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Here's a sneak preview of my Packers Preview, which will be released on the Philly Film Room Podcast:

PACKERS OFFENSE

Extensive use of Motion and Formation Shifts: LaFleur's offense thrives on disguising simple concepts with pre-snap motion and diverse formations. Similar concepts are executed from multiple looks, giving Jordan Love clear pre-snap reads. Many plays pair deep crossers/wheel routes with a checkdown in the flat.

Diverse Personnel Packages: The offense leverages the run game from 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE) creating unpredictability whether its a run/pass play. In heavier packages, their use of condensed formations enables Love to capitalize on play-action and hit explosive plays downfield.

RPOs and Packaged Plays to Stretch Defenses: LaFleur’s system fully integrates RPOs and quick-decision packaged plays, maximizing Love’s ability to attack horizontally. This keeps defenses stretched thin, eventually opening up holes in the deeper parts of the field.

Eric’s Game Plan:

1. Run overload blitzes and A-gap simulated pressures (4/5 man pressures) in an attempt to flush Love from pocket and get him drifting backwards, playing aggressively on his throws to flat.

2. Look for deep crossers and wheel routes off Under Center play-action.

3. Watch for bubble/tunnel screens when you don’t outnumber WRs to play side

4. Key in on Doubs, his most trusted WR when under pressure.

5. Waste blockers with wide alignements as they Packers make you pay for leaving center uncovered.

6. Have MLB get depth to protect against intermediate crossers, or have middle 3rd safety cheat down.

7. On 3rd down, play the sticks, swarm to make tackle when Love throws underneath.

8. Love has a tell when undercenter, putting all the weight on his heel signaling a play-action pass.

9. Occasionally 8 man rush cause Love will still check it to flats. Be prepared as they will test the tackling of Slay, Rodgers, White, and Baun in the flats.

PACKERS DEFENSE

Single-High Safety Schemes: New Packers DC Hafley has employed single-high safety coverages, primarily Cover 3 and Cover 1, creating a strong middle-of-the-field presence, stemming from his coaching days in SF with Robert Saleh. These schemes emphasize having a deep safety in the middle of the field while allowing the other safety to drop into the box for run support or to help underneath.

Aggressive Secondary Play: Hafley’s defenses have prioritized press coverage and physicality in the secondary. He focuses on jamming receivers at the line to disrupt timing, stemming from his time with the Browns, where the defense often utilized press man coverage.

Even Fronts and Versatile Pressure Packages: Hafley preferred running even fronts to create balanced run and pass defense at Boston College. His defenses relied more on creative simulated pressures and less on heavy blitzing, focusing on disguising where pressure would come from, whether through stunts or hybrid linebacker looks. That may change in the NFL, especially with the proliferation of simulated/creeper pressures.

Gap Exchange Run Fits: Hafley did use gap exchange run fits at Boston College. His defensive scheme blended NFL concepts with college-specific strategies, including gap exchanges to counter RPOs and option runs. Gap exchange run fits involve defensive linemen and linebackers swapping gap responsibilities post-snap to confuse the blocking scheme and better defend against modern offenses. Hafley’s approach emphasizes disciplined run fits while adjusting assignments based on what the offense shows, making it versatile against both power and spread running attacks. This could change in the NFL with less RPOs and better athletes.

Eric’s Game Plan: 

1. The Dagger concept, one of the most widely run in the NFL, is a staple Single-High beater. The deep dig route from the outside WR gets behind the middle hook defenders, and the single-high safety can't play down on it due to the clearout from the slot.

2. Attacking Holes in Cover 3

The seams are the most vulnerable area in Cover 3. If you simply have two players running up the seam, it will make life difficult for the middle safety. Teams have developed pattern-matching rules in Cover 3 that will ask the safety/nickel to carry vertical routes from #2 so they don't get exploited. This can create voids underneath that can be attacked with greater YAC opportunities.

3. Use formations with three/four receivers to one side and isolate a single receiver on the opposite side. This setup forces Hafley’s single-high safety to commit early, either cheating toward the trips side or staying in the middle. Either way, it creates a mismatch, particularly with the isolated receiver, who is often left one-on-one with minimal help (AJ Brown). It remains to be seen if they will have Jaire Alexander shadow top WRs.

4. Use of RPOs. One of the most effective RPOs against Hafley’s defense is an inside zone read paired with a backside glance (skinny post) route. This concept targets the linebackers and box safeties who are responsible for gap exchange fits in the run game. On the snap, Jalen Hurts reads the backside linebacker or safety. If they commit to filling their gap against the run, it leaves the glance route open behind them, allowing for a quick strike that can break into the second level. The speed of the glance route allows Smith or Brown to attack the soft spot in the seam, an area typically vulnerable in single-high looks.

5. Attacking Press Coverage

1. Bunch and Stack Formations: Aligning receivers close together in bunch or stack formations makes it difficult for defenders to jam effectively and creates natural picks. This frees up receivers on quick releases for slants or crossers.

2. Double Moves: Routes like the out-and-up or sluggo (slant-and-go) take advantage of aggressive press corners who overcommit early, leading to big plays downfield.

3. Rub Routes/Pick Plays: Designed to force defenders into traffic, these routes cause natural separation, giving receivers an easy release and clear paths to the ball.

4. Attacking Nixon and Bullard The most exploitable secondary player is Keisean Nixon, who serves as the slot corner. Nixon is inconsistent in coverage, particularly against shifty or polished route runners. His lack of elite quickness can be targeted on quick-hitting routes like slants, digs, or double moves.

Javon Bullard, starting at free safety, could be vulnerable when forced into deep coverage responsibilities. Although he is physical and aggressive, Bullard lacks the range and instincts of a true free safety, making him susceptible to getting out of position on deep routes. 

5 Commandments of Beating Hafley

Thou Shalt Exploit the Slot Use vertical routes from the slot and quick routes like slants and whips to target vulnerable defenders like Keisean Nixon and Javon Bullard. The Eagles’ are well suited to win these matchups, exposing the seam and deep sideline where Hafley’s single-high coverage is most vulnerable.

Thou Shalt Force Pattern-Match Confusion with Switch Releases: Run switch releases and mesh concepts to disrupt Hafley’s pattern-match principles. These create natural rubs or coverage responsibility switches, forcing defenders into difficult decisions, which the Eagles’ route-running acumen can exploit for easy gains.

Thou Shalt Use Unbalanced Formations to Isolate Matchups: Utilize trips/quads formations to force the middle the safety’s hand, isolating AJ Brown on the backside in one-on-one coverage.

Thou Shalt Attack with Tempo to Simplify the Defense: Keep the offense moving with quick snaps and no-huddle to prevent Hafley’s defense from disguising coverages or making adjustments, leaving them in basic alignments vulnerable to exploitation.

Thou Shalt Leverage Motion and Bunch Formations Against Press Man: Use motion and bunch/stack formations to create free releases and natural picks, making it difficult for Hafley’s corners to jam effectively. Quick crossers out of these sets give the Eagles WRs easy separation and high-percentage completions.

Do you always talk about yourself in the 3rd person? 

Philly Film Room is a two-man team 

21 hours ago, NCiggles said:

Do you always talk about yourself in the 3rd person? 

Godfather thinks Eagles win