This offseason has been a slow one. Even though we're getting used to just that as Packers fans, this one seems even more boring than usual. So I dug into the archives and looked for a play worthy of dissecting.
And I found one.
This play is from the week 6 game against the Lions. The game where most Packer fans got some confidence back in our defense, which had struggled bigtime after starting off on a good note against the Bears in week 1.
It's also the first game where Aaron Kampman puts his hand back on the ground to rush the passer.
Given, the defense was playing a Lions offense without starting QB Matthew Stafford and superstar WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, but a total shut-out (0 26) is always impressive.
The offense struggled throughout the day, mainly because of penalties, but our defense kept us in with some great plays and interceptions.
Just like this interception by DE/DT Cullen Jenkins.
The defense comes out in what looks like a cover 2 man. Both safeties line up deep, Harris and Tramon are on the receivers on the outside and Woodson covers the slot receiver.
The Lions must've looked his way a little, because the Packers sent Woodson on a blitz from there a few times before.
Matthews and Barnett sneak up and look like they're bringing some pressure on the inside. Chillar keeps off a little at first, and then sneaks up, looking like he'll come on a blitz on the outside.
If you run a screen against a normal cover 2 man, you hope to catch the defense running with their man, allowing you time to set up the screen and eventually having 3 rushers going after your QB, while, in this scenario, 2 linemen set up near the RB, getting rid of the LB who's in man on the RB and then just hoping that you'll get the 15 yards.
Like you can see, the special effects budget is still very small.
This image is a little crowded, but let's give it a shot.
The Packers seems to be playing some kind of cover 2 combo play.
The safeties are off-screen here, but they're, obviously, playing cover 2 deep.
The LBers drop into a zone. They're hanging around the first down line, about 15 yards deep.
The CBs are in man coverage, with Harris and Williams giving the receivers quite a cushion, while Woodson is playing pretty close to the slot receiver.
The Lions are trying to set up a screen. They're inviting the rush, holding in formation for a while, until the LG and RG pull out to the left. The LT, C and RT are left man to man with Kampman (playing LDE), Pickett and Jenkins.
Kevin Smith slips out to the left, getting behind his blockers. Maurice Morris is slipping out to his right, functioning as a safety valve for if the screen is sniffed out.
And that's exactly what Jenkins does.
Kampman easily beats Cherilus and gets to Culpepper who has to get rid of the ball before he wants to. At the same time, Jenkins sees that the screen is coming and begins to back off, getting close to the RB. Pickett does the same thing.
The Lions O-linemen keep going forward, leaving only Backus to "defend" the pass again Jenkins. Backus tries to push him away, but Cullen makes an athletic play and comes up with the ball.
When that all comes together, it pretty much looks like this.
Isn't that one of the prettiest pictures you've ever seen?
[align=right]Detlev Dimmitry, Packershome.com[/align]