After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons.
Hold me Close – So let me start out by saying I am generally in the “let them play” and “there’s holding on every play” camps. As a former offensive lineman in my purely average high school football career, I’m sensitive to bad holding calls. But if this isn’t an “it’s Tom Brady – look the other way” non-call, I don’t know what is. Jarran Reed is arm-hooked by one lineman, and pulled back by his shirt for a good four or five steps by another. Somehow he still manages to get a paw on Brady and knocks him off balance where Kenny Clark finishes the job. By the way, it was very kind (and smart) of Clark there to not bury Brady into the turf and potentially draw a “don’t hurt Brady” penalty.
Charmin Soft – My God, why does Joe Barry turn into Mike Pettine at the end of games? There are three minutes left in the game! The quarterback is Tom Brady! That’s way too much time to go into prevent or soften up your coverage. On a previous play of this drive, Kevin Olsen had this to say, “Don’t get conservative defensively. You’ve shut them down all day. Now you’re just playing so soft!” With 10-yard cushions, as you see on this play, Brady could be throwing to you or I and complete enough passes to get down to the goal line. With a minute left and 90 yards away, I would understand – Brady would be forced to throw longer passes, where the risk level rises. But in this set of circumstances, you were GUARANTEEING Brady would have a shot at tying the game. Insanity.
Onside Kick – For the rest of my time on this earth, despite the odds against a successful onside kick attempt, I will never be able to see the Packers line up to defend an onside kick attempt and not be in total fear. It’s an emotional scar that will never heal.Even when the Packers secure the ball, as they did here, I still have to find things that make me nervous. Like Adrian Amos and Rasul Douglas not blocking anyone on this play. The Bucs’ #31 flys by them both and is likely so surprised he isn’t touched, he overruns the play. If he had looked back, he would have seen the ball within arm’s reach. And what is Tyler Davis doing here? I get that his job is to come over and help block, but he runs right at Lazard and almost collides with him. Things could have gone very wrong – and my paranoia requires me to let you know about it.
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“Jersey Al” Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.