Matt LaFleur Fails Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers
As Robbie Gould’s field goal spilt the uprights sealing the 49ers 13-10 upset of the Green Bay Packers, the blame game began immediately. Of course much blame fell on the Packer’s star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. For the MVP front runner to score just 10 points at home is disappointing, even with the challenging weather conditions. Yet the blame shouldn’t fall 100% on the shoulders of Rodgers. Rather, much of the blame, in fact the overwhelming majority of the blame, can be squarely levied against Packer’s head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur, billed as an outstanding offensive play-caller and game planner, was thoroughly out schemed and outcoached by his opponent.
As the weather deteriorated it became clear that offensive success would involve the ground game and short passes. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recognized this, and used numerous schemes to manufacture productive offensive plays. The first example was to use All-Pro Tackle Trent Williams as a blocking fullback. On this play Williams started behind the left tackle, went in motion before the snap, and then led the way on a key third down carry by 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell. Williams demolished one Packer defender before knocking back a second.
Shanahan dialed up another unique play call later in the game. Shanahan had versatile fullback Kyle Juszczyk lineup behind left guard. The left guard pulled to his right, kicking out the defensive tackle, and Juszczyk took the handoff and went up the field for a good gain. This is a simple “trap” concept used at every level of football but is uncommon in today’s NFL. Shanahan knew this and took advantage and manufactured another big gain. Putting Williams in motion and using him as a lead blocker and reviving a simple trap concept revealed the kind of creativity that separated great coaches from the average.
LaFleur had no such creative play calls or strategies. By the second half the 49ers had began double teaming the Packer’s star receiver Davante Adams, all but eliminating him. The Packers tried running the ball, but the 49ers stout front 7, lead by Nick Bosa, handled the Green Bay running attack. Green Bay ran for just 67 yards and averaged 3.4 yards per attempt for the game. By doubling Adams, Rodgers was forced to look for second options. The 49ers were able to lock down the rest of the options and Green Bay receivers not named Davante Adams only had 6 yards receiving in the whole game.
Matt LaFleur saw the struggles his offensive was having as the 49ers reacted to Adams and keyed on the ground game. But unlike his counterpart, Kyle Shanahan, LaFleur had no creative answer. By the end of the game, Rodgers was forced to throw the ball up to Adams in double coverage, or to hold on to the ball and take sacks. The playbook had run dry and unless Rodgers could create some magic out of nothing, the Green Bay offense would struggle. In this moment, a creative and adaptive play caller could have saved the Packers. But LaFleur was either woefully unprepared or incapable. And it cost the Packers a Super Bowl opportunity.