Demonstrating the Value of Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga to Packers
A handful of games from the 2014 season help fully demonstrate the immense value upcoming free agents Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga possess for the Green Bay Packers.
Of course, both players established obvious value during career years; Cobb set new career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns, while Bulaga played in 15 games and allowed just four sacks.
But more specifically, Cobb and Bulaga can each point to two specific games from 2014 as to why the Packers should be doing everything in their power to retain both long term. Call them leverage points for the two players.
Cobb's were delivered in the two biggest games of Green Bay's regular season. Bulaga's came against one of the game's best pass-rushers and in a late-game situation on the road.
Both pairs of games help make it clear why retaining Cobb and Bulaga sits atop the Packers' priority list this offseason.
Cobb: Week 13 vs. New England
Rookie Davante Adams stole the headlines with six catches for 121 yards, but it was Cobb and his ability to be the offense's moving chess piece that helped establish a lead and then keep it against the eventual Super Bowl champions.
On one series in the second quarter, Cobb lined up at three different places in the backfield and still made three huge plays in the passing game.
On the first, the Packers situated Cobb next to Aaron Rodgers in the shotgun on third down. A well-executed wheel route—with clutter to the right of the formation forcing linebacker Rob Ninkovich to cover Cobb down the field—resulted in a 33-yard completion.
The second came on 3rd-and-short. Cobb motioned into the backfield and lined up directly behind Bulaga, giving the impression of a run. The Packers instead carried out the run fake, and Rodgers hit Cobb in the flat to gain eight easy yards and move the sticks.
The third was a terrific individual effort. On 3rd-and-12 inside the red zone, Cobb was motioned to the left of Rodgers, slightly behind left tackle David Bakhtiari. The Patriots gave Cobb space inside and allowed him to make the catch underneath short of the first down, but he wiggled through three tacklers to get to the marker and extend the drive.
Alex Petakas of ESPN Milwaukee put together a more thorough breakdown of the three completions here.
The Packers would still end up kicking a field goal to go up 16-7. But of the 57 yards gained on the drive, 55 came via Cobb.
Head coach Mike McCarthy gained more and more confidence in Cobb's role in the backfield as the season went on, using the package as a spark in some games. Cobb's incredible versatility—he also carried twice for eight yards against New England—allowed the creativity.
But Cobb also created in a traditional way with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter.
Up 26-21, the Packers faced a 3rd-and-4 situation with two minutes, 28 seconds left in the contest. The Patriots had just called their last timeout. A conversion would end the game. With a miss, Tom Brady would get the football back with plenty of time.
Whom did Rodgers go to after McCarthy put the ball in his hands? Cobb, who created just enough space from the slot and completed a difficult catch in traffic to pick up seven yards and secure the win.
Versatility and plays in the clutch. And against the eventual Super Bowl champions, no less. The Packers probably don't win the game without him.
Cobb: Week 17 vs. Detroit
In Week 3, the Lions held Cobb to just three catches and 29 yards—both season lows. In the season finale—a winner-take-all showdown in the NFC North—Cobb was one of the best players on the field.
He caught just four passes. But of the four, two set up touchdowns, and two others finished off touchdown drives. The Packers won by 10 points.
His 34-yard reception in the second quarter set up Green Bay at Detroit's 9-yard line. Two plays later, Rodgers scrambled to his right and re-injured his calf—but still found Cobb wide open for the touchdown. Green Bay led, 14-0.
Cobb then sparked the Packers back to life in the second half. Detroit had tied the game at 14. On his first pass after returning, Rodgers found Cobb open over the middle for 29 yards. Three plays later, Cobb created more space against nickelback Cassius Vaughn and then sprinted into the end zone after the catch to give Green Bay a 21-14 lead.
Cobb's season-finale heroics proved his worth as the game's most efficient and deadliest slot receiver. The Lions had no answer for an elusive No. 18 over the middle of the field. Also, Cobb's innate ability to work the scramble drill—he remains Rodgers' go-to target when a play breaks down—once again proved crucial in the red zone.
In two of the biggest games on the schedule, Cobb was undoubtedly a deciding factor in Packers wins.
Bulaga: Week 15 at Buffalo
Want a showcase game for a free-agent offensive tackle? Take a long look at Bulaga's effort against Mario Williams of the Bills.
Williams finished the 2014 season with 14.5 sacks. Bulaga stonewalled him. According to Pro Football Focus, Bulaga did not allow a single quarterback disruption over 39 pass-blocking snaps.
Williams tried it all. Power moves. Finesse. He attempted setting up inside-out and outside-in combinations. Bulaga handled everything he threw at him. Williams wasn't even a factor in the run game, as the Packers ran 10 times to the right side and gained 72 yards.
The wheels finally came off for Green Bay after Bulaga was forced out of the contest with a concussion. His replacement, second-year player JC Tretter, promptly gave up a strip-sack to Williams that ended the game.
Tretter was clearly thrown into a tough environment against an elite player. He figures to get better as he transitions into his third season. But the final few plays in Buffalo provided a glimpse at life without Bulaga eliminating worry from the right side.
Bulaga: Week 12 at Minnesota
Ask any self-respecting offensive lineman whether he takes more pride in run or pass blocking, and 99 out of 100 will answer with the run. There's a certain appeal for the big guys up front being on the attack, instead of the more passive approach to blocking for a quarterback.
And there's no situation quite like running the football in the four-minute offense.
The Packers executed the late-game situation several times in 2014, including during a win over the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium.
After scoring a touchdown to pull within three points at 27-24, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer kicked off deep—confident his defense would stop the run and get the football back to Teddy Bridgewater. Instead, the Packers ran it down Minnesota's throat and killed off the clock.
On three of the five runs, Green Bay called runs to Bulaga's side.
On 2nd-and-7, Eddie Lacy powered his way for five yards behind the blocks of Bulaga and right guard T.J. Lang. With the game on the line, the Packers went back to the right side. The third-down call required Bulaga to execute a difficult reach block on defensive end Brian Robison. He made the block, and Lacy lumbered ahead for four yards.
Two plays later, Lacy ran off right tackle for 10 yards and the final dagger.
After taking over the football with 3:23 left and a three-point lead, the Packers ran five straight times with Lacy and won the game. The play-calling was conservative, but the execution was perfect—especially from Bulaga on the right side.
He was also steady as ever in pass protection, allowing just a single hurry. In fact, over a five-game stretch from Week 11 (vs. Philadelphia) to 15 (at Buffalo), Bulaga allowed just five quarterback disruptions (all hurries). It stands as the most dominant stretch of football in his NFL career.
Understanding value is easy when reviewing an entire season's worth of work, especially for Cobb and Bulaga. But taking a deeper look at the individual games and the effect both players had on those games is telling.
It's now on the Packers to make sure the value Cobb and Bulaga bring to the table remains in Green Bay long term.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
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