Nice "run" post Beast and I agree we can run on them; but there is simply no time for this nonsense. Mike has droned on about "balance" and running more over the past few years more than Lombardi talked about his sweep, and he’s run enough to establish it as a tendency. Today, we surprise Atl by breaking that tendency. Oh and I got ya beat by 3 exclamation points 😂.
If we punt or get FGs too many times-WE LOSE! We will only punt or kick FGs if runs fail or Rodgers refuses to execute the offense. We need to get 10 yards in 3 plays. If we run for 4, run for 5 [If we can] and face three to six 3rd and 1s on a drive we are going to punt more and kick more FGs than if we pass like Martz and the greatest show on turf. And if we run for 1 and 0 and face 3rd and 9s, we’re punting a lot.
Atlanta lost their #2 [I say he’s number #1] pass rusher [Clayborn], Beasley gets his sacks while unblocked or on lesser players. Beasley will be a factor if Barclay or maybe Spriggs is playing Tackle, against the Bulagas and Bahktieris he’s a schmutz. Atl has played one good OL this year, GB, and the DL/pass rush sucked. The DL/pass rush guy who played best that game, Clayborn, is out. In passing our OL will dominate the Atl DL, not so much when running. The Atl DL rush looked good against Seattle, but they’d also look decent against a bunch of 5th graders.
We want to get their worst personnel on the field. Jarrett, Babineaux will get most snaps inside and they are very good tackles if we run; they become very mediocre if we pass. Their top 5 DBs [Alford, Collins, Poole, Neal, Alford] are not good; but their dime [Olatoye] is really bad. When Olatoya replaces a DL guy or LB, it degrades their D. Jones and Campbell are Rookies and are much better against the run; they’ve never had to cover a Monty out of backfield. In nickel Atl has 4 rookies in back 7 and hardest part for defensive rookies is defending the pass, especially unscouted looks in passing game.
As satted above, it’s time to break the tendency to the surprise of Atl. Play action will be more and more effective as we continue to pass more and more. A short pass is more effective at getting 4-5 yards as a run and it could get more. We need to install Rodgers scramble plays on first or 2nd and 3. 1 to 3 of these 6-7-8-9 second scrambles every drive will absolutely gas the DL and they like to substitute. Then comes the quick snaps. Even if we don’t get a 12-man penalty or free play; the DL subs run onto the field then run around for 6-7-8-9 seconds on a scramble; they’re toast for the rest of the drive.
Late in 3rd Q, early 4th, maybe we can run a bit when they’ve worn down. And just when they think we're running to milk the clock Rodgers flips into Martz passing mode and puts the game away.