Inside the Green Bay Packers' Playbook

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Despite the 6-10 record posted by Green Bay, they had a number of plays during the season that proved to be highly effective. 

Whether it was a come-back route or the play-action pass, Charles Woodson blitzing, a simple slant pattern, or Aaron Rodgers picking up yards on the ground, the Packers’ playbook was filled with successful play-designs for several game situations and defensive looks.

1.  One of the more effective routes ran last season was the come-back route and surprisingly, then-rookie Jordy Nelson was getting more receptions and first downs out of that particular route than any of the other receivers on the team. 

The route is identical to what Reggie Wayne has perfected over the years with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis.  

Generally when the opposing team’s corner is playing off-coverage, the job of the wide receiver is to sprint straight down the field with head down, just to the right of the numbers, for about 17 yards.  The objective is to make the corner think his man is going deep. 

At around 17 yards from the line of scrimmage, the corner should commit to the deep pass, abandon his back-pedal, and turn his hips.  In that moment of transition for the defender, the receiver will sink his hips and shuffle his feet to come to a stop. 

He will then run back at an angle towards the quarterback/sideline, make the reception, tap one foot, and drag the toe of the other before his momentum carries him out of bounds for a 12-yard gain. 

This is a timing route, meaning the quarterback will be releasing the ball before the receiver has even turned to face him, so a clean release off the line of scrimmage and careful measurement of the route by the receiver are very important. 

Nelson has the size and strength to beat the jam if the corner is playing press-coverage, and he can sink his hips and change direction very well for a big receiver. 

Rodgers consistently looked for Nelson on those come-back routes in several third-and-long situations last season, and Nelson successfully moved the chains for the Packers running that particular route. 

Furthermore, running that route often enough in a game could set up a defender for a double-move on a go-route, something Nelson wasn’t asked to run much last season.

But, if the second-year wide-out keeps picking up first downs running the come-back route this season, it’s almost certain the coaches will have him running deep, catching the defensive back by surprise.

2.  By-far the best play the Packers had in their arsenal last season was the play-action pass.  It’s a great way to score quickly, and it’s a back-breaker for defenses when completed. 

Though it was run infrequently because of the lack of a run game for much of the season (equating to defenses dropping players into coverage more often), it was very effective when Coach Mike McCarthy called it. 

The first game of the season versus Minnesota showcased a perfectly designed, well executed play-action pass.  In the game, Green Bay wasn’t running the ball effectively, but they were committed to running it, handing the ball off to Ryan Grant several times per possession.  This forced Vikings’ safety Tyrell Johnson to respect the run. 

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