Over on Cheesehead TV this week, we looked at the Packers favorite concepts to run this year, and how they did while running them. Today? Buddy, today we live like kings. We apply all of our gathered data and attempt to put together a call sheet. I’m excited to try and terrified to fail. I’ve never felt so alive and yet I also want to curl up in a corner. You with me? Of course you are. Let’s get it.
Before we start, let’s throw down some blanket statements, starting with the caveat that gameplanning all depends on the next opponent, their tendencies/weaknesses and the best way to attack them. We’re just putting v plan based on how effective the Packers have been using these concepts in different situations in 2021.
We are also not putting together a true game plan, as we’re only looking at the passing aspect of it. I suppose I could throw in some generic “Inside Zone,” “Wide Zone” stuff to fill in the running game part of it, but I’ll just stick to what I’ve charted.
Some of the ideas are born from Brian Billick’s excellent Developing and Offensive Game Plan, but my numbers by situation come from my own charting data. I looked at the total passing plays the Packers called by down & distance, then looked at how it looked on a per-game basis. From there I started gathering plays into those buckets by looking into how often the Packers called them in those situations and how well they worked. Here is the breakdown of passing plays called by down & distance for 2021. (I haven’t charted the first 2 games, so we’re only looking at 10 games of data. I’m sorry. I have failed you.)
We also have a special section for the red zone, because it’s important.
In this post, we’re looking at 1st down. You may notice that the amount of plays detailed below are less than the amount of plays listed above. So you won’t see 14 diagrams below. That’s because we’re really paring down our call sheet and calling some of these plays multiple times in the down & distance.
I also don’t have all the routes drawn for every concept. Part of that is because, on most of them, I just want to highlight the key routes.
With all the boring stuff out of the way, let’s boogie.
PA Boot
Average times run: 1.4
Average yards: 9.9
Completion%: 69.2
We’re starting off with an important concept, and one that is key to one of our plays down the road. PA Boot plays off of the Wide Zone run, which the Packers have built the bulk of their running attack around. The quarterback fakes the handoff, then boots out the other side where he finds 3 receivers running parallel to him on different planes. I’m having the Y start by blocking down, then releasing on a Slam route. That motion is important for reasons we’ll see on 2nd down.
We’re looking at how the defense plays this. How are the eyes of the ILB? Is he looking to immediately drop under the crosser as soon as he sees it’s not a run (possibly by ROBOTing)? Is the end crashing immediately on the QB instead of looking to play the run? When I was putting this together I didn’t put much thought into the first 15 plays in the script, but we would absolutely be running this during the script and looking to gather that information. We’re looking to run PA Boot 2-3 times on 1st down.
Drift
Average times run: 0.4
Average yards: 19.3
Completion%: 75.0
Drift plays off PA Boot. only instead of carrying out the boot action the QB spins around and looks for the backside dig. The Packers haven’t run it a ton on 1st down, but they’ve had success when they’ve used it in that spot.
RPO (Bubble)
Average times run: 1.4
Average yards: 5.5
Completion%: 92.3
You can’t really say “dial up RPO and throw it multiple times on 1st down,” because the very nature of RPO makes it to where you don’t know if you’re throwing it or running it until you’re lined up. Sometimes you don’t know until the ball is snapped.
Still, the Packers throw the RPO Bubble Screen about 1.4 times per game on 1st down. It’s not a huge gainer, but facing 2nd & 4.5 yards is better than facing 2nd & 10.
Portland
Average times run: 0.3
Average yards: 23.3
Completion%: 50.0
One of my favorite shot concepts the Packers have used this year. It works well against some of the two-high shells they’ve been facing. Sometimes you’re looking to hit something quick and pick up some easy yards on 1st down and sometimes you’re looking to pick up a chunk. With this, we’re looking to pick up a chunk. If I’m feeling froggy, I’m lining up under center and running this on the first play of the game.
Mills
Average times run: 0.1
Average yards: 59.0
Completion%: 100.0
A sibling (father?) to the Portland concept. The Packers have only run Mills twice this year, and only once on 1st down. But that one attempt on 1st down went for 59 yards, so I’m looking to chuck it again.
Dagger
Average times run: 0.8
Average yards: 13.1
Completion%: 87.5
The Packers have been extremely effective with the Dagger concept this year, and they’ve been consistent with it on 1st down. This concept has been pretty nice for them in multiple down & distance settings this year, so you’re definitely going to see it popping back up.
RB Screen
Average times run: 0.5
Average yards: 8.6
Completion%: 60.0
Good ol’ RB Screen. Always there when you need it. The 60% completion on a screen is a little odd, but sometimes the defense sniffs it out and the only recourse is to throw the ball in the dirt. Rodgers is good at throwing screens and doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way, so it’s a small risk of a turnover and it’s picking up nice yardage when complete. Looking to run this once, but if the pass rush is aggressive, I’d be looking for it again.
Stick
Average times run: 0.8
Average yards: 6.8
Completion%: 62.5
Another one that isn’t a huge gainer, but will consistently get nice yards. You can either put Davante Adams on a backside Lookie/Option route, or put him at the F in this diagram.
Nice three-step drop and get the ball out. If you like the outside match-up, you can throw the go route on the outside for the chance of a big play, but the ball control option is central to the concept.
Dragon
Average times run: 0.8
Average yards: 5.4
Completion%: 75.0
Another nice little yard-gainer. You can go with the single-slant, but I’m rolling with the follow-slant - the Double Dragon, if you will - because I like it better and the Packers have had good results with that version.
There’s our look at the Packers 1st down call sheet. A nice mix of three-step yard gainers, shot plays and feeling out the defense. I feel good about this group.
Coming up very soon: our 2nd down call sheet.