If you define cutsie trick plays by a handoff to a non tailback, then they ran ONE all game, which happened to be on first down. The last TD drive the Packers had, if I'm not mistaken, they ran Lacy left for about 3 then Kuhn up the gut for the last 2 yards and a score. Did Mike not trust his offensive line then? How about the rest of the game when M.M. (excluding Aaron Rodgers runs) ran 29 times to 26 passes?
The formation spreads out a stout defense in the red zone and gives the ball to arguably the team's shiftiest and quickest playmaker. Did we expect Lacy to gain 9 if he was given the ball from there? Mike mixed it up, heaven forbid.
The 49ers ran a reverse that went for negative 5 or so yards, and I believe out of FG range in the 1st half. That was one play...should we make the same sweeping generalizations about Greg Roman that we are about Mike McCarthy?
Originally Posted by: musccy
Geez musccy you are so defensive. You act like I called your daughter ugly or something. As you said this is one play. I am not complaining about the whole game on this play. But it was indicative.
See Porky for a great comment. He does it better than I.
Here is my version:
1. Yes I can count. I know how many times they ran the ball both with a wide out and with running backs. 1 play or 100 plays it is still meant to be a trick play of sorts. If not you would see NFL teams line up a WR in the backfield and hand him the ball 20-25% of the time. After all many of them are faster and shiftier than RBs. They don't because it is as porky says meant to be a trick play. As for "SF did it so we can too" mentality- see my post. Inside the 10 is a horrible place to utilize Cobb's shiftiness. Why is it so hard to score inside the red zone? There is so little territory to defend. All that stood between Cobb and the goal line was 9 yards (Plus the backfield yardage of course) Defenders can get to him in a hurry not because they are faster but because they can take the angle and because Cobb has to run wide. That takes a very long time in the NFL world even for the fastest man on the Packers. Longer on the field yesterday. Bowman made the tackle but if he didn't there were several others who could have. SF ran their play out near "mid field". By that I mean between the 35 yard lines. There was a lot more room. They were not trying to get a td per se. They just wanted 10-15 yards. If they got more they would consider it a bonus.
2. Cobb 5-10 192. Lacy 5-11 230. Starks 6-2 218. Which player has a better chance of going against a LB and driving forward? Better yet, which player has the least chance? Cobb. Down inside the 10 you do not want the defense spread out if you are running wide. At Cobb's size and speed the play is designed to compete and defeat DBs not LBers. A WR chips a CB and allows Cobb to get past him and then it is a foot race.
If GB had lined up with double TE and Kuhn in the backfield with Lacy the OLB would be pulled inside the hashmarks. Without that he is setting up wider. There wasn't solid blockers in front of Cobb that were going to drive the defenders back and give Cobb the outside edge. I do not mind using the play. Just not there.
As I said in the other post. Tough is hammering the ball up the middle for 4-5 yards and doing it again for another 4. As such I didn't expect Lacy to run up the middle for 9 yards.
3. Yes they ran the play on first down but it set the whole series up for failure. If they got 4 yards on first down the defense would have to cover the run up the middle again. That leaves the Packers with options of passing or throwing. By gaining only 1 yard they could no longer run the ball. There are no deep routes. It is all quick passes. the defense lines up and defends the goal line. DL doesn't look for the run or is fooled by play action passes. They just pound the line and chase after Aaron. The first failed play set the tone for 2 more failed plays.
4. As far as plays in the red zone, you don't call the same type of play at the 20 as you do at the 9. Both are in the red zone but the objects are a little different. You can still get a first down when you are at the 20. The defense has more ground to cover when you are at the 20. Inside the 10 it is a pretty small set of plays.