Packers Vs. Vikings - 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm
Jersey Al picks out three thought-provoking plays from the Packers' last game.
By JerseyAl
After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons. In general, I either focus on a theme, more nuanced observations, or just things I didn't notice watching live. These can be but are less likely to be "highlight" plays. I present these to you with a short explanation why I picked them and then let you readers discuss the plays.
Morgan Whiffs - As I'm sure you know, Jordan Morgan started the game at right guard. After the first series, Anthony Belton came in for a series and then Morgan returned for the next series. It seemed like yet another Packers guard rotation was in the works, but after that series, Morgan was benched and only saw a few special teams snaps the rest of the way. Obviously, the coaches were not happy with his performance but would you like to see some specific visual evidence? Well you're in luck, because here it is. You're getting the bonus of a three-pack of Morgan in run blocking in this video. The first clip is the very first play of the game, where Morgan doesn't seem to know his assignment and ends up blocking no one. The second clip is the last play of that same series where Emanuel Wilson is forced to run over unblocked LB Blake Cashman for the touchdown, which luckily he does. Morgan either blocks the wrong player, or more likely, was supposed to fall off his help block and move to the linebacker. I believe Morgan over commits to the help block getting his head out over his skates and is in a bad body position to even get a hand on the hard charging Cashman. One of the beat reporters was silly enough to ask LaFleur if that Viking player was supposed to be there. LaFleur could have ridiculed the question but instead took the high road and just said, "ideally, he would be blocked." The final clip is from the second series Morgan was in and as you can see, it's another complete whiff from Morgan as he's not able to adjust his path on the run. In fairness to Morgan, his pass protection was fairly good, but against the run - woof!
Doubs punt return - There are two things here. First, I've been thinking about this for a few weeks now. The players the Packers are using as their kick returners (Romeo Doubs and Savion Williams) seem to be more interested in avoiding contact than they are gaining yardage. They are always seen running away from opportunities to "go for it" in favor of taking what's right in front of them. Savion Williams does this almost every time - stopping his forward progress and veering sideways at which point he is enveloped by a cadre of would-be tacklers. Romeo Doubs has quite an interesting approach to punt returns where he tends to catch the ball and then pause instead of taking off. If you stop the clip below right at the point Doubs catches the ball, what do you see? He catches the ball at his own 40 yard line. At that point, the Vikings' two gunners are being double-teamed by Packers blockers, and there are only three Vikings players on his side of the hash marks. Two are being blocked downfield and there is one unblocked Viking approximately 20 yards from Doubs. Instead of staying on that side of the hash marks and taking his chances on the one-on-one with the free running Viking, he decides to go to the other side of the field where the other 8 Vikings players are bearing down on him. At the very least, he would have gained 10-15 yards by going right at that free runner and maybe he's able to avoid him for a much bigger gain. But Doubs doesn't want to take a potential big hit and runs away (my opinion). The second thing is, what the hell is he doing holding the ball away from his body with one hand like a quarterback about to throw a pass on the run? I sure hope SOMEONE had a long talk with him about both these things when he got to the sideline.
3rd and 1 - So nothing spectacular (good or bad) happened on this play itself. It's not being featured to show you what someone did well or poorly. The reason I'm including this is the situation and the defensive alignment chosen is what made me go hmmm. The Vikings have a third and one on their own 26 yard line with 1:20 left in the half. On the Vikings' previous possession, the Packers brought in their short yardage defense and proceeded to successfully stop the Vikings on both third and one and fourth and one. The Packers brought Stackhouse in and tightened up their alignment with McDuffie filling the A gap. So why didn't they do the same thing on this play? If they at least try and stop them there, they get the ball back with plenty of time to try to get more points before the half and double up. I asked on twitter why the Packers would just concede a short yardage first down here and naturally, some knucklehead responded that it was because the Vikings were in two minute offense and it's not so easy to sub then. Well, I had to inform the poor soul (who naturally was not heard from again) that the Vikings actually ran 30 seconds off the clock before running that play, so um, plenty of time to sub. Therefore, I have to assume it was what Hafley decided to do and I'm just curious why.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (52)
jvole
November 25, 2025 at 01:50 pm
I hope Morgan is a better tackle than he is a guard or another whiff in the first round. Man, that was hard to rewatch.
LLCHESTY
November 25, 2025 at 02:04 pm
"I hope Morgan is a better tackle than he is a guard"
That remains to be seen but I don't think they should gamble next year on it. Unless there's a huge run on Ts that position has to be the pick in the 2nd next year.
jvole
November 25, 2025 at 02:10 pm
I had to look this up but it turns out that the degree of 'handedness', or whether one favors the left or right side, varies a lot among people. Morgan is hopefully just not comfortable on the right side of the line and would do better on the left. IDK, probably I'm grasping at straws.
Coldworld
November 25, 2025 at 02:28 pm
They said that of Nijman yet another team managed it. For some it takes longer than others but it’s usually a transition that can be made. By refusing to practice him at RT at all throughout summer, the coaching staff effectively ensured the RT option is moot for him this year (not that it stopped them trying it once).
Coldworld
November 25, 2025 at 02:14 pm
There a lot of competition for that pick. Corner comes to mind. I suppose we do get to see the likes of Williams and Glover return on the OL, but I wouldn’t rule out G or C as a need. Perhaps a WR with Watson and Reed going into their last years and precious little cap. No one seems to have developed on the OL recently.
Guam
November 25, 2025 at 02:49 pm
Assuming Jenkins is cut due to contract and the Packers lose Walker and Rhyan in free agency, I think the O-line is going to get some attention in this draft. I could see three picks on the OL with at least the third round pick if not the second rounder pick as part of the effort to reinvent the OL.
Tundraboy
November 27, 2025 at 12:12 am
Hell yeah. We have plenty of skill players, but need a better line to make it great.
LLCHESTY
November 25, 2025 at 05:44 pm
It's easier to find usable CBs later in the draft where the hit rate on Ts falls off quickly after the 2nd round.
The moderator on Acme already banned my new account for nothing more than complaining about the heavy handed moderation. I'm done over there for awhile, for the last week they've been wiping about half my comments, including totally football related ones, today was just the final straw. I commented to SFF I was done and they wiped his comment and mine, way over the top.
Coldworld
November 25, 2025 at 06:29 pm
Here is better anyway, except on game day. At least here people debate more.
I think the mangy fox is a double agent.
TKWorldWide
November 26, 2025 at 06:38 am
Bryan Bulaga said that playing guard is a lot different than tackle, and admitted he (Bulaga) was a terrible guard. Morgan played a lot of LT in training camp and in preseason, so hopefully the coaches have a pretty good idea of his ability there.
OTOH, who the heck knows?
T7Steve
November 25, 2025 at 02:03 pm
Really disappointed that Morgan didn't take the step I thought he would from last season to this. Really hope Belton gets dug in.
I didn't notice the Vikings on the punt returns while watching the game but, even before this game I'd been wondering why the returners were going sideways instead of up field? You can't make yardage going sideways and it makes it easier for your blockers to get out of position and thus penalties.
The only thing I can think of is that they were trying to prevent a last second score with a long pass. Defeated the purpose and took time away from the offense.
TKWorldWide
November 26, 2025 at 08:04 am
I think next year’s line will be Morgan LT Banks LG (someone not on the roster right now, but the next Creed Humphrey) at Center, RG Belton RT Tom.
Not too shabby? Maybe they’ll bring in a mid-tier veteran to play center. Maybe not. Maybe depends on Jacob Monk’s progress. Haven’t heard much about him lately.
NFLfan
November 25, 2025 at 02:03 pm
Wow.
Coldworld
November 25, 2025 at 02:08 pm
Some interesting observations, Al.
Doubs returning punts is far from ideal. Not that I want to see Reed back doing it when healthy either. When it first happened I assumed it was an emergency “safe” option. Yet here we are with a player who, this time last year, we thought might be in danger of losing his career to concussions. Moreover he’s not an obvious athletic candidate.
To be fair to Doubs, he has been safe. He has avoided injury and, as a result, has been exactly as you describe. I don’t see a better option on the roster or PS. Why? Hardman was not great. But when made available we wouldn’t use him. That suggests the coaches prefer Doubs. So back to … why?
Oh dear, that’s not an impressive set of clips. Morgan has been at G for a month or two now. How is he missing those assignments? It looks to me like he’s overcompensating for doubts over his own strength at times too? Oh how I wish we’d played Belton as a G from the spring and Morgan at T! To my eyes he’s just looking less and less like a G. He also doesn’t seem to have added strength between seasons. Is that because he was preparing for tackle? Our O Line coaching and personnel choices really leave me baffled.
If we learned anything from Sunday on D it’s that Brinson needs more time at 3T behind Wyatt and that Stackhouse needs to be used more situationally against teams running determinedly. It was Stackhouse who stopped the Giants scoring to take the lead. He’s not a 30 snap player, but he should be used to slow the run more readily. We don’t need to wait for a goal line stand to interrupt run led drives.
LLCHESTY
November 25, 2025 at 02:12 pm
Wahle did a breakdown of Rhyan's 1st start at C last week and on one of the plays Rhyan is tied up one on one with Lawrence and Morgan doesn't lay a finger on his man, who knocks Rhyan ass over tea kettle.
If they're going to continue to transition to more of a power/gap running game they need an OL coach that has spent a decade teaching it.
Razer
November 25, 2025 at 02:39 pm
... If they're going to continue to transition to more of a power/gap running game they need an OL coach that has spent a decade teaching it...
I am worried that O-line coaching may be a large contributing factor to our weak trench play. We are in year 3 of poor play from this group.
LLCHESTY
November 25, 2025 at 05:52 pm
Sorry, meant to link the video.
https://youtu.be/MJFMUwcdNkI?si=BgGo82xlFz8ly8F7
NFLfan
November 25, 2025 at 02:19 pm
I know there are 'factions' on this site, but the man/men who chose some of these OL players need(s) to take as much responsibility as the man/men who coach them---
Razer
November 25, 2025 at 02:36 pm
Totally agree. I thought they brought back James Campen to help scout O-line talent. Either way we need to do better with the raw material acquisition. If we don't have a starting caliber guard and center on the roster or on the PS then it is imperative that we draft them in 2026.
Vachio
November 25, 2025 at 06:23 pm
Coaching bears the majority of the blame. Anyone who gets to the NFL has enough physical talent and skill to be a competent player at whatever position they're playing. The worst guy on the worst roster in the league is still a world class athlete. If a coach cannot take a world class athlete and put them in position to be at least competent, that coach is not doing their job well enough.
Tundraboy
November 27, 2025 at 12:16 am
Great point.
Razer
November 25, 2025 at 02:30 pm
I don't know who sits in on O-line tape review but it can't be a fun party. When Mike Wahle breaks down post game you get a healthy dose of technique issues and missed assignments. You got to question our O-line coaching and offensive coordinator. At what point does the head coach sit down and ask why these guys aren't getting any better because poor trench play is the number one reason why this offense is sputtering.
CanPackFan
November 25, 2025 at 02:36 pm
GB should consider Mike W as Oline coach. He concentrates on technique and calls out players who are not betting the job done.
bjkdad44
November 25, 2025 at 09:42 pm
Wonder why 2 down votes?
barutanseijin
November 26, 2025 at 06:07 am
Have you ever heard of Matt Millen?
CanPackFan
November 25, 2025 at 02:45 pm
I always enjoy Jersey Al's observations.
Yes, Morgan is not a guard. I've always felt that the center and 2 guards should the best maulers on a team. The tackles can be more finesse guys but still need toughness. Our run game immediately got better with Rhyan at center. Give Belton the reps at guard over Morgan. When Walker leaves in FA, slot Morgan at tackle.
I also shake my head at the punt returners. My theory is that Rich B is so scared to create a turnover that he puts sure handed guys out there to concentrate on the catch vs the return yards. It's ultra conservative and likely falls into LaFleurs comfort zone. But it's so non-aggressive! I'd love to see Bo Melton do punt returns. He's not shy about contact and has those good, WR hands. IMHO. GPG
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 04:13 pm
Walker isn’t going anywhere he will have the same address unless he decides to upgrade his place in GRREN BAY area
deepsouth
November 25, 2025 at 04:42 pm
I don't know if we can or should keep Walker
but I have less confidence in Morgan. I see him
as a guy who could be a decent back up left
tackle and that's about all. If we don't have Walker
next year we better have a plan to draft his replace-
ment or make a trade. I agree that we should have
mined practice squads for a punt returner and we
still can.
Packers0808
November 25, 2025 at 05:06 pm
Beat me too it, Melton is who comes to mind. Hell he plays two ways, who more too trust returning punts!
LeotisHarris
November 25, 2025 at 05:52 pm
.
splitpea1
November 25, 2025 at 03:24 pm
Play 2: I've never seen a punt returner (Doubs) behave this way; that long of a hesitation will almost assure that nothing good will happen. As pointed out, the vision isn't there and he makes exactly the wrong decision. All this is proof that the Packers don't take special teams as seriously as they should. You can still find a decent punt returner on other teams' practice squad, but i don't think the Packers want to burn a roster spot just for that purpose. Doubs shouldn't be out there anyway just for his value of being a top receiver on the team.
jannesbjornson
November 25, 2025 at 09:08 pm
Let Anderson handle the punt returns.
bjkdad44
November 25, 2025 at 09:44 pm
In total agreement!!!
Tundraboy
November 27, 2025 at 12:38 am
Yes it's pure stupidity.
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 04:06 pm
We won and ran for 146.
On to the next game.
Minnesota defense is all about guesses ..they change things up
I’m more concerned about losing 2 games if not 3
Browns. Panthers
We would be 9-2.
But that’s behind us. Need to win on out
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 04:08 pm
I’m wondering how the Vikings beat the lions with McCarthy at qb
How he beat the bears once
Time for the offense to set up and put the hammer down
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 04:11 pm
The NFC west has the easiest schedule in the league .
Maybe 3 teams from that division get in..
Time to button up the chin strap and make some things happen
EricTorkelson
November 25, 2025 at 05:21 pm
JersyAl ... Morgans 1st rep not his fault OL were slanting right and S Rhyan went left... 2nd and third reps he missed badly.
Morgan has always been a left tackle let him rotate with Walker who has been average at best..
Doubs is definitely avoiding contact and concussion fear is probably the reason... I want to see Wicks as the number 2
Leatherhead
November 25, 2025 at 06:02 pm
We haven’t had a turnover on a return yet, and we haven’t lost a returner to injury. That’s a win, imo. Anything else is just gravy.
Belton was considered to be a mauler. Morgan is our probable starting LT next year. Jenkins isn’t going to be a lot more costly than Banks. We still have Glover and Monk.
Draft a Center, move Jenkins back to guard, play Belton at RG, Tom at RT, and Morgan at LT
PeteK
November 25, 2025 at 06:11 pm
I'm liking what I see ,even with limited playing time, from a young Ryan at C.
EricTorkelson
November 26, 2025 at 07:11 am
Agree PeteK Rhyan needs to stay at center, and forget about moving Jenkins back to guard his career at GB is coming to an end
LLCHESTY
November 26, 2025 at 04:19 pm
Once again your predictions are worth a chuckle. Wasn't hard to see Jenkins let his contract standoff effect his season. Way too many little to no effort plays, no way the Packers welcome him back.
Maybe Morgan is the starting LT next year but I sure hope they don't count on it. If he plays LT like he plays G he could jeopardize the season. IMO the 2nd round pick must be used to draft a T and have a competition there. There were way too many ruined plays where Morgan doesn't touch anyone. I didn't really think that was possible playing inside but he has proved it can happen. There still a chance he could turn out to be good player but the clock is ticking and he'll have to put in ally of work this off-season to get there.
Starrbrite
November 25, 2025 at 07:46 pm
My comment completely agrees with Al concerning the PR/KR circumstance. I wondered if anyone else noticed or was concerned with the situation?
Personally, I don’t believe Savion or Romeo should be making returns.
As AL pointed out, there is a hesitation, followed by a poor flight path. We need a change.
I like Melton as a potential KR. As for PR—I don’t know?—Nixon I guess? But risking an injury to a starting CB is dicey.
Go Packers!!!
Starrbrite
November 25, 2025 at 07:57 pm
Wups—meant melton as PR and maybe Nixon as KR.
Bsantoro112
November 25, 2025 at 09:10 pm
The video on Morgan is alarming and for a 1st round pick disappointing.
God I hope he’s a better tackle than a guard and that pick wasn’t a complete whiff.
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 09:32 pm
How about this
The video is alarming of Micah
Running over a pro bowl center
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 09:22 pm
Morgan fine. 1st year of really playing in the NFL…
he missed assignment like most do in school
Just need some brushing up.
The dudes young
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 09:24 pm
Draft and develop
Donald Driver started out this way
I believe D Adams did also. Draft and develop
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 09:28 pm
Someone answer this
Guty went put and beefed up the o line. And it’s paying off to this point. Could it be better. Sure. Could it be worse. Yup
But we should be only with one loss
So all the crap being said. I would say we are in the mix of it all.
Just get win what. 818 of all time regular season something that That’s what matters
Snap the ball
November 25, 2025 at 09:31 pm
Jacob’s hopefully back.
Reed
Golden
Watson
Doubs
Wicks
Heath
Someone is open with that group
Kraft would look good here to but others stepping up
Wilson
Brooks
The South Dakota kid running back
Lloyd hopefully soon
MooPack
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Never a big fan of the Jordan Morgan pick. Should have taken Cooper DeJean in the 1st as a couple of other posters have mentioned (and I was calling for at the time) and King Sua in the 2nd after Edge Cooper. Would have had no need for Banks atrocious contract.
Putting the two guys that have the concussion helmets as punt returners is just asinine. They are tentative for a reason.
NFLfan
November 25, 2025 at 10:42 pm
.