Figure 3 shows the Packers facing an opponent on second and long. The Packers only deploy two defensive linemen on this play, with Matthews (52) and another linebacker on the line of scrimmage as de-facto defensive ends. Woodson (21) appears to be covering the slot receiver, but there is evidence that he will blitz: a safety is behind him, ready to cover the receiver while Woodson attacks the quarterback.

At the snap, both defensive linemen slant hard to their right. Woodson, meanwhile, takes a very wide approach to the quarterback from his left. Woodson and the linemen are creating space for Matthews, who takes a hard inside move. With Woodson drawing the right tackle far to the outside and the rest of the offensive line sliding to their left, Matthews gets to face off against a right guard with lots of open field around them. No 320-pound guard is a match for Matthews with space to maneuver, and Matthews easily wrenches away from his blocker for a nine-yard sack.

In a blitz package like this, every defender has his role. If someone decides to freelance (for example, if Woodson decides to knife inside to get to the quarterback), he could lead blockers right to Matthews, upsetting the spacing and timing of the play. Capers is a master of both blitz design and teaching, and the veterans on the Packers defense rarely stray from the script. Capers’ sacks are even Vick-proof: the Packers sacked Michael Vick three times in just over a half in the season opener, and Capers now has the luxury of a week to prepare for Vick, not Kevin Kolb.

Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Vick’s running ability creates a variety of problems for defenses. One often overlooked effect of Vick’s scrambling: he takes away the opponent’s ability to play man coverage. When cornerbacks and safeties are covering receivers man-to-man, their backs are usually to the quarterback, making it impossible for them to stop a scrambling quarterback before he is already down the field. Zone defenders face the quarterback, making it easier for them to contain a runner like Vick. Unfortunately, the Eagles receivers excel at beating zone coverage by running deep routes against overmatched safeties.

Figure 4 shows the Eagles in a two-tight end set on first-and-10. At the snap, Vick (7) pivots to his right and fakes a handoff to sweeping running back LeSean McCoy (25). Vick then rolls to his left. The Eagles blockers slant to their right, as if blocking for McCoy, but tight end Brett Celek (87) runs a shallow crossing route, as if looking for a short pass from Vick. Meanwhile, the receivers run deep, with DeSean Jackson (10) streaking down field on a deep post route.

The defense is playing a Cover-2 zone, and both the fake handoff and the Vick rollout create a lot of stress. The linebackers are stretched across the field, one trying to readjust after chasing McCoy, one trying to contain both Vick and Celek. Worse yet, both cornerbacks are locked into their underneath zones. The cornerback covering Jackson froze when Vick faked a handoff to McCoy, meaning that he was unable to jam Jackson on the line and slow him down. No one is in any position to rush Vick, who has plenty of time to wait for Jackson to cut in front of the safety and outrun him. Vick’s throw is perfect, and the Eagles get yet another lightning-strike touchdown.

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The Packers like to prevent plays like this by sending blitzers off the edge, keeping Vick from rolling to an open launch point. The problem with tricky blitzes like those is that they leave the deep zones undermanned, giving Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and others too much room to roam. And if you keep blitzing from the outside, Vick will respond by running right up the middle. The Eagles' offense provides no easy answers.