So why are the Packers throwing deep if they cant protect their quarterback? The answer is twofold: One, Rodgers strength is the down-the-field throw, and two, opposing defenses have wised up to the Packers use of quick slants and short throws and are adjusting accordingly to take such plays away.
Rodgers said opposing defensive backs now are playing up at the line of scrimmage to challenge receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, who in 2007 helped the Packers lead the NFL in yards after the catch. Cornerbacks are now playing more inside leverage, Rodgers said, meaning they line up shaded inside the receiver, toward the middle of the field, making it difficult for the receiver to get open on a slant pattern.
"johnny_blood" wrote:
Everyone on this forum needs to read this. After this article, if I read people bitching about the quick slant on the chat CONSTANTLY I'm going to throw up.
"Silentio" wrote:
Hmm, so it only took the NFC North 18 years to realize that these passes are our bread and butter?
Not buying it. Defenses have been trying to play up on those routes since 1993. Teams committed to the WCO short passing game make it work without doubling the number of deep balls.
Exactly what I was thinking. Finally, after years of football, DCs have figured out the WCO. Rejoice.
I still think that, if it's being called but not working, it's due to Rodgers overlooking the route or just bad execution.
If corners really sneak up inside that much, our sluggos should be working on just about every play. Or streaks, for that matter. Whenever that happens, you see plays like Rodgers' first TD in Tampa. I doubt that defenses want to take that much risk every time we throw the ball.
That said, this does work better when your O-line is dreadfull. You can gamble on the short route a lot easier if the QB doesn't have time to throw the deep route. But I'm not totally buying it. Like you said yourself, we've played some teams that run a cover 2. Whenever they go full zone, there's some windows you can hit on your slants. When they go man, I'm pretty sure that either Driver or Jennings will beat them more than not. And otherwise run the sluggo or streak and get an easy TD.
If Minnesota's cornerbacks played up that tight and to the inside, we should've had some easy deep plays, as they have some pretty average safeties, at best. And that's with their pass rush in mind.