game, they ran the same concept and hit it for a nice gain. With a better throw that leads him, Jefferson has an outside shot at scoring on this play.

Concepts like this will be utilized often for the Vikings. It’s a new era and it’s exciting.

Packers film room: Rookie WR Samori Toure flashes potential against Chiefs

On the latest edition of Packers Film Room from @PackerScribe: Breaking down the impressive preseason finale from rookie WR Samori Toure.

The Green Bay Packers went with potential over experience for the last wide receiver spot. The Packers want to see more of rookie Samori Toure, who they chose over Juwann Winfree for the initial 53-man roster.

The decision was a bit of a surprise, considering Winfree had received praise from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, this isn’t another Jake Kumerow situation. Winfree, now in his fourth NFL season, had the experience edge over Toure, but the rookie’s production in the preseason was tough to ignore.

Toure led all Green Bay receivers with 125 yards after catching nine out of 13 targets. He capped it off with an impressive performance in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, bringing in six catches for 83 yards.

To get a better look at what the Packers may have seen in Toure to keep him around, let’s go to the film from his game against the Chiefs.

Green Bay selected Toure with the 258th overall pick in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Toure was coming off an impressive season at Nebraska, where he led the Big Ten in yards per reception (19.5). Toure is listed at 6-1, 191 lbs, making him a solid-sized receiver with the ability to run. He ran a 4.48 with a 1.64 10-yard split at his pro day.

In the above clip, both receivers are in a reduced split and aiming to work back across the field. Toure is at the top of the screen facing an aggressive corner. He takes a jab release to get the defender leaning, so the jam misses its intended target. Toure then takes the inside release and uses his speed to gain separation on a deep over route. The opposite corner notices Toure coming toward his side of the field just as the ball is getting released. The help defender is actually in pretty good position, but Toure shows good processing skills to get in front of him and make a great concentration catch.

Toure logged a RAS score of 6.15, which is a tad low for what Packers GM Brian Gutekunst usually looks for. However, when you are able to run precise routes, it can help make up for average athleticism. Toure is tasked with running an in-breaker against zone coverage. He utilizes an effective stutter step to gain inside leverage against the corner but does so without losing too much momentum. This keeps the flow of the play intact and creates ideal timing for the quarterback to get rid of the ball. The safety crashes down hard on Toure when he makes the catch, and there is also a linebacker in the area. However, Toure shows great effort to stay on his feet, breaking a pair of tackles and picking up good YAC to get the ball down to the one-yard line. This kind of effort doesn’t go unnoticed by coaches.

Here is another example of Toure’s mental processing and competitive toughness. As a young player fighting for a roster spot, you have to be able to do the dirty work. Toure isn’t afraid to go over the middle and also understands how to beat zone coverage. After getting behind the linebacker, he demonstrates good pacing on this route to settle into the soft spot of the zone. You love to see this kind of recognition from a rookie.

Being a willing blocker is required of all Green Bay receivers. If you want to get on the field, you have to be able to block. This was one of the areas where Winfree was believed to have a slight edge over Toure, but the rookie definitely has the tools to be an effective blocker. He attacks this defensive back with force and good hand placement while getting his arms extended. Overall, this is a solid rep that could carry over to the run game.

We’ve seen Allen Lazard do this a ton. The crack block is a useful move to create room for the ball carrier by sealing either the linebacker or safety. Toure takes a good angle to the safety, but unfortunately, the corner recovers to set the edge and prevent the running back from turning the corner. Even though the play goes for a minimal gain, it says something about the team’s trust in Toure to perform this type of block.

Conclusion

After reviewing the tape, it’s understandable why the Packers want to hang onto Toure. He is a solid athlete who runs good routes and is a willing blocker. The blocking part is important because it will help Toure get on the field for special teams. Offensively, he probably won’t have much of a role in 2022. After all, he is the seventh receiver on the depth chart and is still learning the playbook. That said, Toure will have a chance to carve out a role down the road if he continues to improve. One thing we didn’t see much of against Kansas City was his ability to stretch the field, which is a huge part of his game and upside. If Toure can be a deep threat, who is also capable of running good short to intermediate routes, he will have a much longer NFL career. Early on, though, he will have to make the most of his reps on special teams.

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Packers film room: Rookie OL Zach Tom looked the part against Saints

From @PackerScribe: OT Zach Tom might be a rookie, but he’s played like an experienced starter through the first two preseason games of 2022.

The Green Bay Packers selected Zach Tom in the fourth round of this year’s draft after a productive career at Wake Forest. So far, the early returns on the rookie offensive lineman have exceeded expectations.

Tom was a three-year starter in college, lining up at left tackle and center. Over the course of 48 games, including 37 starts, he allowed just two sacks in 3,107 career snaps. Tom’s versatility has drawn comparisons to Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins, and the Packers hope he can follow in those footsteps.

In two preseason games, Tom has been flawless at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he has yet to allow a single pressure in 75 snaps, joining ninth overall pick Charles Cross as the only other rookie tackle to not give up a single pressure in the preseason.

Tom was Green Bay’s highest-rated offensive lineman in last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints. It was his second consecutive performance that drew attention and has him in contention to start Week 1. Tom might be a rookie, but he plays like an experienced starter.

Let’s review his film against the Saints to get a better look:

Tom plays the right tackle position like he’s been doing it his whole life. The first thing that sticks out about this rep is his balance. When the edge rusher tries to counter with a swim move, Tom can contort his body while maintaining a strong base. Notice how he gets a good initial grip on the defender’s chest to gain control of the rush. He then shows how fluid he is moving laterally by sliding his feet. Tom’s pad level and play strength also stick out in this clip as it prevents him from getting pushed back into the pocket.

Look at how Tom handles this stunt. He shows good recognition to pick up the three-tech penetrator, and again, we see him get a good initial punch on the pass rusher. His hand placement is perfect and is what allows him to be in control the entire rep. He drives the defender upfield, giving him no chance of disrupting the quarterback.

How does Tom do against a veteran? Here is he going up against sixth-year player Tanoh Kpassagnon, who had four sacks in only eight games for New Orleans last season. However, Tom has no issues fighting off his rush attempt. Kpassagnon wants to beat Tom around the edge, but the rookie has no interest in letting that happen. He gets good control of the outside shoulder while his left hand has a firm grip on the defender’s chest. Kpassagnon tries to use his free hand to disengage Tom’s left hand but to avail. Once Tom gets good hand placement, the rep is over.

Tom’s high level of play also shows up in the run game. This is where his experience at center is apparent in his ability to get off the ball and move laterally down the line of scrimmage. On this rep, he displays good leg drive to move the defender, which opens up a cut-back lane for the running back. Now imagine this is Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon taking the handoff. The Packers knew what they were doing when they draft Tom, who is a great fit in Matt LaFleur’s zone running scheme.

Tom is surprisingly strong at the point of attack. We see how athletic he is in his ability to cross the defender’s face, but he is also able to move bodies. You have to love his competitive toughness, which is displayed in how he finishes this play. Clearly, Tom won’t pass up the chance to plant the defender into the ground.

Conclusion

I don’t want to get too ahead of myself after just two preseason games, but it is hard not to be excited about this pick. Tom looks the part in pass protection with his hand placement, balance, and ability to mirror defenders. In the run game, he might be equally as impressive due to his explosive first step and power at the point of attack. Even though it is still very early, Tom has the making of a long-term starter in Green Bay.

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Vikings Film Room: Brian Asamoah

The future is bright for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings might have found a gem in Oklahoma LB Brian Asamoah in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

An explosive player at the linebacker position, the prevailing thought about Asamoah was that he would need a year or two to be fully ready for a starting job in the National Football League.

After a couple of preseason games, it’s clear that he is closer to being ready than we initially thought.

During Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, I identified five plays that show where Asamoah currently is and why Vikings fans should be excited about his future.

Packers film room: Enagbare flashes in preseason opener against 49ers

Packers rookie Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare produced some impressive moments in his preseason debut against the 49ers.

Green Bay Packers rookie edge rusher Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare wasn’t turning a lot of heads through the first couple of weeks of training camp. However, that changed when the fifth-rounder took the field against the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason and was one of the team’s standout performers on defense. 

Enagbare totaled one sack and a team-high three pressures in 45 snaps. A performance like this may not mean a whole lot against a backup offensive line, but after being on the outside looking in at Green Bay’s outside linebacker rotation, it was a step in the right direction. 

The Packers have their two starters in Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. After them, it’s Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, La’Darius Hamilton, and Enagbare fighting to be the primary backups on the depth chart. 

Enagbare is the youngest in the group. Before arriving in Green Bay, he had a strong collegiate career at the University of South Carolina. Unfortunately, a poor showing at the combine caused Enagbare to slip into day three of the NFL draft. 

Enagbare may not be an elite tester, but he proved to have some very coachable skills while playing for the Gamecocks. That was enough for the Packers, who needed to add to their outside linebacker room after releasing Za’Darius Smith in the offseason. 

Of course, one preseason game isn’t going to set the world on fire. It’s mostly backups playing against other backups, but in Enagbare’s case, these are valuable reps he can use to hone his craft. The important thing is that football is back, and now we have some film to review in our return to the Packers film room. Without further ado, let’s do a breakdown of Engabare’s tape against the 49ers.

Enagbare wasn’t a great run defender at South Carolina, but reps like this are encouraging. In this play, he’s our edge rusher on the left side of the screen doing a good job of funneling this outside run call back to the middle. Enagbare displays good technique to widen out toward the sideline even as he takes on a couple of blocks. He doesn’t make the tackle, but his ability to maintain proper leverage and set the edge gives the running back nowhere to go, so his help can finish the play for no gain.

Enagbare’s strength is one of his best assets. Again he is the edge rusher on the left side of the screen, but this time he is showing some legit knockback power on a bull rush to push the left tackle back into the quarterback. His pad level, hand placement, and leg drive are all positive things you want to see out of a rookie. 

Another bull rush but against a bigger, longer left tackle. Enagbare takes a good arc off the edge and showcases a powerful punch on another bull rush as he knocks the left tackle off balance. It opens up a clear lane to the quarterback, who tries to spin out of the pocket, but Enagbare is able to get a hand on him for the sack. Enagbare clearly has some legit power in his hands. 

Here is a different type of pass rush with Enagbare as the looper on a stunt. The guard is slow to pick up on the stunt, but the center shows good recognition to slide over in protection. Enagbare fights through the initial punch and shows solid balance to stay on his feet and continue to chase after the quarterback. He doesn’t get the sack, but he does get the pressure and a hit on the QB. 

We’ll finish off with another run play. This was one of Enagbare’s two tackles from the game, and it came from the backside. The run call is away from his side of the field, but he shows good pursuit to get back into the play to make the tackle. Also, this type of effort could give Enagbare value on special teams. 

In conclusion, there were plenty of positive takeaways from Enagbare’s preseason debut. He flashed good play strength as a pass rusher and even looked good against the run despite having some issues in college. Overall, he probably won’t play a huge role in 2022 but could be a solid backup with plenty of upside down the road. 

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Packers film room: What does WR Sammy Watkins bring to the offense?

Breaking down the tape of new Packers WR Sammy Watkins, and highlighting what he can bring to Matt LaFleur’s offense.

The Green Bay Packers finally added to a position that was starting to grow thin by signing wide receiver Sammy Watkins at the end of last week. His contract is a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, granting Watkins the opportunity to compete for snaps and bring a veteran presence to a room that just lost Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.  

Originally selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round (No. 4 overall) of the 2014 NFL draft, Watkins most recently spent last season as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.  

The former top-five pick had a promising start to his career before injuries became an issue. During his first two seasons in Buffalo, Watkins totaled 125 receptions for 2,029 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, Watkins has yet to play a full season since his rookie year and has yet to reach at least 700 receiving yards in a season since 2015.  

Matt LaFleur’s familiarity with Watson likely played a role in his signing. The two worked together during the 2017 season when both were employed by the Los Angles Rams. With LaFleur as the offensive coordinator, Watkins caught 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns.  

Watkins appeared in 15 games during his one season with LaFleur, but injuries have since been an issue. In total, he has missed 18 games over the last four years. In 2021, Watkins played in 13 games but posted career-lows in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Baltimore’s run-heavy offense and an ankle injury to former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson probably didn’t help.  

This week, we are diving into some of Watkins’ film from last season. The objective is to see what he might bring to Green Bay’s offense and if there is any juice left in his 28-year-old legs. Due to the way Watkins’ contract is structured, he is not a lock to make next year’s team. But a healthy Watkins does have a strong chance if he finds a role that will help the Packers win games in 2022.  

The same day Watkins’ deal was announced, Aaron Rodgers told his good friend Pat McAfee that he is “excited” to have the wide receiver as a teammate. Green Bay needs another guy who can work underneath and make plays to keep the chains moving. This play design by the Ravens was a perfect zone beater, with Watkins finding a soft spot right at the sticks. Great display of mental processing by Watkins to get the correct depth on his route. Any team in the NFL will welcome this type of play.  

Watkins may not be the deep threat he once was, but he can still make plays with his feet. Here he runs a simple drag route but uses his speed to gain the edge around the defender for a huge gain. It would be a great help if Watkins can pick up yards after the catch, even on a semi-consistent basis.  

Ideally, you would like to see Watkins gain more separation against a linebacker. However, this is still a great display of his ball tracking and hopefully is a sign that Rodgers will be able to trust him on these types of throws down the field.  

This is really good to see from Watkins. He can still win on slant routes when the corner is in man coverage. Watkins remains patient and gives the deception of an outside release before cutting to the inside. His technique was good enough to get the defender to bite so he could gain the necessary separation to make the play. Nothing too crazy to look at here, just a solid example of Watkins’ ability to win off the line of scrimmage.   

From 2019 to 2021, no wide receiver with a minimum of 500 snaps received a higher run Pro Football Focus blocking grade than Watkins. This is a guy who is not afraid to get physical and can be relied upon as a play-side run blocker. Watch as he engages with the defender using solid hand placement and active feet to prevent him from making a tackle. Run blocking as a receiver is obviously a big deal in LaFleur’s offense, and Watkins certainly checks that box.  

Watkins should be able to help anytime Rodgers is in a scramble drill. He understands what to do and where to be to provide an option for the quarterback when the play is off-script. Also, you got to love the concentration Watkins shows to make this catch.   

People were quick to point out Watkins’ 4.4 speed after he signed, but this isn’t a guy who will consistently stretch the field. Valdes-Scantling was able to run by defenders and make it look easy, but that probably won’t be the case for Watkins.  

No, Watkins is not an elite route runner. His stems can be rounded at times, which hinders separation, but he is about to enter a scheme that accommodates its wide receivers. The fact that Watkins is smart and understands leverage will hopefully squeeze out what is left of his potential. 

No one should expect Watkins to come in and return to his 2014-15 form. Playing with Rodgers should elevate his play some, but this is a guy who has experienced a lot of wear and tear on his body and is nearing 30. If Watkins can play in 14 games and give the Packers somewhere around 500 yards and a few touchdowns on the year, both parties should be pleased. 

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Packers film room: A closer look at intriguing edge prospect Cameron Thomas

In this film room, we take a closer look at San Diego State edge rusher Cameron Thomas, an intriguing prospect for the Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.

There is a very strong chance the Green Bay Packers will add an edge rusher in the 2022 NFL draft. Still well over the salary cap, the team is in jeopardy of losing one of their top edge rushers in Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith. The Packers will hope to keep at least one of their top pass-rushers to pair with Rashan Gary next season, but even then, expect them to draft one to get the developmental process started. An intriguing option is San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas.   

Thomas is coming off a remarkable 2021 season in which he logged 71 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. He was eventually named the 2021 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for his incredible production. Thomas has generated some first-round buzz, but in a deep edge class, he will likely be a day two pick.   

Thomas only participated in the bench press at this year’s NFL combine after injuring his hamstring at the Senior Bowl. He logged 24 reps – a solid number that topped another potential first-rounder in Purdue’s George Karlaftis (21). Thomas plans to participate in running drills and the vertical jump at his Pro Day scheduled for March 22.   

Green Bay would be wise to be in attendance. Thomas is scheme versatile but projects best as a three-tech defensive end. The Packers are not opposed to kicking edge rushers inside on occasion. Ideally, Thomas will add strength and mass to his 6-4, 267-pound frame. He will continue to get stronger and eventually emerge into a starting-caliber edge rusher who can make an impact from a variety of alignments.   

This week, we are going to take a closer look at Thomas by reviewing his film from a game last season against Utah. Let’s dive right in and see what the promising edge prospect could bring to an ascending defense.   

As a pass rusher:

If he adds strength, Thomas will be a potential nightmare for NFL guards. For one, he is extremely agile for a guy his size, which is demonstrated through his explosive first step and lateral movement in the play above. We see Thomas immediately gains leverage with his quickness and hands. Thomas’ hands are well versed and one of his best attributes. He clubs the guard’s inside hand while implementing a swim move with his offhand so the blocker cannot get proper hand placement. All of this is done in unison and looks like poetry in motion when combined with his upfield burst and vision to take a direct line to the quarterback. The result is an immediate pressure to force a hurried throw that is nearly intercepted.   

I really can’t get over Thomas’ hand usage. Here we see Thomas use a cross chop-club into a swim. Again, he generates quick pressure to get the quarterback to drop his eyes and eventually scramble into a sack. The important thing to note is how well Thomas implements his plan of attack. He knows exactly what he wants to do before the ball is snapped and then does an outstanding job with his execution.  

This time, Thomas is lining up over the left tackle and looks like he is going to take an outside rush. However, he quickly uses another deadly club-swim to gain inside leverage. The center sees this and has to help immediately. The center actually helps Thomas a bit by knocking him into the quarterback, but he is unable to make the tackle. It still forces the quarterback into an off-balanced throw into double coverage that falls incomplete. Thomas is only going to get better as a pass rusher but generating immediate pressure like this is extremely valuable even if it doesn’t always end in a sack. His explosiveness paired with Gary would be a lot of fun.  

Against the run:

Thomas plays with a rare level of effort. His relentless attitude carries over to the run game as a stout run defender. On this play, the left tackle gets control over Thomas at the start. However, Thomas is able to get his arms extended so he can get off the block and get back into the mix. His help has done a nice job bottling up the running back, allowing Thomas to get back into the play and help bring the ball carrier down.  

It is easy to see why Thomas had so much success against the run last year. Here, we see his explosive first step put to good use as a run defender as he is able to cross the blocker’s face. Thomas then uses a rip move to get off the block and continue to move down the line of scrimmage so he can bring the running back down. The result is no gain.  

Here is not just another example of Thomas’ athleticism, but his mental processing as well. He quickly finds the ball and showcases his closing speed and tackling radius to make the play. None of this happens without great instincts.   

Thomas played lined up at basically every alignment in college. He probably won’t be asked to do this at the next level, but it is still worth showing what Thomas is capable of. Even as a 0-tech, Thomas continued to make plays for his defense. He gets his arms extended to get off the block and moves laterally in the direction of the play flow. The center tries his best to ceil Thomas, but his quickness is too much as he beats him at the point of attack and then tracks down the ball carrier. Just an impressive play.  

Bonus clip

Look at the hustle Thomas shows on this play. Utah runs a screen here, and we even see Thomas hit the ground. Some defensive lineman will give up on this play, but not Thomas. He gets up and chases the play almost 15 yards down the field to make the tackle. For an edge rusher, you want this kind of motor and mindset.  

No, Thomas is not a perfect prospect. There are questions about his ability to be an effective edge rusher when attacking the tackle’s outside shoulder. We never saw him showcase his speed or bend to create pressure from the arc. This is something he will have to get better at or he may be reserved to a 3-tech. Thomas also needs to improve his play strength. He doesn’t have great knockback power and will likely need to add more muscle so that he can stand up better to NFL competition. A couple of years of NFL strength training should do wonders.   

That said, there is enough to like about Thomas as a day two pick or even at the tail end of the first round. The Packers could select Thomas at 28 knowing that he will start as a rotational pass rusher. He can then add strength and hone in his craft to become a prominent player capable of making an impact against the run and pass.   

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Packers film room: David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers return to action

In this week’s film room, we break down the return of Packers LT David Bakhtiari and rookie C Josh Myers.

The Green Bay Packers deployed a healthier version of their starting offensive line against the Detroit Lions in Week 18. The Packers still lost a meaningless game, but it was good for a couple of guys to get some reps before the playoffs.

The key returners were, of course, David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers. Bakhtiari played in his first game since tearing his ACL at the end of the 2020 regular season. The two-time first-team All-Pro looked like his usual self as he failed to give up a sack or even a single pressure in 27 offensive snaps. No one is happier than quarterback Aaron Rodgers to have his blindside protected by one of the best in the business once again.

Myers made his first start since suffering a knee injury in Week 6. It was important for Rodgers and his rookie center to get reacquainted with cadences and protection adjustments. Green Bay’s 2021 second-round pick showed some rust in his return.

With Myers back in the lineup, Lucas Patrick moved over to right guard rather than getting sent to the bench. Patrick replaced rookie Royce Newman, who had started all 16 games leading up to the season finale.

The Packers’ starters only played a half against the Lions, but it was enough to put out some film to review ahead of the playoffs. Without further ado, let’s take a look.

David Bakhtiari

First play of the game. Using his elite pocket awareness, Rodgers has all day to find Allen Lazard over the middle for a 28-yard pickup. However, let’s focus on Bakhtiari in his first pass set. He gets a good initial punch that sends the defensive end off balance. The end attempts to reengage, but Bakhtiari does a good job of maintaining his leverage and implementing proper hand placement to ward off the second attempt. The result is a textbook rep.

Not many people realize how much the Packers missed Bakhtiari in the run game, also. He is an elite run blocker, and he showcased that despite minimal snaps against the Lions. In this play, we see an explosive first step from Bakhtiari as he climbs to the strong-side linebacker. Notice how his hips are positioned to create the seal and completely stop the linebacker in his tracks. Bakhtiari’s block helps running back AJ Dillon bounce this run outside for a nice 8-yard gain.

Josh Myers

Here we see what appears to be a mental mistake by Myers. It appears he should be moving laterally to help Jon Runyan with the two-tech before getting upfield. Instead, Myers rushes and immediately gets vertical to the second level. This puts Runyan in a tough spot as he also has to account for the linebacker looking to fill. Notice how Myers put his hand on the defensive tackle’s back before moving to the second level. He must have some responsibility when it comes to the Detroit defender but chooses to take an overly aggressive approach.

This was a much better rep on a similar concept. Myers does a nice job trying to cross the face of the three-tech defensive end thanks to an explosive first step. It is an extremely difficult block to execute, and it wasn’t perfect by Myers, although it was much better than the previous one.

Myers gets caught off-balance in this pass set. The 0-tech uses a good stab-chop to disengage from Myers. Ideally, I think Myers would like to have a better base under him and implement a strong punch. We see here that the defender easily separates with his hands and applies pressure to the quarterback. Luckily, it was a heads-up play by Runyan, who notices that Myers is beaten. Runyan’s effort allows Rodgers to navigate the pocket and step into a different pocket to throw from.

Another not-so-great rep from Myers that doesn’t end in catastrophe. Again, we see Myers struggle with his initial hand placement as the 0-tech disengages with a strong move. Kudos to Myers, though, for sticking with it. He shows good lateral quickness to get back in phase with the pass rusher and not get called for holding. However, when it comes time for Myers to go against a strong pass-rushing defensive tackle in the playoffs, he may need help.

Initially, I was highlighting Patrick Taylor’s blitz pickup, but this was also good protection from Myers. We see that the Lions are mugging the A-gaps, which means Myers has to choose who to block. Watch as Myers displays his power, sending the linebacker flying with his punch. Hopefully, Myers will continue to showcase this type of play strength when going against interior guys.

Lucas Patrick

Guard is a familiar spot for Patrick, so the Packers shouldn’t be too worried. However, I just wanted to point out this play because it requires an adjustment after going from center to guard. Detroit is running a stunt, which Green Bay does a good job of recognizing. However, Patrick loses sight of his responsibility as right tackle Dennis Kelly has to pick up a late blitz off the edge. It appears that Kelly is expecting Patrick to stay with the three-tech, but Patrick has turned his attention inside to the looper. As a center, you should look to help whoever is struggling in pass protection, but here, Patrick should have focused on his rushing lane. In this case, it would have prevented the sack.

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