GREEN BAY – The ground game was a tough slog for the Packers in the early stages against the Eagles in Brazil.
Top running back Josh Jacobs had just four net yards on his first six carries.
But the Packers adjusted in the second quarter to how the Eagles were playing the run, and the ground game was very effective thereafter.
Here's a breakdown of how it transpired.
Play No. 1: First-and-10 from the Philadelphia 42, first quarter, 12:59 left
Result: 4-yard run by Jacobs
This is actually the most successful early run by Jacobs, but it's also a good example of how the Eagles were playing the run and making the Packers struggle. Typically, with their zone-scheme runs, the Packers like to start with double-team blocks (also called combo blocks) up front, and then one of the linemen in the combo peels off to block a defender at the second level. But early on, the Eagles' second-level defenders are more in attack mode, shooting gaps, and the Packers are a little slow coming off the combo blocks to get to them. Here, LB Nakobe Dean (17) shoots the A gap. C Josh Myers (71) gets just enough of him to disrupt his path, but it's an aggressive defensive move. He's not scraping down the line to get to where the ball carrier is headed. Also, LT Rasheed Walker (73) stays on his combo block a tad too long and doesn't get to LB Zach Baun (53) soon enough for Jacobs to get more yardage.
Play No. 2: Third-and-1 from the Philadelphia 4, first quarter, 5:27 left
Result: 1-yard loss by Jacobs
Goal-to-go running and run defense can be a little different, but here again is Dean shooting a gap, or run blitzing. Myers and RG Jordan Morgan (77) are executing a double-team, but nobody comes off to get Dean. LG Elgton Jenkins (74) has thrown the block on Baun to give Jacobs a visible hole, but he can't get to it.
Play No. 3: Fourth-and-2 from the Philadelphia 5, first quarter, 4:44 left
Result: 2-yard run by Jacobs
Very next play, the Packers are going for it, and Dean is continuing in full-on attack mode. He shoots the gap again, and Myers is just a hair late coming off the combo block. Fortunately, Jacobs has enough speed to slip past Dean's tackle attempt in the backfield, and TE Luke Musgrave (88) comes off his combo block with TE Tucker Kraft (85) in time to get a piece of Baun, allowing Jacobs to make it first-and-goal.
In the second quarter, the Packers adjust on the ground. How? A couple of ways, by either pulling linemen in more of a gap-blocking scheme than a zone one -- an alternative typically tried in most games regardless -- or practically neglecting the combo blocks to get linemen to the second level right quick. Or both.
Play No. 4: Second-and-10 from the Green Bay 30, second quarter, 12:33 left
Result: 14-yard run by RB Emanuel Wilson
Here's the first run of the second quarter, and RG Sean Rhyan is pulling from right to left to take on OLB Josh Sweat (19). That allows Kraft to ignore Sweat right in front of him and head straight for Baun. Also, Walker doesn't bother with the double-team and gets right on Dean. It's a completely different approach to running the ball compared to what the Packers showed, and struggled with, in the first quarter. Wilson's read and cuts are textbook, and he makes S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) miss downfield with the help of some interference from WR Jayden Reed (11). Without a slip onto his backside, Wilson would've gained even more yards.
Play No. 5: Second-and-5 from the Green Bay 49, second quarter, 11:13 left
Result: 18-yard run by Wilson
Two plays later, more pulling, more immediate work on the second level. Both Rhyan and Kraft pull this time, taking out Sweat and Dean, respectively. Walker goes right at Baun, and the hole is just where it's drawn up for Wilson.
Play No. 6: First-and-10 from the Philadelphia 47, third quarter, 2:33 left
Result: 22-yard run by Jacobs
That success with the running game continues in the second half. No pulling linemen here, but the Packers go with just one combo block – by Morgan and RT Zach Tom (50) – instead of two. Myers doesn't bother to double-team with Jenkins and instead goes right for Baun, making him change course and slam right into crashing S Tristin McCollum (36). Dean either misreads the play or is taking an outside gap and being replaced by McCollum in the run fit. Either way, he takes himself out of the play.
Play No. 7: First-and-10 from the Philadelphia 24, fourth quarter, 10:11 left
Result: 9-yard run by Wilson
One more for good measure, as the Packers have re-established their inside zone concept by not worrying as much about combo blocks, counting on guys to win one-on-one, and getting hats to the second level. It's a stalemate at the line, Jenkins takes on Baun, Myers takes on Dean, and Wilson hops over Gardner-Johnson's ankle-tackle attempt for a nice gain.
