Packers Passing Chronicles: Tucker Kraft Dances for 6

Packers Passing Chronicles: Tucker Kraft Dances for 6
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Celebrating National Tight Ends Day in style

The Green Bay Packers walked out of Jacksonville with a victory and a nice 6-2 record. But at what cost?

Jordan Love was hobbled early in the game and was practically immobile when he got pulled from the game in the 3rd quarter. With Love limited physically, the Packers were also limited in what they could run offensively. They eventually turned to Malik Willis - who hit a huge play on the game-winning drive - but Love took the bulk of the snaps, so that’s where we’ll focus today.

Despite the interception, Love didn’t have a terrible day. His actual completion percentage was 63.6%, but his adjusted completion percentage was 75% (factoring in 1 drop and 2 throwaways). That’s his 3rd highest mark of the season. Not too shabby for a guy who couldn’t move and was chucking the ball. Per PFF, Love posted an ADOT (Average Depth of Target) of 10.1, his 2nd highest mark of the season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t blitz much as a team, and they didn’t change that philosophy this week, even against a statuesque Jordan Love. They only blitzed on 3 of Love’s dropbacks (13.6%). On those dropbacks, Love was 3/3 for 49 yards, with an average time to throw of 2.4 seconds and an ADOT of 10.3. Get the ball out quickly and push it downfield. Sounds about right.

At this point, Love is more than capable of running the offense as a pocket passer, but not when he was as limited as he was in this game. I love seeing all the fun stuff LaFleur cooks up for Malik Willis, but here’s to hoping Love can get back to 100% sooner rather than later.

Let’s get to the film. Earlier this week I took a deep dive into the 51 yard pass from Malik Willis to Jayden Reed off the Leak concept, so check that out if you haven’t already.

For our play today, we’re looking at the TD to Tucker Kraft off a really cool concept.

On the second play of the 4th quarter, the Jaguars were looking at 3rd & 7 from their own 14-yard line, facing Edgerrin Cooper - a real-life monster in the form of a man - blitzing over the center. The line held initially, but all men eventually give way to creatures of myth, so Cooper broke through and brought down Trevor Lawrence, punching out the ball in the process.

The Packers took over at the Jaguars 5 yard line, leading 20-17. After a 2 yard Josh Jacobs run on 1st down, they were facing 2nd & goal from the 3.

They come out in a heavy, 12 personnel look (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR), with the tight ends in a YY Wing alignment (both in-line to the same side of the formation). The two WRs are aligned wide to the left. Josh Jacobs [8] is the lone running back, aligned behind Malik Willis [2].

The line sells...