Tag: run game

Packers run defense searches for redemption vs. Lions dynamic rushing attack

The Packers gave up over 200 rushing yards to the Lions in the last meeting. Can they get stops in the rematch on Thursday?

The last time the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions met in Week 4 at Lambeau Field, the Lions ran wild on this Packers run defense, totaling 211 rushing yards at nearly five yards per attempt.

It was after that game that Matt LaFleur said that something had to change philosophically about their defense. While Joe Barry likes to utilize that split-safety look to take away the vertical passing threat, he and the coaching staff as a whole can’t be so rigid, as LaFleur put it, and need to be more willing to make adjustments.

“We are going to have to do something different because it’s insane to do the same things over and over again and expect different results,” said LaFleur following the Week 4 matchup. “That is a good offensive line. They got really good runners. I think Gibbs and Montgomery are two of the better backs. That’s one of the best offensive lines in ball, but it’s still inexcusable. We should be able to take one phase away from them. If you want to stop the run then commit to that and make them throw it over your head.”

Since then, the Packers run defense has found pockets of success, but often has still been an issue. It looked like things were trending in the right direction following their performances against Minnesota and Los Angeles, but those two games were followed up by a 200-plus yard rushing game by the Pittsburgh offense—the third time this season that has happened to Green Bay.

Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown can form a formidable one-two punch in the passing game, however, this is a Lions team that wants to run the football, ranking seventh in rush attempts per game this season. In a way, that is one of the more impressive aspects about this team. Opponents know what they want to do and still struggle to stop them. Led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the Lions’ 4.6 yards per rush as a team is the sixth-best in football.

Schematically, chances are we see a less passive approach this time around by the Green Bay defense, with perhaps fewer two-high safety looks, where there is a gap along the defensive front unaccounted for in the run game, and providing them an additional defender playing closer to the line of scrimmage. As LaFleur said following their last meeting, if you want to try to stop the run, then commit to stopping the run.

However, regardless of what Barry has drawn up, if the on-field execution isn’t there, it doesn’t much matter what the play call is, and that aspect of things has been a big issue for Green Bay throughout the season as well. Missed tackles, an inability to get off blocks, and blown assignments have all occurred too often for the Packers defense, which happened as recently as two weeks ago in Pittsburgh. Following that game, LaFleur noted how, despite their effort at times to limit the Steelers run game by playing single-high, there were two Green Bay defenders occupying one gap—and that cannot be happening.

“I feel like for us, just knowing what we’re supposed to do,” said Karl Brooks on Tuesday about what needs to be different in the run game this time around. “Knowing where we’re supposed to fit and just playing box the right way to slow down their run game.

“I would just say simple things,” Brooks added. “Little techniques. Having your hands in the right spot, having your eyes where they’re supposed to be. Not looking into the backfield and playing a complete game.”

As is the case with every play call, there is going to be give-and-take. In an effort to limit the Detroit run game, the Packers could leave themselves exposed on the back-end in the passing game with the cornerbacks on a bit of an island. Just as good as any team in the NFL, the Lions and Goff have been excellent off of play-action. Goff currently ranks in the top 10 among all quarterbacks in completion rate, yards, and yards per attempt off of play-action, which of course, all starts with the run game.

“I refer to it as sister plays,” said Joe Barry of the Lions play-action pass game. “They’re kind of all in the same family. They have a run play no matter what the personnel is, what the formation is, or the motion is, but they have a run and off that run play, they make it look like run and make it look like play-action pass.

“I think they do as good of job as anybody in the league at making plays that are in the same family look exactly the same and initially the first two seconds of when the ball is snapped, it could be a run, it could be a play-action pass or a built in screen off of it. Jared (Goff) is very good at the mechanics of those play-action passes and making it look all the same. They do a great job.”

Getting Jaire Alexander and Rudy Ford back for this game – both of whom were limited on Tuesday – would be a tremendous help as would Green Bay’s ability to generate consistent pressure, forcing Goff off his spot while disrupting the timing and rhythm of the passing plays.

St. Brown has been one of the most productive and efficient receivers in football this season, along with being excellent at picking up yards after the catch. Jameson Williams has provided a vertical presence in the offense while tight end Sam LaPorta has become a go-to option for Goff, ranking fourth among all tight ends in targets and fifth in yards.

At the end of the day, this is a well-rounded Detroit offense, hence why they are 8-2 on the season. They have multiple ways they can beat you. But any potential success for the Green Bay defense starts with trying to make them one-dimensional, specifically, limiting their impact in the ground game. Doing so at least gives this defense a puncher’s chance, allowing them to do some of the dictating with the Lions in the disadvantageous situation of playing from behind the sticks.

“These guys are the best line in football,” added Barry. “I think their scheme is good. I think the players that they have up front is good. The two backs that they hand the ball off to are very good. They’re a good physical group that makes no bones about it. They want to run the ball and that’s where everything begins with them. Just my time with Jared (Goff) in LA, very good play-action passing quarterback, but to be good in play-action passing it starts with the run. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Cowboys RB coach returns from leave; will run game see boost?

From @ToddBrock24f7: Jeff Blasko missed the first 6 games due to a health matter; he’ll look to kickstart a ground attack that’s been mediocre to begin 2023.

The Cowboys are readying themselves for their seventh game of the season, but a key member of the coaching staff is only just now making his 2023 season debut. The team hopes his return comes just in time to help right a ship that’s gotten off to a somewhat disappointing start.

Running backs coach Jeff Blasko returned to the team during the bye week, head coach Mike McCarthy announced Wednesday, following a health-related personal leave of absence that began just prior to the Week 1 season opener. Week 8’s home date versus the Rams will mark the fourth-year assistant’s first game as RB coach.

Blasko’s duties had been shared by other members of the offensive coaching staff over the team’s four wins and two losses thus far, but the Cowboys run game has not lived up to preseason expectations.

Dallas currently ranks sixth leaguewide in rushing attempts per game (30.3), but only 10th in yards per contest (119.7) and a below-average 21st in yards-per-attempt (3.9).

Tony Pollard put up the third-best rushing day of his career (122 yards) in the Week 3 loss to Arizona, but it’s the only outing out of his past 12 where he topped 80 yards on the ground. His 370 total rushing yards place him just 15th across all backs.

He hasn’t gotten much help from his backfield mates. Only Rico Dowdle has compiled 100 rushing yards on the season, fullback Hunter Luepke has three total carries, and eagerly-anticipated rookie Deuce Vaughn has been rendered completely ineffective in his first 20 rushes as a pro.

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Blasko’s return to his normal duties will hopefully buoy the team’s ground attack, but he and his unit may have a tough time making a dramatic turnaround this week. The Rams currently give up just over 115 team rushing yards per game and allow 4.3 yards per attempt, numbers that put their run defense in the top half of the NFL.

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Broncos have a good RB duo in Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin

The Broncos have found an exciting backfield duo in Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.

The Denver Broncos can’t put it all together.

Early in the season, the team seemed to play one good half of football and one terrible half in each game. Through five weeks, the defense was terrible and the offense was competent.

Against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, the defense flipped a switch and had a great game — but the offense had its worst game of the season.

While the passing game was abysmal in Week 6, Denver’s ground game was a silver lining for the offense in Kansas City.

Broncos running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin combined to rush 17 times for 82 yards against the Chiefs, a combined average of just under five yards per carry. Denver quarterback Russell Wilson credited the offensive line for opening up running lanes for Williams and McLaughlin.

“I thought the offensive line — it starts with those guys up front — I thought they did a really good job being physical,” Wilson said. “It’s a really good defense and a really good defensive front, their linebackers do a good job and I thought our offensive line did a really good job battling with those guys, play after play. I thought that we ran it well when we needed to and did some really good things there.”

Wilson himself also scrambled four times for 31 yards in Week 6. Overall, the Broncos rushed 23 times for 115 yards, averaging exactly five yards per tote. If not for falling behind and needing to throw the ball, Denver could have totaled many more than just 17 running back carries on Thursday.

Going forward, the Broncos can count on their two backs to establish a productive rushing attack, but Denver will need to keep things close for the game script to allow a run-heavy attack on offense. When their numbers are called, Williams and McLaughlin have proven to be productive weapons.

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Packers issues in run game on offense and defense result in big loss to Lions

The Packers’ issues running the ball on offense and stopping the run on defense were glaring during Thursday night’s loss to the Lions.

Outside of a few drives in the third quarter, the Detroit Lions dominated the Green Bay Packers from start to finish in Thursday night’s game, and doing so began with the Lions controlling the trenches on both sides of the ball.

“Give Detroit a lot of credit, they whooped us pretty good,” said Matt LaFleur postgame.

For the second time in four games, the Packers defense allowed an opponent to rush for over 200 yards. Detroit totaled 211 rushing yards at 4.9 yards per rush. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs averaged 5.0 yards per rush on his eight attempts, while David Montgomery totaled 121 yards on his own.

The Packers need change when it comes to stopping the run.

“We are going to have to do something different because it’s insane to do the same things over and over again and expect different results,” said LaFleur. “That is a good offensive line. They got really good runners. I think Gibbs and Montgomery are two of the better backs.

“That’s one of the best offensive lines in ball,” LaFleur added, “but it’s still inexcusable. We should be able to take one phase away from them. If you want to stop the run then commit to that and make them throw it over your head.”

The Lions want to run the ball. They entered Thursday’s game averaging the seventh-most rush attempts per game. This then sets up play-action opportunities for them, where Jared Goff has been very efficient and, in general, opportunities in the passing game.

By staying ahead of the sticks more often than not, it also took some of the bite away from the Green Bay pass rush—the strength of this unit. Goff was able to lean on the quick passing game, making it difficult for the pass rushers to get home, and when a defense is consistently in short down and distance situations, the front can’t be as aggressive from a pass rush standpoint because they have to worry about the run as well.

On the other side of the ball, as had been the case through the first three games of the season, the Packers couldn’t find any success on the ground. They finished the game averaging only 2.3 yards per carry as a team.

“We were three and out five possessions in a row, or whatever it was,” said LaFleur. “That was very humbling. Sometimes that happens but we can’t continue to go backwards. We keep going backwards and we are in third and long situations.

“We knew they were going to be a challenge to run the football against. They’ve done a nice job with that. We had some run-pass options, some canned plays, and give credit to them, they did a good job because when we threw it, we weren’t ver effective throwing the football either.”

The Lions defense has been one of the best in football this season. They entered Thursday’s contest allowing just 3.2 yards per carry and bottled up Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson just this past Sunday. This factor, coupled with Detroit dealing with injuries in the secondary, the Packers came out throwing the ball, beginning the game with six straight passes.

However, a Packers offensive line unit that had been so good in pass protection this season, crumbled from the first snap of the game against the Detroit defensive front. Jordan Love ended up under nearly constant duress and was sacked five times and hit 11 times. That doesn’t even include the times he was able to escape.

While the thought process behind the Packers’ early approach on offense makes sense, being one-dimensional against an Aidan Hutchinson-led defensive front is only going to end poorly.

It was clear as day against the Lions, but the Packers lack of success on early downs throughout the season has made moving the ball consistently a challenge for them. When they get behind the sticks, it just about spells doom for this offense. This then puts them in predictable passing situations, creating favorable matchups for the defense and an opportunity for the pass rush to pin its ears back. That can be difficult to overcome for any offense, let alone a young one like Green Bay has.

“They got a good D-line and we just didn’t do good enough,” said Love. “It takes all 11, it’s not just the O-line. It’s me not being able to get the ball out quick enough on some plays when the reads are open. It goes back to not executing. But it’s definitely not just on the O-line, it takes all the 11. It’s all offensively as a whole. We just got to do better.”

Improved play from this Packers team as a whole starts with the run game—on both sides of the ball. Doing so on defense will allow the best part of that unit, the pass rush, to be aggressive and get after the quarterback. While on offense, it will open up the passing game for Love and his dynamic group of receivers. A failure to do so will lead to instances of what we saw against the Lions.

“I think anytime that you go out there and you can’t effectively run the football,” said LaFleur, “and conversely can’t stop the run, that’s a recipe for losing football and that’s what happened tonight. Give Detroit credit, and they’re a tough opponent, but they man-handled us in really every phase.”

Packers putting running game woes under a ‘microscope’ after 2 weeks

The Packers run game has been disappointing after two weeks. How does it improve?

It’s like it’s Groundhog Day.

A week ago, I wrote about how the Green Bay Packers run game was an area that had to improve coming out of Week 1. Two games in, the need for improvement remains true, and their inability to consistently move the ball on the ground against Atlanta played a key factor in their fourth-quarter collapse.

After averaging 2.9 yards on the ground against the Bears, the Packers running backs managed only 3.1 yards per rush against the Falcons, who to their credit, have a stout defensive front. In general, running lanes just have not been available, and on many instances when the Packers try to stretch the field horizontally in the run game, there is nowhere for the ball carriers to go with defenders often flying into the backfield.

As a unit, the Packers offensive line ranks 25th through two games in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric.

While success in the run game begins with the offensive line and the running backs, LaFleur mentioned last week that all 11 players have to be better in that phase of the game. He again reiterated that point on Monday when speaking with the media.

“It’s across the board with our run game,” said Matt LaFleur. “It’s our aiming points, whether you’re an offensive lineman, tight end, running back. We’ve got to be more physical at the point of attack. There’s so much that goes into it, so it’s never just on one person.”

Of course, getting Aaron Jones back will provide the run game – and the offense as a whole – with a big boost. However, while Jones was able to average 4.6 yards per rush in Week 1, that was still roughly half-a-yard less than where he finished the 2022 season at. Also, I would say that yards per carry figure, to a degree, was more of a product of Jones’ ability to create opportunities. As the overall numbers show and our eyes saw, the play of the offensive line in the run game Week 1 wasn’t all that great.

Without Jones, AJ Dillon was the Packers primary running back against Atlanta. While he was able to find some success here and there, Dillon carried the ball 15 times and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Because he doesn’t have the same ability to create for himself as Jones does, Dillon is a ball carrier that really needs the offensive line to open up running lanes for him to take advantage of.

He also seemed to be off-balanced on several runs and for his size, has been somewhat easy to bring down. In an effort to combat this, Dillon has spent the offseason working on running with a lower pad level.

“Certainly, I’m sure there’s some runs he would like to have back,” said LaFleur…”There’s certainly things he can do better. In terms of just being a little bit more under control. I think there’s things we got to look at, what we are asking schematically, to really enhance what he does well. Because there were some really good runs in the game.”

Green Bay’s inconsistency on the ground has had a negative trickle-down effect to the rest of offense. The team’s struggles on early downs have put them in predictable passing situations, allowing the defense to do the dictating by getting into favorable matchups. The Packers’ lack of early down success played a key role in the offense’s struggles in the fourth quarter against Atlanta, and oftentimes when they haven’t been able to move the ball.

Consistent success for the Green Bay offense this season will often begin with their ability to move the ball on the ground. Not only to keep them out of third-and-long situations, but doing so will also set up play-action and open up other opportunities in the passing game, especially in the LaFleur offense where the passing game builds off of the run-action.

However, the Packers are going to have to make these improvements with some major question marks along the left side of their offensive line. David Bakhtiari was held out of Sunday’s game with knee swelling, and Elgton Jenkins would leave in the first half with an MCL sprain. It is unknown at this time if he is going to be placed on IR, but he is expected to miss some time.

How the Packers handle Jenkins’ – and potentially Bakhtiari’s – absence is unknown and still a discussion that has to take place. They could have Royce Newman stay at left guard, which is how they finished the game on Sunday, or move Zach Tom inside with either Yosh Nijman or Rasheed Walker taking over at right tackle. All of that is still to be determined.

“I think that’s a conversation we are going to have tonight and figure out who we want to roll out there,” said LaFleur, “but it’s always a competitive situation. I don’t care what position it is. We are going to make it competitive. If guys aren’t performing, we are going to roll with someone else.”

This week the Packers play a New Orleans Saints team that is allowing 5.0 yards per rush this season and that ranks 27th in run-stop rate. But if the Packers are going to take advantage of, it’s not as much about what the Saints do, but it begins with all 11 members of the Green Bay offense being more sound and detail-oriented in the run game.

“Everything,” added LaFleur, “we are looking at everything under a microscope.”

Broncos QB Russell Wilson made NFL history with 56 rushing yards in Week 2

Already a top-three rushing QB, Russell Wilson is now the first player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 yards and throw for 40,000 yards.

Going into the 2023 season, Russell Wilson already ranked among the greatest rushing quarterbacks in NFL history.

Wilson went into the season ranked third in rushing among QBs on the NFL’s all-time list. After rushing for 56 yards against the Washington Commanders in Week 2, he has now accomplished something no other player has ever done.

Wilson is the first quarterback in NFL history to ever rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 40,000 yards in his career. That’s a remarkable accomplishment that shows how much of a dual-threat QB Wilson has been throughout his accomplished career.

The only QBs with more rushing yards than Wilson in NFL history — Michael Vick (6,109 yards) and Cam Newton (5,628 yards) — passed for 22,464 yards and 32,382 yards, respectively, during their careers.

Among current QBs, Josh Allen (3,123 rushing, 18,633 passing) seems the most likely to one day match Wilson’s feat. Lamar Jackson (4,529 rushing, 12,378 passing) and Patrick Mahomes (1,592 rushing, 24,467 passing) aren’t far behind Allen either.

Other candidates to potentially one day match Wilson’s accomplishment down the road might include Jalen Hurts (1,970 rushing, 8,269 passing) and Justin Fields (1,622 rushing, 4,328 passing).

For now, though, Wilson stands alone.

Here’s a quick look at the top-12 rushing QBs in NFL history.

Run game and run blocking areas of improvement for Packers following Week 1

The Packers pass-protected well in Week 1, but one area of improvement entering Week 2 must come in the run game.

The new-look Green Bay Packers offense is coming off a sound debut against the Chicago Bears in Week 1. However, one area where they must improve moving forward is in the run game.

The Packers offensive line did an excellent job in pass protection, giving Jordan Love plenty of time and clean pockets to throw from, which played a key role in his overall success. But where the offensive line took some lumps was in the run game.

As a team, Green Bay averaged just 2.9 yards per rush against Chicago, and while the Bears made some additions this offseason to their front seven, this was also a unit that was one of the worst at defending the run last season. On toss plays or outside zone runs, too often Chicago defenders were able to make their way into the backfield quite easily.

Individually, AJ Dillon would average just 1.5 yards per rush and while Aaron Jones averaged 4.6, atthough that figure was more so a product of Jones being able to find running lanes and create opportunities for himself. With Dillon not having that same ability as Jones to adlib as a ball carrier, his struggles to find running lanes are more indicative of the offensive line’s actual performance.

“I think the Bears defensive front did a nice job against the run,” said center Josh Myers on Wednesday. “(But) just continuing to press our aiming points, that’s something we always harp on pretty big. And just continuing to work and find what our thing is going to be in the run game.”

The Green Bay offense was able to overcome it’s inefficiencies in the ground game against Chicago, but consistent success in the run game this season is going to be a must for this unit. With a first time starting quarterback and a young group of pass catchers, regularly being put in predictable passing situations – such as second and third and longs – is likely not going to be a sustainable recipe for success for this group.

On the flip side, a steady run game to lean on can really open up the playbook for Matt LaFleur as a play caller, keep the defense off-balanced, and open up opportunities in the passing game as well, specifically off play-action—a key element of the LaFleur offense.

“I think that’s always a goal for us to run the ball well,” said Love on Wednesday. “It sets up so many different things in the play-action pass game. I think it just helps out the pass game in general when the defense has to worry about the run. It’s something that strive to be great at every week and something we’ll do this week.”

This week the Packers will be up against an Atlanta defense that LaFleur called ‘very aggressive.’ When defending the run, this is a Falcons unit that ranked 10th last week in ESPN’s run-stop rate metric. Led by Grady Jarrett in the middle, they also have a potent pass rush and a secondary that is willing to challenge receivers and does a lot of mixing of personnel, along with utilizing late movement to cause confusion.

Against this Atlanta defense, the inability to pick up yards on the ground is going to make moving the ball, in general, all the more challenging for the Packers offense.

“You always got to have everyone on the same page,” said LaFleur. “You got to make sure you’re targeted. You gotta make sure it’s not always just the offensive linemen, a lot of times it could be the wide outs or tight ends and making sure that they’re going to their specific people. There were too many times (against Chicago) that we didn’t have all 11 on the same page.”

Skyy Moore got looks in wildcat formation during Chiefs workout on Tuesday

Skyy Moore took reps in the wildcat formation during the #Chiefs training camp practice session on Tuesday.

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Skyy Moore is an elusive threat with the ball in his hands and after the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tuesday practice session, it seems that head coach Andy Reid intends to lean into his abilities as a runner.

The second-year wideout took snaps in the wildcat formation during drills with the Chiefs’ offense, which could mean that Reid has an ace up his sleeve for the 2023 season to keep defenses off guard.

Though Moore’s use in this capacity could prove to be more trouble than it is worth given the recent injury to receiver Kadarius Toney, his versatility to serve as a Swiss army knife in Kansas City’s ground game is certainly intriguing.

Fans would be wise to keep their eyes on Moore as training camp progresses and watch for him to be featured in some of the Chiefs’ preseason games as a slippery runner when called upon to execute Reid’s signature gadget plays.

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Seahawks rookie RB Zach Charbonnet a great complement to Ken Walker III

A second-rounder in the 2023 NFL draft, coach Pete Carroll sees Seahawks rookie RB Zach Charbonnet as a great complement to Ken Walker III.

The Seattle Seahawks selected another running back in the second round of the NFL draft this year, Zach Charbonnet out of UCLA. Coach Pete Carroll sees him contributing immediately to the rotation.

“He’s going to be right in there with Ken (Walker III), ” Carroll told reporters over the weekend. “It’s going to take both guys to get the workload with some help from DeeJay (Dallas). I really like the versatility like we are talking about because he can block, can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s good in the screen game, he makes big plays, and he’s been the workhorse, so I think he will be a great complement to Ken.

2023 NFL draft: Watch Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet highlights

“I got Ken on the phone just to talk to him about that, how much we see them fitting together,” Carroll continued. “I’m pretty excited about this one.”

The Seahawks are notorious for their love of the run game and with Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer lost to free agency, Charbonnet makes for a nice one-two punch behind Walker for now.

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WATCH: Best Brayden Willis highlights from Oklahoma

Willis was a standout Sooner last season, and put together a great highlight reel to warrant his selection by the #49ers in the seventh round

The San Francisco 49ers finally have a plethora of draft picks in the seventh round, with three selections set to take place in short order, barring a trade. They spent their first pick of the round on Oklahoma tight end Brayden Willis, who should have fun learning his craft under one of the best players at his position in the NFL, George Kittle.

Willis isn’t likely to be leaned on in San Francisco’s offense early in his career but could become a guy for the 49ers in the long-term. Check out his best plays at Oklahoma below to get a better sense of what he brings to the table as a rookie: