Its was and has been play calling. Only need to look at the Fumble last night. Every WR 10-15 yards downfield before making any cuts. When the offense was working last night, it was predominately routes <10yards. They keep running 2-3 WR in different combinations of routes under 10 yards deep, the deep routes will open up, and the chance for pass rush to get to Rodgers decreases.
Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins
First: it was 3rd and 10!!!!!
Second: The play design on the subject play was excellent, as they were all night, as they have been for each of the past 16 weeks.
Back to basics moment. That chart you see McCarthy has in his hand has plays grouped in a handful of different ways. Most of the plays on that card are grouped by down and distance. The plays grouped under, for example, 1st and 10; 2nd and 4-6; 3rd and 2-4 are likely to have a greater # of WRs running shorter routes [given the game plan designed for Bears] than a play grouped under 3rd and 10. A well designed 3rd and 10 play will often have 2-3 receivers beyond the line to gain and 2 or 3 receivers running shorter routes. The shorter routes serve 2 purposes: (1) to move the underneath cover guys to a spot on the field so they are not in front of the receivers making their cuts at or beyond the sticks; and (2) in the event the deeper receivers are not open or the rush doesn't permit time, the QB can dump off to avoid the sack, get at least some field position yards and if something exceptional occurs maybe even get that 1st down.
On the subject play, Rodgers' first read was to R.Rodgers on an In at 7 yards, who was open by a full yard and covered by a LB. Rodgers no pressure and perfect vision to throw a strike; but unless the throw was 100% perfect, the LB would most likely tackle RRodgers for a 7-8 yard gain. Even if the throw hits R.Rodgers perfectly in stride, R.Rodgers could still have been tackled short of the sticks. In hindsight that is the throw ARodgers should have done; but based on the circumstances at the time, it was not a bad decision for Rodgers not to throw make that throw. Rodgers could have no sense that a jail break was about to occur; so given the protection he had to that point, undoubtedly, Rodgers assumed he'd have time to complete to Reads 2A and B on left for the first or Read 3 on right.
Up to this point in the play he resembled MVP Rodgers. But then, [trumpet sound] da, da, da, da, Trust Boy Rodgers appears:
It took a while, but a stunting DLman came around Bulaga, who tried to block the stunt and the man he'd been stone-walling, which allowed both to break free. You can see when Rodgers starts his evasive action. The MVP Rodgers at that moment would have unloaded the ball to a wide open Monty circling out of the backfield. Monty had 7-8 yards for sure and might have gotten the 1st if WRs block well or CBs cant tackle him. Take note of the exceptional play design: R. Rodgers takes the rest of the underneath coverage right, Monty circles out of backfield from right and runs a Cross left! PERFECTION!
Of course the 2nd bone head move by doppelganger Rodgers was that MVP Rodgers would have never fumbled there. NO ONE EVEN TOUCHED THE BALL.