17.1.21

IT'S THE THREAT OF THE RUN THAT MAKES THE PLAY SUCCESSFUL.

That was Bart Starr, remarking on a Bart Starr Special he delivered for the first touchdown of the second AFL-NFL Championship Game, which got the Roman numeral II much later.

Sometimes, contra Aron Niemzowitsch, the execution is stronger than the threat.  Yesterday evening, the Packers came out running against the Los Angeles Rams, and that running eventually wore down even a good defensive front.
The Packers chipped away at the Rams' defensive front on four first-half scoring drives before [tailback Aaron] Jones finally busted a 60-yard run on the first play of the third quarter. The six-play drive, on which all 75 yards were gained on the ground, produced a touchdown.

Their 191 combined rushing yards helped open things up for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense during a pulverizing 484-yard performance against the Rams, who allowed just 281.9 yards per game during the regular season.

"I think that set the tone, letting 'em know that we were going to come out physical and what kind of football game it was going to be," Jones said. "And our coaches told us, 'Stick with it. Stick with it. One's going to pop.' And right after halftime it popped."
There is nothing thrills me more than a long run on the opening drive after halftime. Unless there is a Bart Starr Special coming.  This business of watching the football game with a Twitter account open is too distracting for my frame of mind.  Milwaukee sports broadcaster Greg Matzek is able to do that, perhaps it's in the job description.
And, indeed, they did. Upcoming players have to develop a short memory, you don't let a play that didn't work out right hamper your next play.
A drop can mean the difference between Super Bowl or offseason.

The thought occurred to [Packer receiver Allen] Lazard as he turned to head back upfield. Did he just let the Rams back into the game? Inside, he wanted to atone. There was no guarantee he’d get that second chance, but on the sideline [quarterback Aaron] Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur reassessed.

Lazard’s mistake didn’t erase the fact he had gotten so wide open. The Rams kept playing quarters coverage in their secondary, ideal for Lazard to split the seam. Eventually, the Packers might need that deep shot to Lazard again. LaFleur filed it in his memory.

“We were kind of running the same play over and over out of that formation,” LaFleur said, “and we just felt like we were going to have a chance with the play-action pass off of it.”

With the Packers nursing a touchdown lead and needing a big play to put them over the top with seven minutes left, LaFleur recycled the deep shot that should’ve been a touchdown. Rodgers smiled when he heard the play call in his helmet.

“When the play was called,” Rodgers said, I was thinking touchdown.”

This time, Rodgers connected with Lazard for a 58-yard score, the defining play in the Packers’ 32-18 win against the Rams in the NFC divisional playoff round Saturday at Lambeau Field. Lazard again got open behind the Rams secondary. Cornerback Troy Hill and safety Jordan Fuller bit simultaneously on Lazard’s double move, allowing him to lose both on his way to the end zone.
What that decription doesn't tell you is that the play was a Bart Starr Special, with the fake handoff, and after several running plays with Allen Lazard in the run blocking scheme. Receivers that block effectively are often receivers who can leak out of coverage.

Allen Lazard's father was watching, with the appropriate applications open, and another happy tweet.
Here's what I saw, the Fox broadcast call, because the Milwaukee radio station cuts power after sunset.
I understand that play was the dagger.  Here are a few more highlights from the Packer You Tube channel.


A reporter who appears to have the Rams beat summarizes his lesson.
Of course anytime you start having success on the ground, that opens up the potential for the big shot play over the top of the defense. That would come midway through the fourth quarter, after the Rams cut the Green Bay lead to seven. Facing a 2nd-and-6 at the Packers’ 42-yard line, LaFleur called for the deep shot off of play-action.
There's more analysis at the link, including contemporary animation of the Rams secondary reacting to the play-action fake.

Lombardi and Starr would approve, even if it's on second and six rather than the canonical third and one.
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