Green Bay Packers Running Back/Kick Returner/Punt Returner Tyler “Swerve” Ervin is one of the more under-recognized guys on the Packers that has made a big impact since he joined the team.
When the Packers claimed Ervin off waivers from Jacksonville in early December of last season, they had already played 12 regular season games and had a 9-3 record. The idea of signing Irvin was to improve their Kick-Return and Punt-Return teams. To that point in the season, the Packers had the worst cumulative punt-return yardage in NFL History with negative 8 yards.
That’s right, the Packers *literally* didn’t have 1 yard in punt-returns through 12 entire games.
In his very first game in a Packers uniform against the (formerly known Washington Redskins), Ervin had 4 punt returns for 51 yards (12.8 avg.) and all 4 returns went for at least 10 yards. In six total games, he finished the 2019 season (regular season + postseason) with 12 punt returns for 112 yards and an average of 9.3 yards per return – a vast improvement from the -0.67 yards per return the team was averaging prior.
In 3 games through 2020, Tyler Ervin is not just returning kicks but also is a key component to the Packers offense. The 2016, 4th round pick from San Jose State has played in a whopping 31% of all offensive snaps and is the primary player on “Jet Motion” action Matt LaFleur loves to utilize. Below is an example of Ervin executing the concept, moving from right to left on this play.
Packers used sweep motion with RB Tyler Ervin to create defensive displacement vs. the Saints on this TD, and Rodgers’ 48-yard pass to Allen Lazard. Rodgers rolls the other way. 4 of Rodgers’ 9 TD passes are off designed rollouts, which leads the league. pic.twitter.com/iYAX5WarrC
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 30, 2020
Another example here of Ervin in-motion from left to right and receiving the football. Ervin has good speed and his agility + bend allows him to get past #90 on this play.
Tyler Ervin pic.twitter.com/HhKqfssGQF
— Alex Mayer (@Alex_Mayer93) October 2, 2020
Great speed
More Ervin pic.twitter.com/IWdpNnzwUw
— Alex Mayer (@Alex_Mayer93) October 2, 2020
Ervin goes low to make the catch. The RB/Returner showing good hands.
One of the most interesting plays I saw Sunday was this from the Packers. At this point in the game (early second quarter), the Packers had already used a lot of mesh to attack the Lions’ man-heavy defense. This “fake” mesh plays off of that tendency. pic.twitter.com/fdS0vNJjGK
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) September 23, 2020
Matt LaFleur has shown lots of creativity since coming to the Packers. Running Backs, Fullbacks and Tight Ends are not only important but fun pieces to the plays he likes to run on offense. Tyler Ervin was initially brought into Green Bay to return punts and kickoffs. Almost a year later, the 26 year old has found a central role in the Packers offense with his impressive speed and high football IQ. With Allen Lazard out indefinitely after core muscle surgery, Ervin’s number will be counted on even more moving forward.
In his young Packers career, he has shown that he is up to the task.
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Alex grew up in a family of Chicago Bears fans in the suburbs of Chicago but was always a diehard Packers fan. Alex\’s AIM name when he was in elementary/middle school was PackerAlex. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee and you can follow him on twitter at @Alex_Mayer93.
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