Tag: observations

Observations from Lions 2020 training camp: Day 6

Lions Wire’s Erik Schlitt was in Allen Park for Day 6 of the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp and here are his observations.

The Detroit Lions were back in pads for Day 6 of training camp, and with a day off on Monday, they loaded up for a high tempo, physical practice in the humid summer heat.

100-yard pick-6

The play of the day came during a 7-on-7 goalline drill near the end of practice. Reggie Ragland lined up at WILL linebacker, disguised his drop and when Matthew Stafford tried to laser one in to a crossing Danny Amendola, Ragland jumped the route and made a leaping one-handed interception.

With no hesitation, Ragland began sprinting for the endzone 100-yards away. Stafford immediately got on his horse to chase him down — even though he is not allowed to actually make a play on Ragland.

When asked if he would have outrun Stafford if it was a game, Ragland replied, “damn skippy I would have”.

Stafford wasn’t the only one tracking Ragland down, Jarrad Davis came screaming down the field and tackled Ragland in the back of the end zone. Not far behind, another handful of defenders joined in piling on in celebration.

Quarterbacks

There is no controversy over the pecking order here, but it’s worth noting David Blough had a nice few first days of camp, while Chase Daniel looked shaper the last two. There’s not a ton separating them on the field right now, but off the field is where Daniel earns his money.

Running backs

It was a light running backs group today. D’Andre Swift and Bo Scarbrough are dealing with injuries and missed practice, Jason Huntley was also absent with no disclosed reason, and Kerryon Johnson stayed limited to positional drills only.

That left a full load for Ty Johnson, Jonathan Williams, and Wes Hills. It was an up and down day for this group. Williams fumbled while rushing through the B-gap and Hills dropped a pass.

At fullback, Nick Bawden and TE/H-B Isaac Nauta were in positional drills but didn’t do any field-work during the team portions. That meant more opportunities for Jason Cabinda. He has looked so sharp and powerful it wouldn’t be surprising if he stays at fullback and leaves his linebacker career behind.

Wide receivers

Kenny Golladay appeared to be on the Kerryon Johnson plan today, as he opened practice with receivers in drills but once it shifted to team drills, he was off to the side catching passes for the remainder of practice.

That opened the door for Marvin Hall to join the starters and pointing towards him being at the top of the reserves.

Marvin Jones Jr. continues to be an unfair matchup in one-on-one reps and in team drills. Today, Jeff Okudah put his speed on display gliding down the field with Jones, but when the ball was underthrown and to the outside, Jones rotated his body almost completely around and snagged the ball out of the air with one hand.

“There was nothing the defender could do” is becoming a phrase I am writing in my notebook daily when it comes to Jones.

Speaking of insane body control, Quintez Cephus continues to stand out on contested catches. Don’t read this as Cephus isn’t separating — he is with burst, sharp routes, and stutter steps — he’s just winning the contested balls as well. Once he gains more experience, he’s going to be a problem down the road.

Jamal Agnew continues to prove that making the switch to offense was the right move for his career. He looks like he has been playing receiver his entire career, adjusting to the ball, sharpening his routes, and securing tough catches. He did have one drop on a pass from Blough, but the good far outweighs the bad — he’s going to make some noise.

With Hall bumping up with the starters, Tom Kennedy got an extended look with the twos. That’s a nice feather in his cap, as he has mostly taken reps only in the slot and was given this opportunity over traditional outside receivers like Chris Lacy and Geremy Davis.

Victor Bolden was once again not in pads and working with trainers.

Tight ends

One of the easiest ways to decipher starters and reserves is to note their contributions on special teams. Jesse James is blocking in the third phase, while T.J. Hockenson uses the special teams periods to work on catching passes.

As noted above Nauta participated in positional drills but didn’t see him in team activities. With Hunter Bryant out, that opened the door for Matt Sokol — who shed his no-contact red jersey today — to step up into the third tight end spot.

Offensive line

Rookie Jonah Jackson continues to start at right guard and he looks confident in the role. He still has some techniques to learn as was evidenced during the 11-on-11 period. Jackson stonewalled Julain Okwara on one play, then on the next, Trey Flowers lined up at 3-technique and reminded him he still has some things to learn.

There was a look of movement among the reserves today. Oday Aboushi and Kenny Wiggins flipped sides at guard again, as did Dan Skipper (who shifted to left tackle) and Tyrell Crosby (right tackle). Matt Nelson expanded his reps, seeing time at left tackle and left guard, while Logan Stenberg got time at his natural left guard position on reps where Beau Benzschawel — who is slowly returning from injury — lined up at center.

In the last period of the day, the starters shook things up, with Joe Dahl and Jackson getting a break, while Hal Vaitai left the field 15-minutes early. It’s unclear if any of this was injury-related.

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Observations from Lions 2020 training camp: Day 5

Lions Wire’s Erik Schlitt was in Allen Park for Day 5 of the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp and here are his observations.

After four padded practices in a row, the Detroit Lions have seen some of their players nicked up as they acclimate back to contact football. As a way of taking some of the stress off the player’s bodies, coach Matt Patricia elected for a non-padded practice on Saturday — shifting the focus to more situational football.

Two-minute drill efficiency

In the Lions two-minute drills the offense looked solid if not above average.

When the first team took the field, Matthew Stafford drove the team down to the goal line and looked like they scored three different times. An acrobatic catch by Kerryon Johnson looked to cross the line but coaches set the ball on the one-yard line and had them go again. Marvin Jones Jr. caught one in the back of the endzone, again looking to have scored, but coaches set the ball on the one and called for third-down, which went to the defense. On fourth down, Stafford looked Jones Jr.’s way again, this time for a called score.

The second team looked even better. Chase Daniel hit Jamal Agnew out of the slot over the middle. Then he looked Quintez Cephus’ way, and the rookie showed amazing body control 30-yards down the sidelines, high pointing the ball and shielding it from the defender. Then right back to Agnew over the middle for the score. Three plays, three passes, three catches, and six points.

This team had a plethora of players who could reliably catch the ball in 2019 and after adding Cephus, Agnew, D’Andre Swift, and Jason Huntley to that group, Stafford will have a lot of options in 2020.

Running backs

Kerryon Johnson and Ty Johnson split reps with the ones, but when things got serious in the two-minute drills discussed above, it was clear coaches preferred Kerryon on the field.

While Ty Johnson has been getting early reps, it will be interesting to see what happens when D’Andre Swift and Bo Scarbrough return from injury and if Jonathan Williams can get time with the ones as he continues to play well.

Wide receivers

This was clearly Marvin Jones Jr.’s day to shine. Not only did he show out in two-minute drills but he commanded the ball on several other occasions, making multiple difficult sideline grabs look routine today.

If you want to know how good a reserve player is, take him off the second team and line him up with the third group and see how he does. If he blends in, that’s not good news, but if he’s better you’ll know very quickly.

That was the case with Cephus today. Near the end of practice, they ran him out with the third team and the difference was immediately noticeable. You can mark him in pen in your roster projections.

Tight ends

We’ve seen this in camp before, but T.J. Hockenson looks incredible.

The Lions are throwing all their safeties at him in drills and 11-on-11s and he’s beat them all. Tracy Walker and Jayron Kearse give him the most trouble but no one else has been close to handling him.

In the TE vs S one-on-one drill, Hockenson lined up against Kearse for the first rep. He ran straight at the safety and when he got to the top of his route, he pushed into the safeties body, pivoted inside, cutting the route, and separating away from the defender. He did this in college as a way of getting open (example below) but with his added strength he has perfected this move. It’s almost uncoverable when timed right.

The safeties are getting frustrated at the frequency at which Hockenson is winning but they appreciate the competition. Hockenson and Walker routinely acknowledge each other after the reps with high-fives, while Kearse even took to Twitter to shout out the young tight end.

Hunter Bryant left today with an apparent hamstring injury, Isaac Nauta still has yet to take an on-field rep, and Matt Sokol is in a red (non-contact) jersey but taking reps, leaving the Lions with only two healthy tight ends: Hockenson and Jesse James.

Offensive line

Five practices in and five starts for Jonah Jackson at right guard. At this point, it’s safe to start calling him their starter.

His primary competitors, Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi, continue to flip guard spots with Wiggins on the left and Aboushi on the right for today’s practice. This continued exposure to both guard spots reinforces the fact that they appear to be training for a reserve role.

Logan Stenberg continues to rep with the second team at center and in the rare cases the Lions used a third offensive line, he remained in the middle.

In those rare cases where the Lions lined up their third offensive line, we saw Dan Skipper at left tackle, Caleb Benenoch at left guard, Stenberg at center, Wiggins at right guard, and Matt Nelson at right tackle. Beau Benzschawel remains on the sideline.

OL depth chart for Saturday:

Left tackle Left guard Center Right guard Right tackle
Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
Tyrell Crosby Oday Aboushi Logan Stenberg Kenny Wiggins Dan Skipper
Dan Skipper Caleb Benenoch Logan Stenberg Kenny Wiggins Matt Nelson
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Observations from Lions 2020 training camp: Day 4

Observations from Lions Wire’s own Erik Schlitt was in Allen Park for the fourth day of the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp.

Lions Wire’s own Erik Schlitt was in Allen Park for the fourth day of the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp and while there weren’t many surprises, there was a lot to take away from the day.

There were a handful of players unable to participate in today’s practice, including D’Andre Swift, Bo Scarbrough, Nick Bawden, Isaac Nauta, Victor Bolden, and Beau Benzschawel. While others, like Marvin Hall, had to leave the field near the end of practice. Others still, like Desmond Trufant, had what appeared to be a rest day.

Offense

Overall the offense had a nice day, but there was a stretch of four consecutive plays that were so bad, coach Matt Patricia stopped practice and forced them to run a lap while everyone watched and waited for them to finish.

One-on-one drills typically favor the offensive skill players and today was no different.

Running back

Ty Johnson and Jason Huntley dominated the RB vs LB coverage drills, which should be surprising, but it was the beginning of what would be a big day for Johnson.

With no Swift or Scarbrough available, Ty Johnson got a lot of looks with the starting lineup and looked terrific. In my 53-man roster projection, I had the Lions keeping five running backs for exactly this situation. If one or two of them get banged up — which most have a history of doing — keeping Ty Johnson will give the Lions the luxury of still being able to rotate backs.

Huntley looks quick as can be, but he is so late in the running back rotations it’s hard to get a real grasp on what he can do as a runner. He did execute a wheel route to perfection that was basically uncoverable — which, if I were Darrell Bevell, should be a designed play for him in the future.

With Scarbrough out, Jonathan Williams is making the most of his opportunity to see reps and this may be turning into an unexpected running back battle for the power role.

One more note here, with Bawden and Nauta not participating, Jason Cabinda was once again the Lions primary fullback — and he’s good enough at it, it left us in the media stands wondering if this might be a permanent switch.

Tight ends

T.J. Hockenson also looked very strong today, regardless of the situation. In one-on-ones, he matched up and won battles against Tracy Walker and Jayron Kearse. He is so smooth and difficult to deal with, he makes it look easy.

When Jesse James faced off against Walker, the safety easily won the battle sitting in his hip pocket through the route. On the next rep, James squared off with Will Harris and used his veteran savvy to bait Harris’ overaggressiveness, stopping mid-route and letting the sophomore safety run right past him.

Hunter Bryant made an impressive diving catch to end the drills. With Nauta on the sidelines, Bryant is showing he has the chops as a pass-catcher. In 11-on-11’s Bryant saw time at outside receiver with the third team, which surely is helping his stock.

There is a definite hierarchy among the tight ends. Hockenson can be dominant against most everybody, with Walker giving him the most push back. James will struggle with the Walkers of the NFL but should be able to handle the players on Harris’ level. After that there are questions. When will Nauta return healthy? Can Bryant’s passing-game skills be enough to earn a spot?

Wide receivers

Jamal Agnew’s transition to the offensive side of the ball looks surprisingly smooth. He is taking second-team slot reps and is apt at creating separation. He still has work to do, but I feel more confident about his inclusion in my 53-man roster projection.

Nothing is set in stone, and there were a lot of moving parts, but for the most part today, this is how the receiver depth chart shook out:

WR-X Slot-Y WR-Z
Marvin Jones Danny Amendola Kenny Golladay
Quintez Cephus Jamal Agnew Marvin Hall
Chris Lacy Tom Kennedy Hunter Bryant

Offensive line

The big question coming into today was would Jonah Jackson continue to start at right guard and the answer was a strong yes.

From left to right, here’s how the first two offensive lines took reps on Friday:

Taylor Decker Joe Dahl Frank Ragnow Jonah Jackson Hal Vaitai
Tyrell Crosby Kenny Wiggins Logan Stenberg Oday Aboushi Dan Skipper

What’s most interesting here is, Wiggins and Aboushi have been alternating guard positions at practices but not taking getting reps with the starters while Jackson and Dahl have remained fixed. This points to there being two clear starters and two competing for reserve roles, rather than Wiggins or Aboushi actually challenging to start.

Additionally, if Benzschawel was healthy, I’m not sure Stenberg would be taking reps at center on the second team. He is a talented enough player that the Lions are looking for ways to get him on the field but he is also likely behind Wiggins and Aboushi on the depth chart at guard. He looks like a developmental player rather than a challenger at this time.

One final note. Taylor Decker has looked sensational in both one-on-ones and 11-on-11’s. Technique, anchor, strength, he has been a stone wall at left tackle and I didn’t see him get beat today.

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Observations from Monday’s ‘Detroit Lions Training Camp LIVE’

The Detroit Lions put pads on for the field time in 2020 training camp on Monday and broadcast a portion of practice via the team’s “Training Camp LIVE” show.

On Monday, the Detroit Lions put pads on for the field time in 2020 training camp and broadcast a portion of practice via the team’s “Training Camp LIVE” show.

If you missed the show, here are our observations from the broadcast (or you can skip to the end for the full video).

The Lions set up a makeshift outdoor studio in front of the Lions practice fields and for the first half-hour — while the team went through stretches — the team’s multi-media journalist Tori Petry and senior writer Tim Twentyman previewed what has been happening in camp so far and some of the interesting storylines in this years camp.

There were some behind the scenes clips from the previous week when the team was transitioning between Phase 1 and Phase 2’s non-padded practices. Including having offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell mic’d up during one of the indoor practices.

After the clip, the broadcast swapped out Twentyman for former Lions left tackle Lomas Brown. Fro the next half-hour, Petry and Brown discussed the focus of this week’s episode: quarterbacks and running backs.

Petry and Brown would discuss the two position groups in a similar way they approach their weekly Lions’ podcast, all while moving between clips of the on-field action.

The majority of the time, the camera’s featured tight shots of players, but they did shift out to a wide camera angle when specific position drills picked up. The constant shifting of camera angles made it difficult to compare players in drills but there were some cool looks you don’t get while attending camp during a typical practice.

This was the first of six broadcasts the Lions will put on during this year’s training camp with the next episode coming on Friday when they will shift the focus to the offensive line.

If you want to watch the entire hour-long first episode, click the video below:

7 observations from Packers’ NFC Divisional Round win over Seahawks

Observations from the Packers’ playoff win over the Seahawks on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers used four total touchdowns from Davante Adams and Aaron Jones and four sacks from Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round playoff on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

A few observations from the 28-23 win:

1. Graham comes up big: The veteran tight end produced three huge plays. He beat safety Bradley McDougald inside (with help from a clearout route by Geronimo Allison) for 13 yards on 3rd-and-8 to extend the Packers’ first scoring drive of the game, got down the seam and behind K.J. Wright for a 27-yard catch (on a beautiful throw from Aaron Rodgers) on 3rd-and-6 to extend the Packers’ first scoring drive of the second half and then daggered the Seahawks’ season with a stumbling 9-yard catch over the middle on 3rd-and-9 to pick up the game-sealing first down under two minutes. He made the most out of every opportunity Sunday night.

2. Third-down assassin: Rodgers was nothing short of incredible on third down. He completed seven different passes on the money down, and six of the seven converted first downs. Three gained over 20 yards, and three came in the fourth quarter. He even pulled off a quarterback sneak for an eighth first down on third down. Throws to Jimmy Graham for 27 yards and Davante Adams for 32 yards in the second half were sublime. It was a masterful performance in high-leverage situations from the two-time MVP.

3. Dominant up front: The Packers’ overwhelming advantage at the line of scrimmage on defense played out on the field all night. Preston and Za’Darius Smith combined for four sacks and eight quarterback hits. Throw in Kenny Clark and the three produced 25 total pressures of Russell Wilson, per Pro Football Focus. Wilson took five sacks but was slippery in the second half and probably avoided another five on his own. The Packers also held Marshawn Lynch and Travis Homer to 39 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Clark produced arguably the most impressive play of the game when he pressured Wilson up into the pocket and then chased him down from behind for a sack, while Preston Smith delivered the defensive play of the game when he bolted off the edge and sacked Wilson on third down late in the fourth quarter.

4. Ervin’s impact: Tyler Ervin continues to make an impact for the Packers offense and special teams. He produced 25 rushing yards on two carries, including an 18-yarder on an end around toss that helped set up a first-half touchdown. He was too fast and too quick around the corner for the Seahawks defense. He also brings an ability to threaten on the jet motion, which continues to be a part of how the Packers dress-up plays before the snap. It’s something they didn’t have the last time they went to San Francisco. Also, the Seahawks feared him on kickoff returns and frequently kicked it away from him. Ervin has been a vital addition.

5. Coverage credit: All night, the Seahawks attempted to create explosive plays down the field off run fakes, but the Packers had an answer to just about every deep shot dialed up by coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Kevin King and safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage did a terrific job of getting depth and bracketing the vertical routes. Wilson bought time and created a few big plays outside of structure in the second half, but rarely did he have opportunities to attack within the framework of the original play. The Packers weren’t going to let Wilson uncork the deep shots that helped the Seahawks beat the Eagles in the wildcard round.

6. Gold zone goodies: The Packers made three trips into the “gold zone,” their word for the red zone, and came away with three touchdowns. A strength of the offense all season carried over into the playoffs. Rodgers and Adams made magic on the 20-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and Matt LaFleur stayed committed to Aaron Jones inside the 10-yard line later in the first half. Jones scored his 20th and 21st touchdowns of the season on short runs. In the NFC title game in 2014, Mike McCarthy’s Packers settled for short field goals and it killed them late. This time around, they scored touchdowns and gave themselves a big enough cushion to survive more Russell Wilson magic.

7. Veldheer steps up: Pass protection was set to be one of the Packers’ biggest advantages going into Sunday. That could have changed when veteran Bryan Bulaga couldn’t go while battling an illness. Instead, Jared Veldheer started at right tackle and played a terrific game in pass protection. He isn’t going to win much in the run game, but he held down the right edge, and the Packers passing game didn’t miss a beat. Credit Veldheer, who retired in May and wasn’t even on the active roster a month ago. And credit Brian Gutekunst, who scooped up a starting-quality offensive tackle on the waiver wire. It was a huge addition, and it paid off in a big way Sunday night.

7 observations from Packers’ season finale win over Lions

Observations from the Packers’ 23-20 win over the Lions.

The Green Bay Packers overcame a wretched first half and deficits of 14-0 and 17-3 to come back and beat the Detroit Lions during Sunday’s season finale at Ford Field.

The win improved the Packers to 13-3 and clinched a first-round bye.

Here are seven observations from the 23-20 victory:

Backups come through: The Packers lost starting center Corey Linsley in the first half and then lost starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga in the second half, but the offensive line never blinked. Lucas Patrick, who signed a two-year extension on Saturday, filled in capably at center. Jared Veldheer, who was claimed off waivers and activated earlier this month, played well over the final 20 minutes at right tackle. Big credit to Patrick and Veldheer for stepping in and keeping the front solid, and props to GM Brian Gutekunst for adding a quality backup offensive tackle late in the season and extending a versatile interior backup. The snaps played by the two backups on Sunday could be critical if the Packers suffer another injury on the interior or at tackle during the postseason.

Disconnect between 12 and 83: Aaron Rodgers and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were off during training camp and they never got on the same page in 2019. MVS was targeted seven times on Sunday but caught just two for 19 yards. On two different plays, Rodgers overshot him or misjudged where he’d be on the field. For whatever reason, the necessary comfort level between the quarterback and receiver doesn’t exist. Valdes-Scantling finished a disappointing second season as one of only four receivers in the NFL to see 50 or more targets but finish with a catch percentage under 50. Getting that connection dialed in for the playoffs could be huge, but is it too late?

Davante in the slot: Davante Adams in the slot is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the offense. He caught at least three of his seven catches from the slot, including a first-down catch on third down in the first half and the 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. It’s an effective strategy because it affords Adams more options to release off the line and more options at the top of his route, and it’s much harder to double team the inside. His double-move on the touchdown was one of the best routes of the season from a Packers receiver.

Intrigue with Ervin: Tyler Ervin has solidified his spot as the team’s primary returner, but he’ll be an intriguing gadget player for the Packers offense in the postseason. He’s a quick, shifty runner and he had separation on two missed deep shots. The Packers also used him again as the jet motion man on a few snaps, and he made a heads-up play on a busted screen when he gave Aaron Rodgers a throwing lane in the scramble drill. Aaron Jones is the top option and Jamaal Williams should be ready for the divisional round, but don’t be surprised if Ervin keeps getting chances. He’s dynamic. Expect him to stay in the gameplan in the playoffs.

Martinez makes big plays: Packers inside linebacker Blake Martinez hasn’t made many game-changing plays this season, but he contributed a few in the second half to help spark the comeback. He had the primary pressure on 3rd-and-9 that nearly resulted in an interception for Tramon Williams. Later, with the Packers down seven points and the Lions driving, Martinez blew through the running back and sacked David Blough on first down and then got deep in coverage and picked off Blough’s errant pass a play later. The takeaway set up the Packers’ game-tying touchdown drive. On the Lions’ final drive, Martinez stepped up and covered the underneath crosser, which was likely Blough’s first read, and forced an incompletion.

Lazard’s day: Allen Lazard had a big day, but it should have been much bigger. He was open a lot. Aaron Rodgers found him four times for 69 yards. He provided a spark in the third quarter with a tough catch moving to his right on the Packers’ first touchdown drive. Later, he got Darius Slay spun around and then skied for the game-tying score on 3rd-and-10. On the Packers’ second-to-last drive, Lazard won from the slot on a slant despite the cornerback playing inside leverage. The catch moved the sticks on third down. Rodgers should probably look 13’s direction more.

Props to JK: Not only did punter JK Scott have several impressive punts bounce inside the 10-yard line, but he saved the day as a holder. It was an erratic day from long snapper Hunter Bradley. Scott stayed laser-focused and cleaned it up. On the game-winning kick, Scott caught a very high snap and got the ball down and in position in a flash. Those little things can go unnoticed, but it made all the difference for the Packers on Sunday.

4 takeaways from Saints’ lopsided win over Panthers

The New Orleans Saints disassembled the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 of the NFL regular season, playing complimentary offense and defense.

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The New Orleans Saints disassembled the Carolina Panthers in their regular season finale, winning their seventh consecutive road game and improving to a 13-3 record on the year so far. There was a lot to learn in New Orleans’ lopsided victory, so let’s get right to it.

Jared Cook is going to be a problem in the postseason

Cook was only targeted twice, but he caught both passes to gain 60 yards and score a touchdown. His first catch was a 37-yard gain down the seam in which he was just too big and athletic for the Panthers defense to keep up with. The second lob sent Cook’s way was one of the prettiest receptions you’ll ever see, with the big tight end reeling in a one-handed catch for six points.

The Saints made a point to involve many different receiving options on Sunday, but you can bet that Cook will get more than two opportunities in the upcoming playoffs. He could very well lead the team in targets now that he and Brees have gotten on the same page, which spells trouble for opposing defenses. Good luck preparing for Cook in addition to Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.

Taysom Hill will be dangerous, too

In the event that a talent-loaded defense does prepare well for Cook, Thomas, and Kamara, it’s reassuring to know that Hill is up to the task as a real receiving threat. The do-it-all quarterback has expanded his skills set in his third year with the team, and he ended up catching six touchdown passes this season. Hill has rapidly developed into a scoring threat for the Saints both in the red zone and from further afield. Credit to him for putting in the work to become as much a technician as an athlete.

While Hill’s most prominent usage still comes on special teams and in option snaps from the shotgun, don’t be shocked if the Saints use him as a mismatch weapon in the postseason. Teams don’t have as much film to study of him in that role, and he’s already thrived despite the small sample size. If the Saints get favorable looks with Hill lined up in the slot or at tight end, they’ll give him a chance to make a play.

The Saints defense travels well

Carolina averaged just 2.3 yards per rushing attempt as a team, and their quarterbacks were sacked twice and hit five other times. The Saints defense logged 9 pass deflections with both A.J. Klein and Janoris Jenkins getting interceptions. Maybe they’re able to communicate better on the road — whatever the case, New Orleans playing punishing football on defense, and that bodes well for any road trips they’ll have to make in the playoffs.

As a team, the Saints have racked up 51 sacks this year, which is the most of the Sean Payton era. It’s the most since the 2001 season (53 sacks), and ranks among the best in team history (the 2000 Saints collected 66 sacks). And they’ve done considerable damage even without former first-round picks Marcus Davenport and Sheldon Rankins, which says more about the depth the Saints have amassed along the defensive line than anything. They’ve hit home runs on recent undrafted free agent finds like Shy Tuttle, Carl Grandderson, and Taylor Stallworth, and the results speak for themselves.

Special teams might be the edge New Orleans needs

The Saints offense can score on any unit in the league. Their defense can compete with just about anyone, even if they’ve been outplayed in a few key moments this season. But where the Saints shine best might be on special teams, where rookie Pro Bowl returner Deonte Harris has scared opponents into kicking away from him, and the coverage unit bottles up opposing returners. The Panthers had just 29 return yards on Sunday.

This is the sort of “hidden yardage” that can make or break contenders. Harris’s prowess does a lot to set the offense up in favorable starting position; the coverage squad led by Craig Robertson, Justin Hardee, J.T. Gray, and Taysom Hill is highly effective at forcing teams to start deep in their own territory, especially when working with Thomas Morstead’s precise punting. If the other two phases of the game find themselves evenly-matched, the Saints can trust their special teams units to create a spark. And Wil Lutz is one of the best in the business, even late in games.

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6 observations from Packers’ division-clinching win over Vikings

Top observations from the Packers’ 23-10 win over the Vikings.

The Green Bay Packers survived an early rash of turnovers by getting two touchdown runs from Aaron Jones and the season’s best performance from Mike Pettine’s defense during Monday night’s division-clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Here are six observations from the Packers’ 23-10 win:

1. Feeding 17, 33: Packers coach Matt LaFleur devised a clever plan, and it was centered around feeding the ball to Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. The two combined for 38 touches, 276 total yards and two scores. Jones carried 23 times and eventually wore out the Vikings defense, while Adams tortured Minnesota with short catches and intermediate in-breaking routes. Aaron Rodgers, who praised LaFleur for coming up with the plan and sticking with it despite the early turnovers, was especially effective throwing to the middle of the field off run fakes. The Packers remained committed to the run, ran a ton of play-action and fed the ball to their best players on Monday night. It was a highly effective plan.

2. Interior destruction: Will any team in the NFC playoff field have a legitimate answer for a healthy Kenny Clark and a versatile Za’Darius Smith? Mike Pettine has really found something in using the two stars as complementary players on the interior. Smith moves all around the defensive front, opening up one-on-one opportunities for Clark, who is finally healthy and playing at an elite level again. And Smith is a wrecking ball against centers and guards. Offenses are stuck in a lose-lose situation. Do they key on Clark inside, give help and leave Smith one-on-one elsewhere? Or do they focus protection on Smith and give an interior lineman a one-on-one on Clark? It’s just too hard to double team these guys inside.

3. WR blocking: The Packers might have the best run-blocking receivers in the NFL. Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow both get it done at a high level every single week. On Monday night, LaFleur confidently used both as lead blockers. Lazard sprung several big runs, including Aaron Jones’ first touchdown, while Kumerow twice pulled out in front to lead a run. Even Marquez Valdes-Scantling held a block on Jones’ long touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Having effective and willing blockers at receiver has been a great mix with Jones, who is terrific at slicing behind blocks and finding space to the outside.

4. Run fits: The Vikings were without Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook and top backup Alexander Mattison, leaving Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah to handle all the snaps at running back. There’s no doubting the talent drop-off, but don’t discount how well the Packers fit the run on Monday night. Clark, Tyler Lancaster and Dean Lowry all played the run at a high level. Even when the Packers played light in the box, they stopped the run effectively, and linebacker B.J. Goodson played a physical brand of run defense in the base defense, too. The Packers have now allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards in three of the last four games.

5. 12 trusts 13: The Packers put Allen Lazard in a bunch of big spots on Monday night, and he delivered for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. No. 12 targeted No. 13 four times on third down, completing three for three different first downs. Twice, Lazard won inside from the slot on in-breaking routes. He also gave Mike Hughes trouble from the perimeter. Rodgers missed him high on one slant, he dropped (after review) what would have been a 19-yard completion and he and Rodgers weren’t on the same page on an early third-down throw, but Lazard was effective in the No. 2 role. That bond needs to keep building.

6. Swervin’ Ervin: Credit LaFleur for throwing a neat little wrinkle at Mike Zimmer and the Packers defense. Jet motion has been a part of the offense all season, but LaFleur didn’t have a player with the speed and short-area quickness to really threaten on the motion. Insert Ervin, who has helped revive the Packers return game since arriving in Green Bay earlier this month. LaFleur had Ervin on the field for four snaps, all with jet motion. The Vikings had to respect it, especially after the Packers called a touch pass off the look in the first half. On the final snap, Ervin’s motion from left to right cleared a defender, moved the defense a step in the wrong direction and helped Aaron Jones get to the outside and race 56 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

6 observations from Packers’ win over Redskins

Six quick observations from the Packers’ 20-15 win over the Redskins on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers stormed out to a 14-0 lead before holding on and beating the Washington Redskins during a mild December afternoon at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

The victory improved Matt LaFleur’s team to 10-3 after 13 games, making him the first Packers coach to ever win 10 games in his first season.

Here are six observations from the Packers’ 20-15 win over the Redskins:

1. Mistakes from Rodgers prevents blowout: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers cost the Packers points on at least three drives. He overthrew Jimmy Graham on a would-be touchdown, lost on a fumble inside the 30-yard line and overshot on Aaron Jones on another potential touchdown. He also nearly threw an interception in Washington territory on third down. The offense was disjointed and lacking rhythm over the final three quarters, and the quarterback was a big reason why. With a better day from No. 12, the Packers probably win by 20 or more.

2. Fizzling out after a fast start: The Packers started fast, building a 14-0 lead with an efficient passing game based around the tight end position, but once the opening script was over, the offense fizzled out and accomplished next to nothing in the air. This has been a recurring theme for the Packers offense. The fast starts just don’t last. Matt LaFleur can certainly craft an effective opening 15-play script, but why can’t the Packers maintain it? That’s a question LaFleur and the Packers need to find an answer for over the final three games.

3. Alexander shadows McLaurin: The Packers haven’t had Jaire Alexander follow around receivers much, if ever, in 2019, but the second-year cornerback shadowed rookie receiver Terry McLaurin all afternoon Sunday. For the first 55 minutes, Alexander scored a decisive victory. His quickness and route-recognition ability really gave McLaurin problems, and not having McLaurin available as a first read was a big reason why Dwayne Haskins struggled in the pocket for most of Sunday. The rookie receiver eventually delivered on Washington’s final drive, producing three catches, 49 yards and an incredible touchdown, but the final scorecard still shows Alexander as the clear winner. McLaurin caught one pass for eight yards on Washington’s first nine drives.

4. Za’Darius, Clark dominate: The Packers’ defensive front is starting to dominate games, and a big part of it is Kenny Clark’s reemergence as a difference-maker. Together, Clark and Za’Darius Smith are wrecking the interior of offensive lines in the passing game. On the Packers’ first sack of Dwayne Haskins, Smith unleashed a wicked spin move on the left guard and Clark whipped the center almost simultaneously. Later, on 3rd-and-7, Smith beat the center, sliced past the left guard and forced Haskins right into the waiting arms of Preston Smith for another sack. Clark’s solo sack was also impressive. He beat the center and the right guard with consecutive moves before devouring Haskins in the pocket. No many teams are going to have good enough answers for No. 55 and No. 97 on the interior on obvious passing downs.

5. Blocking the gunners: Tyler Ervin’s no-nonsense returns certainly sparked the Packers’ punt return team on Sunday. There’s something really comforting to seeing a returner make a catch and decisively get the ball up the field, especially after the struggles of the first 12 games. But credit the Packers’ blockers, especially on the edges. The Redskins didn’t have gunners in Ervin’s face, and that allowed him to make easy catches and get north quickly. Special teams are a collective effort, even if the returner often gets the credit or blame for success or failures. It took all 11 to get the Packers back on track on punt returns Sunday. Ervin’s four returns netted 51 yards, and all four set up the Packers in prime field position, including both of the touchdown drives in the first quarter.

6. Run to win: The Packers were dominant in the run game, partly due to the individual genius of Aaron Jones but also thanks to a terrific effort from the offensive line and other blockers in the run game. The Packers consistently moved a very good Redskins front and created running lanes and openings. On Aaron Jones’ 42-yard run in the first half, the Packers blocked down the line and receiver Jake Kumerow sealed the lane with a perfect block on safety Landon Collins. Given how well they were playing, Matt LaFleur probably should have run the ball far more. At the very least, this was a confidence-building performance from the Packers offensive line. The Redskins are loaded with first-round picks up front and have only allowed 3.9 yards per carry since Week 6. The Packers averaged 6.2 per carry Sunday, including an 8.4-yard average from Jones.

8 observations from the Packers’ win over Panthers

A collection of observations from the Packers’ 24-16 win over the Panthers at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers talked all week about bouncing back from a disappointing effort in Los Angeles and going into the bye week with a win over the Carolina Panthers.

Matt LaFleur’s team delivered on Sunday, even if it took all 60 minutes to get it done. A goal-line stop with no time left cemented the 24-16 win over the Panthers at Lambeau Field.

Here are a few observations from Sunday’s win in the snow:

1. All Pro 97: Kenny Clark got it going early and never really quit. Overall, Sunday was easily his best performance since the first month of the season. On the second play of the game, Clark drove center Matt Paradis three yards into the backfield and then lassoed Christian McCaffrey down after a short gain. Paradis had trouble with Clark all night. McCaffrey gained 108 rushing yards, but Clark was a big reason why he didn’t have more. And he terrorized everyone in front of him in the passing game. According to Pro Football Focus, Clark finished with a career-high 10 pressures. He abused Paradis on a late third-down sack by Preston Smith. The struggling Packers defense needed an All-Pro performance from Clark, and he delivered one.

2. Fantastic finish: The final three plays of the Packers’ first touchdown drive are worth a re-watch. On 3rd-and-9, Aaron Rodgers bought time to his right and found Allen Lazard, who now has at least three catches in five straight games, to extend the drive. There’s a serious trust forming between No. 12 and No. 13. He was targeted on four different third downs. A play later, the Packers got Davante Adams lined up against a linebacker, and he made quick work of the matchup. Watch the patience of the route. Adams does so many subtle things with his feet, shoulders and head to trick defenders. Easy completion. Finally, the Packers dialed up a play Rodgers loved, a split zone run with Marquez Valdes-Scantling serving as the jet action. The design froze many of the Panthers’ second-level defenders. Jace Sternberger crashed down and cut off the backside, and Aaron Jones made Luke Kuechly miss in the hole and scored. Beauty.

3. Rodgers to Davante: The 38-yard completion from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams in the second quarter was a work of art. The throw and the catch were both sublime, but so was everything else. Jace Sternberger blocked an edge rusher one-on-one. Aaron Jones picked up a blitzer. David Bakhtiari looked beat off the snap but recovered. Rodgers held the safety just long enough. The placement of the football was about perfect, and Adams waited until the very last second to put his hands up and make the catch, giving the cornerback no chance to know the ball was coming. Matt LaFleur talks all the time about all 11 doing their job. This big play was the perfect example.

4. Give away: The final play of the first half might have been doomed from the start. Panthers defensive lineman Gerald McCoy said he picked up on a few pre-snap keys and knew when to jump the snap. As a result, he got off the ball in an instant. That left David Bakhtiari grasping for air as McCoy blew past him and smacked Jamaal Williams for a loss. Coach Matt LaFleur said he regretted the call. The play was in trouble regardless of McCoy’s effort. And one other thing: Allen Lazard wasn’t set at the snap and should have been penalized. Just bad execution on a critical play.

5. Sternberger shows up: Rookie tight end Jace Sternberger has likely earned himself a legitimate role over the final six games of 2019. He proved capable as a blocker in a variety of roles on Sunday. As the game went on, he looked more and more comfortable. It looked like the Packers were setting up some kind of action play for Sternberger, but it never arrived. Watch for one coming out of the bye. There will be creative ways to get him running down field and in the open, especially if he keeps blocking effectively.

6. Elgton dominates second half: The Packers rookie left guard keeps looking more and more impressive. He was utterly dominant during the third quarter Sunday. Watch any of the explosive runs from Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams and Jenkins was at the point of attack clearing away a defender. Williams was especially effective running off the left side. On one 9-yard run by Jones, Jenkins blocked his man right to the turf. He also pitched another shutout in pass protection. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst found a really good one.

7. Campbell dime: The Packers gave Ibraheim Campbell plenty of snaps as the dime linebacker. The results were mixed. He certainly gave the run defense a boost. He plays downhill with aggression and tackles well in space and in a crowd. The issues came in coverage. The Panthers found ways to get him thinking with crossers and combination concepts, and it created a few big plays. He did have good coverage on a double move from Christian McCaffrey on the game’s second-to-last play, forcing a wide throw.

8. Martinez, Fackrell scramble: Huge credit goes to Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell on the final play. Martinez realigned Fackrell right before the snap and it saved the day. The entire defensive line was out of position, and neither Fackrell nor Kenny Clark was all that ready for the snap, but Fackrell still found a way to swim past left guard Greg Van Roten and hit McCaffrey in the backfield, allowing Preston Smith to get there and clean it up in time. The Panthers must’ve loved their call, especially with a left guard on Fackrell and everyone scrambling up front before the snap. It took an excellent individual effort to prevent what should have been an easy touchdown.