Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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This is Vitale’s other reception in the game, and it’s Rodgers’ smarts and guile at the line that make it happen. After shifting Vitale from the backfield to line up as an offset tight end, Rodgers uses his cadence to draw a “tell” out of the defense. Specifically, LBs Morrow and Phillips both give away that they’re coming on a blitz up the middle. After he’s telegraphed the blitz, Morrow even gestures with his right arm in a “gosh darnit” sort of way, because he knows he’s given Rodgers too much information and it’s too late to change the call. What does Rodgers know? With the linebackers attacking, DE Benson Mayowa (91) is the only player who can cover Vitale in the right flat from his new alignment, and with two cover guys on that side of the field across from Green Bay’s two wideouts, Vitale will be one-on-one. The middle blitz comes, Rodgers gets the ball out in a flash, and Vitale has all kinds of green grass in front of him. Here the Raiders were no match for Rodgers’ brain.
Play No. 3: Third-and-8 from the Green Bay 45, second quarter, 8:04 left