Accuracy

Garoppolo was once again up and down with accuracy. On a 3rd and 2 on the first drive of the game, Aaron Dobson is open for a first down on a quick out route, but Garoppolo misses behind him.

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These types of misses will result in interceptions in the regular season. However, just like the first preseason game, Garoppolo bounced back and improved his accuracy throughout the game. A 2nd quarter out throw to Martellus Bennett is exactly where the ball needs to be on this type of plays:

Progression

Garoppolo continued to work through his progression and find 3rd and 4th options for completions as opposed to locking onto only one option. This will be a critical skill in the regular season. Here, Garoppolo looks off several reads before finding Chris Hogan and A.J Derby for substantial gains twice during the 2-minute drill :

Pocket Presence & Footwork

Garoppolo took a bad sack on the first drive of the first preseason game because he failed to climb the pocket and step up when he needed to. This past week Garoppolo stepped up with excellent footwork to buy himself time, kept his eyes downfield, and found an open receiver on multiple occasions:

Below is the end zone angle showing the same footwork to climb the pocket:

Decision Making

Garoppolo had his fair share of poor decisions in the first preseason game, whether it was failing to throw the ball away or throwing the ball back across the middle late. He made one bad decision almost resulting in an interception in the second game:

However, he did not take sacks where he should have thrown the ball away and was also able to process the defense quickly and make an instant decision when there was an extra rusher and the coverage vacated:

Overall, Garoppolo was better in the second preseason game. He made fewer bad decisions and more positive plays. Graroppolo has shown ability to go through progressions and make reads, but still needs to be more consistent with his accuracy.

The post Jimmy Garoppolo: Breaking down the 2nd preseason game appeared first on Syed Schemes.

Minnesota is in a base 4-3 Cover 2 look, with both Safeties responsible for one “Deep-Half” of the field, and each of the Cornerbacks and linebackers taking an underneath zone for five defenders across underneath:

The Offensive Line sells Outside Zone left very well, and Rodgers starts the play with an excellent Play-Action fake, drawing the eyes of the Safety that would be immediately affected:

Next, Rodgers goes through his progression and uses his eyes to affect defenders. Rodgers looks at his first read and checks both Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson and Safety Harrison Smith, who is in good position with a 10-yard cushion. Meanwhile, the Safety originally affected by the Play Action has flipped his hips to go back to his coverage responsibility

Rodgers then goes to his next read, the 2nd Safety. Here is where the play design works to perfection. The Play Action and Randall Cobb’s Post-Dig route has drawn the attention of the 2nd Safety. Even though the Cornerback is in good position to play the route, the 2nd Safety comes up to play the route because he does not feel his Deep-Half is threatened. In this freeze frame, it is not, because Jordy Nelson is stemming toward the corner. Vikings Safety Harrison Smith (#22) commits to this stem and breaks on the route

GIve credit to the Packers’ Offensive Line; this is a long developing play, and without them Rodgers would not be able to go through his progression in a clean pocket for this much time. Rodgers sees the 2nd Safety breaking towards Randall Cobb, but knows Jordy Nelson is going to break back to the Post. Rodgers baits the 2nd Safety into believing he wants to throw the ball to Cobb, which creates a giant void behind the 2nd Safety

In addition to the great Offensive Line play, Packers WR Jordy Nelson (#87) sets up Vikings Safety Harrison Smith with a great route. At this point, 1/2 of the field is completely vacant, and Nelson has beat the safety. The video below puts together the progression of the play, first in slow motion, then standard speed:

The Sting Route combined with the Dig can be used as a 1 safety or 2 safety beater. Against Cover 1 or 3, the offense reads the single high safety. If the single high safety stays deep, the dig underneath is the throw, and if the safety bites up, the Sting route is the throw.

However, against Cover 2 either the Quarterback must control the backside safety with play action and his eyes, or the dig route must occupy him to create a 1 on 1 matchup with the safety defending the Sting route.

Many factors go into this Touchdown. Aaron Rodgers shows why he is one of the very best Quarterbacks in the game, the Offensive Line protects him for ample time, and Nelson runs a great sting route. Other NFL Analysts breaking down the Sting Route (#8).

The post Rodgers Play Action Progression leads to long Jordy Nelson Sting Route TD appeared first on Syed Schemes.