Packers Rookies Cannot Afford to Play Like Rookies Down the Stretch

The Green Bay Packers' 44-23 loss to the New Orleans Saints last Sunday night provided evidence for both the legitimacy of Ted Thompson's 2014 draft class and the growing pains of being a front-and-center rookie in the NFL. 

Make no mistake about it. Thompson likely found three long-term starters for the Packers last May: first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, second-round receiver Davante Adams and fifth-round center Corey Linsley. That trio has played meaningful snaps in almost every game this season (Adams was eased in early). And the Packers almost certainly like what they've seen from all three through eight games in 2014. 

Clinton-Dix plays the game at a different speed. Adams looks like another second-round receiving gem for Thompson. Linsley, despite not expecting to play much in 2014, has handled his starting role like a seasoned veteran. 

However, a few lapses of judgment from the rookies hurt Green Bay in New Orleans. The Packers now need the promising youngsters to eliminate their mistakes as the postseason draws near and the rookie designation loses its status as a legitimate excuse. 

Clinton-Dix (430 snaps) has been the rangy, physical safety most expected when Thompson took him at No. 21 overall. Trained in a similar defense at Alabama, Clinton-Dix has been allowed to roam as the single-high safety and come crashing down to support against the run. 

His ability so often jumps off the screen. On the Saints' third play, Clinton-Dix filled from his safety spot to help stop running back Mark Ingram for a short gain. 

Yet Saints quarterback Drew Brees took advantage of the rookie early on last Sunday. 

On New Orleans' sixth play from scrimmage, the Saints gave Clinton-Dix a route combination he's seen in the recent past:

NFL Game Rewind

Receiver Kenny Stills, lined up to the bottom of the screen, runs a deep post. Working underneath the post is Brandin Cooks, who is running a deep crosser from the right to left of the formation. Running back Mark Ingram leaks out to the left flat off the run fake, and Marques Colston takes the right flat after briefly staying in to help with protection. 

It's a classic Cover-3 beater designed to force the defense into quick decisions. 

"It's called a 'Yankee Route,' deep post plus deep over route," Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen explained when asked about the play. "The reduced wide receiver splits, plus field position, should have been alert for the Green Bay defense. Max protection plus play action."

As the play unfolded, Julius Peppers took Ingram in the left flat, while safety Micah Hyde came up and handled the right flat. Two breakdowns also occur: Linebacker Sam Barrington bites on the run fake and doesn't get deep enough in his drop to take away the deep crosser, and Clinton-Dix, likely reading the eyes of Brees, bites down on the crosser and vacates his deep-middle responsibilities in the Cover-3 shell. 

NFL Game Rewind

The end result is a 45-yard pitch-and-catch from Brees to Stills, who beat Davon House's outside leverage on the deep post. 

"If Ha Ha Clinton-Dix drives the deep over, then Tramon Williams has to replace in the post," Bowen said. "But that has to be alerted pre-snap. It's called a "jump" technique from the free safety with the cornerback replacing in deep middle of the field. However, if there is no alert, Clinton-Dix has to stay in post with the curl-flat defender sinking hard to get under the deep over route."

The Saints wasted no time exploiting a matchup they likely saw on film. It's a near guarantee that Brees and head coach Sean Payton caught one glimpse of the play below and knew Clinton-Dix could be manipulated on the route combination:

NFL Game Rewind

The play is nearly identical. Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace ran a deeper crosser, while Brian Hartline worked off outside leverage from Hyde to get vertical. Clinton-Dix came crashing down. On this occasion, however, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw underneath to Wallace, and Clinton-Dix made the play on the ball. Meanwhile, Hartline was running free behind the defense. 

Brees, the savvy veteran, had the patience to let the play unfold and sting the Packers deep. 

Clinton-Dix also missed three tackles in New Orleans, bringing his season total to six. He plays fast but occasionally out of control, which has led to some of the missed tackles. 

Overall, Clinton-Dix has been a breath of fresh air for a safety group that desperately needed help. He's going to start on the backend of Green Bay's defense for a long time. But the Packers need him to clean up his reads, and not missing tackles would go a long ways in helping the league's worst run defense. 

Clinton-Dix isn't the only rookie in need of some polishing.  

Adams, another second-round receiver unearthed by Thompson, had a career night in the Superdome, catching a career-high seven passes for 75 yards. He played all but two snaps, a sign that he's cemented his place as the Packers' No. 3 receiver for the rest of 2014.  

Through eight games, Adams ranks eighth among rookie receivers with 24 receptions. He's on pace for 48, which would be more than Greg Jennings (45), Jordy Nelson (33) and Randall Cobb (25) were able to manage in their rookie seasons in Green Bay. 

In fact, if Adams did catch 48 passes this season, it would be the most by a Packers rookie since 1988: 

	Year	Receptions	Yards	TDs
Sterling Sharpe	1988	55	791	1
James Jones	2007	47	676	2
Greg Jennings	2006	45	632	3
Jordy Nelson	2008	33	366	2
Randall Cobb	2011	25	375	1
Javon Walker	2003	23	319	1
Robert Brooks	1992	12	126	1
Antonio Freeman	1995	8	106	1
Donald Driver	1999	3	31	1
Davante Adams*	2014	24	263	2

However, his biggest mistake against the Saints was a back-breaker. 

On Green Bay's second play of the fourth quarter, quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke the pocket and scrambled to his right. Adams flashed open directly in front of Rodgers, but the rookie put on the brakes and stopped his route. Rodgers' off-balance throw was intended to lead Adams inside (where his route was taking him) and away from the defense. But the attempt bounced off Adams' outstretched hand and into the arms of a Saints defender for the interception that all but ended the game. 

It certainly wasn't an egregious mistake. The end result amplified the initial misread. Still, Rodgers talks all the time about trust, and making an error that leads to an interception—the bane of Rodgers' existence—won't help in that area. 

There was clearly confusion between quarterback and receiver. 

"I'm not sure if (the pressure) made him think to break the route off or not," Rodgers told reporters Sunday night. "It was kind of the in-between one, where he's in a tough situation."

Earlier in the game, Adams was called for offensive pass interference on a play that would have provided the Packers a first-and-goal opportunity from the two-yard line. Instead, Green Bay was backed up to the 23-yard line and eventually kicked a field goal. 

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Replays showed Adams extending his arms to gain an inch of separation, right in front of the official. However, the move certainly wasn't an obvious foul. A year ago—and without the league's points of emphasis impacting officiating—a flag is likely not thrown. 

Still, the two plays were clear negatives for the Packers. One essentially ended the game, the other took potential points off the board. 

Linsley, the most impressive of the Packers' rookies, did not escape the Superdome unscathed. 

A play after Adams' interference penalty, Green Bay took a five-yard delay of game infraction after Linsley was late getting the football to Rodgers. Visibly upset after Linsley was oblivious to his clapping for the ball, Rodgers appeared to give his rookie center an earful.

He had good reason. A promising drive was single-handedly ended by the back-to-back mistakes. 

"Penalties and turnovers hurt us tonight," Rodgers said. 

While Linsley has been on the receiving end of a few verbal barrages this season, he's also been a savior for the Packers at center. 

	Snaps	QB Disruptions	Run Grade	Overall Grade
Nick Mangold	581	4	+9.7	+13.9
Brian De La Puente	320	4	+6.8	+8.2
Maurkice Pouncey	575	8	+4.6	+7.1
Corey Linsley	510	9	+7.2	+6.9
Alex Mack	300	1	+5.1	+6.9

A fifth-round pick, Linsley began training camp as JC Tretter's backup. And most believed he would stay in that role for all of his rookie season, and possibly beyond. But after Tretter went down with a knee injury, Linsley stepped in and has hardly played like a rookie. In fact, he now looks like the offense's long-term starter at center. 

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Linsley has graded out as the NFL's fourth best center in 2014. He hasn't allowed a sack, and his run-blocking grade ranks fourth overall. Linsley has played every offensive snap for the Packers this season. 

Through eight games, the Packers' 2014 rookie class ranks right up there with 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013 as the Thompson draft class providing the most immediate impact. 

Now, the Packers need the three most important rookies—Clinton-Dix, Adams and Linsley—to clean up the little things during the stretch run of the second half. All three are firmly planted in key roles where a mistake here and a mistake there can be the difference between winning and losing. 

If the rookies take another step, the Packers can too.

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2