GREEN BAY – As the Packers posted the first shutout of the 2024 NFL season Monday night against the Saints, the game film showed a lot of – for lack of a better term – "crashing" into the opponent to blow up the play.
So for the purposes of this edition of WYMM, call it a crashing success. Here's a rundown.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 43, first quarter, 7:00 left
Result: No gain for RB Kendre Miller
The Saints are on the move on their opening drive, but this play is where the Packers start to assert themselves on defense. The crashers are LB Edgerrin Cooper (56) and S Zayne Anderson (39). Watch how Cooper not only collides violently with FB Adam Prentice (46) but then swiftly tosses him to the ground. Meanwhile Anderson, kept clean thanks to Cooper, attacks the hole from 10 yards off the line of scrimmage to shut down Miller.
Play No. 2: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 40, second quarter, 5:43 left
Result: 4-yard run by RB Jamaal Williams
Another crash by Anderson, this time from nearly 15 yards away, with the help of a solid edge set by LB Isaiah McDuffie (58). This play is seemingly stopped for 1 or 2 yards, and only the pure power of the former Packers RB Williams makes this a decent result for the Saints.
Play No. 3: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 30, second quarter, 3:30 left
Result: 1-yard run by Miller
A few plays later, it's Cooper crashing again, and into Prentice again, too. Starting his charge just before the snap, he gets to Prentice a full two yards behind the line of scrimmage, and the collision is so disruptive that Miller has to cut sideways as soon as he gets the ball. Cooper blasting into the backfield, combined with DL Rashan Gary (52) setting a hard edge on the outside, allows for a clean fill and tackle by LB Eric Wilson (45).
Play No. 4: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 34, second quarter, :15 left
Result: 12-yard sack by DL Devonte Wyatt
A different kind of crashing here, this time on the pass rush, with a technique the Packers employ often. DL Karl Brooks (94) angles his way into a collision with C Shane Lemieux (66), which frees up Wyatt on the stunt to go bury QB Spencer Rattler in the backfield and prevent the Saints from scoring right before halftime. Sack to Wyatt, big assist to Brooks.
Play No. 5: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 35, third quarter, 4:16 left
Result: 7-yard sack by DL Brenton Cox Jr.
Wyatt returns the favor as the crasher here, blasting into Lemieux and getting such a strong inside push that Rattler can't get away from Cox coming around the outside. Like all of these point-of-attack collisions, the force applied by the Packers defender (in this case Wyatt), and the effect on the offensive opponent (Lemieux) at the moment of impact really stand out on the film.
Bonus play 1: First-and-10 from the New Orleans 45, first quarter, 7:29 left
Result: 12-yard completion to TE Foster Moreau
With this being Anderson's first NFL start at safety, and coming on short notice no less when rookie Evan Williams was injured during Saturday's practice, it's worth taking a closer look at a couple other plays involving him. This might be the most underrated defensive play of the night, as the Saints send a receiver in motion to the right and throw a screen back to the left. The play is well-blocked for Moreau with space to the outside, and Anderson is a full 25 yards away when Moreau makes the catch. Fortunately for the defense, Moreau takes an ill-advised step or two inside before heading toward the open area. Still, Anderson has to close quickly, keeping this to a 12-yard gain with a sure open-field tackle of the bigger tight end, and the Packers eventually force a punt. If this play goes for the yardage it might have, the Saints likely score points on their opening possession.
Bonus play 2: First-and-10 from the Green Bay 22, third quarter, 2:20 left
Result: INT by Anderson
Not that anybody missed Anderson's first career interception, but upon review, it's a very heady, aware play by a player without a ton of snaps logged on defense. The Saints are setting up, and faking, a screen to the left to try to allow Moreau to weave across from the right side and get downfield. Playing up in the box initially, Anderson realizes the screen is a decoy and starts peeling back looking for someone to cover. Lo and behold, there's Moreau trying to sneak by and Anderson is all over him. Cooper sees him and points him out as well. Credit CB Carrington Valentine (24) for a good reaction to this play, too, as he stays home, flips his hips to close on Moreau and moves into position to intercept the pass. Anderson gets it simply because he's closer to the ball.
Bonus play 3: Second-and-9 from the Green Bay 29, second quarter, 2:52 left
Result: Strip-sack by CB Keisean Nixon
Nobody missed this key defensive play by Nixon, either, but did anybody catch the precursor? On the Saints' previous drive, it's second-and-13, and the Saints motion a man away from Nixon in the slot, who then blitzes and looks to have a free run at Rattler, only for the play to be blown dead because LT Taliese Fuaga (75) is whistled for a false start. Nixon is understandably bummed.
Fast forward to the ensuing drive, and the same blitz is called for Nixon. He rushes from the other side, but it's once again second-and-long, and the Saints motion a man away from Nixon in the slot. Here he comes, and nobody blocks him again. Jackpot.
