The Green Bay Packers are heading into a critical matchup this week, still reeling from their Thursday night showdown against the Detroit Lions, where their offensive line found itself under siege. Aidan Hutchinson dominated the line of scrimmage, showcasing his versatility by wreaking havoc from various positions. Hutchinson’s relentless pursuit resulted in 1.5 sacks against Green Bay’s beleaguered offensive front.
Things don’t get any easier this week. The Packers will face Maxx Crosby, another dynamic pass-rusher who could exploit their vulnerabilities and put their offensive line to the test once again.
The Packers must go beyond mere preparation; they must execute with precision. Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff need to devise a game plan that counters Crosby’s disruptive presence. That means being willing to throw everything in their playbook at him, from double-teams and chip blocks to quick-release passes and rollouts. It’s paramount that they protect Jordan Love, so perfect execution in both pass protection and offensive scheme will be the order of the day. Green Bay must establish a cohesive plan that minimizes Crosby’s impact and keeps their offensive rhythm intact.
In a league where the average time a quarterback has in the pocket stands is only 4.29 seconds, the Packers must acknowledge the urgency of keeping Love below these numbers to shield him from any potential contact by Crosby. Game planning around screens, quick releases, and well-timed play-action passes becomes invaluable in this context. Implementing these strategies not helps Love release the ball swiftly and disarms Crosby’s ability to unleash his pass-rushing prowess. By emphasizing these quick-release mechanisms, the Packers can not only protect their quarterback but also keep Crosby on his toes, unsure of when and how the offensive attack will strike.
In contrast to their approach against the Detroit Lions, the Packers must avoid a similar game plan when facing Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders. Against Detroit, Love often held the ball for extended periods, which backfired spectacularly. He found himself on the receiving end of five sacks, numerous quarterback hits, and hurries.
One approach the Packers might consider to mitigate the threat posed by Crosby is incorporating rollouts into their offensive game plan. Rollouts can serve a dual purpose. They keep Love away from the talented pass rusher for as much time as possible and use Love’s mobility to create throwing lanes on the move. However, this particular play design comes with an inherent downside. Defenses can often eliminate one side of the field, making it challenging for the quarterback to progress through his reads. Nevertheless, given the lingering questions surrounding Green Bay’s offensive line, working around rollouts could be a necessary adjustment to protect Love and ensure offensive continuity.
Luke Musgrave is primarily known for his receiving abilities as a tight end, and he’s not typically classified as a traditional blocking tight end. However, the Packers should consider using his skills in pass-block protection.
They should use Musgrave in block and release sets. That strategy allows Musgrave to chip block or assist the offensive tackle in slowing down Crosby momentarily before releasing into a route. By doing so, the Packers can take advantage of those precious milliseconds where the tackle-Musgrave combo works together to create a buffer between Crosby and Love.
If the Packers can successfully vary their blocking schemes against Crosby while executing quick-release passes, they may open a window for frustration and mistakes on the defender’s part. The constant change in blocking tactics, coupled with the pressure to react quickly, can cause a defender like Crosby to make critical errors in his reads and assignments.
These mistakes could prove pivotal, particularly in the running game, where gaps and lanes could suddenly open up due to missteps by the opposing defense. That presents an opportunity for Aaron Jones, who is expected to have a significant role within the offense for the first time since Week 1, potentially capitalizing on any defensive lapses to create explosive plays and provide a much-needed spark for the Packers.
PFF has ranked as the fourth-best edge rusher against the run game, and Crosby will neutralize Green Bay’s running game with ease if the Packers rely solely on straightforward inside and outside zone runs. To counter this threat, LaFleur needs to think innovatively. Incorporating dynamic motions involving receivers and tight ends, regardless of whether they end up with the ball, becomes imperative. By keeping Crosby guessing and creating misdirection, Green Bay can confound his ability to easily disrupt their running plays.
It’s important to acknowledge that even with a well-crafted game plan, Crosby will undoubtedly find ways to make his presence felt. According to PFF, Crosby boasts a 91.6 defensive grade, placing him among the top six edge rushers in the league. Green Bay’s offense faces a formidable challenge, and there should be no room for error. To keep Crosby at bay throughout the game, execution to perfection is non-negotiable.
