Packers coach Matt LaFleur explains fourth-down play against Eagles
The Green Bay Packers went for a run play on fourth down that the Eagles called out. Matt LaFleur talks about the play.
GREEN BAY – Three days before his team hopes to get back on track at the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur addressed the media. Here are some quick highlights.
Matt LaFleur says Packers’ inability to knock Eagles defense back on pivotal fourth-and-1 stop was biggest issue
LaFleur did not seem overly concerned that the Philadelphia Eagles knew his offense was running an “inside zone this way” on last week’s pivotal fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles stuffed running back Josh Jacobs for a loss and recovered a fumble after defensive tackle Moro Ojomo sniffed out the play before the snap, shouting those four words to his defense in a message that was picked up by ESPN microphones and broadcast during the game.
“We do that all the time offensively,” LaFleur said. “We know when corners are coming, we know when ‘backers are coming. This is not like the first time in the history of football that people know it’s coming. That happens pretty regularly, I would say. It’s film study. It’s things that happen in game. Bottom line is, you’ve got to be able to block it, and sometimes it’s not easy. But sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. that’s just the bottom line. That’s football.”
To LaFleur, the bigger issue is how the play was executed. Specifically, the Eagles won at the point of attack, knocking right guard Jordan Morgan and tight end Luke Musgrave into the backfield on the snap. Their push stopped Jacobs before he had a chance to approach the line of scrimmage.
Even if the Eagles knew there was an “inside zone this way,” the Packers only needed a yard. LaFleur expected his offense to get it.
“We’ve got to come off on the ball,” LaFleur said. “I mean, I think that’s the No. 1 thing, is you’ve got to come off on the ball. It’s not like the first time we’ve ever ran that play. Certainly, you can do things in terms of changing up how you call it with your code words to try to hide it, and we’re constantly tinkering with that.
“It’s the same play we scored a touchdown on (against the Eagles). Unfortunately, they got a better jump off the ball, and we never allowed our runner to get to the line of scrimmage. I’m thinking that if he gets to the line of scrimmage, he’s going to get a yard.”
LaFleur said he expects no changes with how the offensive line is coached during the week. Currently, offensive coordinator and former offensive line coach Adam Stenavich is actively involved with that unit.
“He does that every day,” LaFleur said. “He’s in there all the time. He’s absolutely with those guys quite a bit. So, yeah, I mean, we’ll probably continue with that.”
Packers still recuperating from Monday night game
In their first practice of the week Nov. 12, the Packers pushed their schedule back later in the day and had a walk-through format as players recovered from their late Monday night.
LaFleur said his team would have a “semi-regular” practice Nov. 13. Players will start in pads but remove them midway through practice while keeping the tempo at full speed. He believes the balance of pads and no pads will allow his team, and especially his struggling offensive line, to get the physical work it needs while also resting bodies.
“I think you have to be mindful of the entire situation,” LaFleur said. “Every week is a little bit different in regards to how you want to approach it, but certainly I think just we can always work on our pad level, our fundamentals that you get really good work with when you have pads on. And certainly with our situation at center, I think it’s important to have them on at least for a portion of our practice.”
LaFleur pleased with uptick in takeaways for Packers defense
The Packers would like to take away the football more, as their six total this season is tied for second-to-last in the NFL, but LaFleur is pleased with how those plays are trending recently.
The Packers have forced a takeaway in four straight games. Their latest came when linebacker Edgerrin Cooper punched the football out of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ hands at the end of a run in the first quarter. Cornerback Keisean Nixon recovered the fumble.
“Takeaways are a crazy phenomenon,” LaFleur said. “Even going back to early in the season, it’s not like we’re not punching at the football. I think Coop had an outstanding one last week versus Philly, but it’s just trying to maximize those opportunities when they present themselves. If a guy from the offense is not carrying the ball the right way, it’s can you get a punch on the ball? Can you get multiple hats to the football? Certainly, I think a lot of turnovers occur in this league within the pocket. So if you can get to the quarterback and get it out of his hands, that’s always a bonus. So those are some of the things that we’re kind of focused on.”