Tyler Ervin has touched the football only five times from scrimmage since joining the Green Bay Packers in early December, but the speedy running back could be an X-factor when the Packers take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game.
His presence could play a vital role in helping the Packers overcome the 49ers’ smothering defense.
Ervin has been on the field for 31 snaps the last three games. He’s given the Packers offense a player with the speed and open-field running ability to seriously threaten defenses as the jet motion option in Matt LaFleur’s scheme.
Finally, opponents must respect the jet motion.
It’s an increasingly important factor in the offense. LaFleur uses the motion as a tool of deception. It adds window dressing to plays, sets up late reaction times in the front seven and forces the defense to respect the offense horizontally at the snap. When the ball is handed off, it provides a chance for the motion player to get to the edge at full speed and find cutback lanes. It’s perfect for a punt returner like Ervin. And it can expose potential countermoves regardless of how the defense reacts.
Just last week, Ervin caught a toss from jet motion against the Seahawks, turned the corner and beat a tackle attempt on his way to an 18-yard gain in the first half of the Packers’ win. The play helped set up a touchdown.
In Minnesota in Week 16, Ervin was on the field as the motion man to the right when Aaron Jones found a lane off the left side and scored the game-clinching touchdown.
The Packers could give Ervin more chances on Sunday. Remember: during the first meeting against the 49ers, receiver Allen Lazard took a jet sweep and gained 21 yards off the right edge. It will likely be Ervin in that role in the rematch.
Also, don’t discount Ervin’s ability to help slow down the 49ers’ pass-rush. As Jack Wepfer of Packers Wire noted Thursday, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams successfully used pre-snap motion – including jet motion – to keep the 49ers from playing downhill on every snap. Jet motion can force a moment of hesitation on the edge and at linebacker. Even if its only for a half-second, the defense has to respect a jet-motion play horizontally before they can attack the passer in front of them.
There’s also a chance Ervin could be used in the passing game.
His speed is a factor, and he’s experienced catching the football. The Packers could use him in the traditional screen game, or even in the quick bubble screen game, to help slow down the pass-rush. He’s one of the few players on offense who could really hurt the 49ers with his speed and quickness.
Jet motion can help create holes in zone coverage, too. Linebackers have to react to the motion at the snap, and even slight hesitation or a false step can be enough for a concept to create space against zone.
Obviously, Ervin will be the Packers’ primary return man on both punts and kicks, and most Packers fans will remember what a great returner can do in a big playoff game against the 49ers. Ervin immediately improved the Packers’ return game after being claimed off of waivers in December.
His role on offense could be just as important.
The Packers will likely need big games from Aaron Jones, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to beat the 49ers on Sunday. But don’t be surprised if Ervin – and the offensive wrinkle he’s helped drastically improve – plays an important factor in the Packers offense operating at a higher level in the rematch. Pre-snap motion could be integral to Matt LaFleur’s new plan, and Ervin has become LaFleur’s go-to motion man.