When Packers pack heat, it means pistol formation
The creativity of the Green Bay Packers’ offense revolves around more than intricate variations of the route tree, providing a complex wrinkle for the Texans’ defense to ponder heading into Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.
The Packers used a pistol formation in Monday’s 27-13 victory at Philadelphia, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers lined up in the backfield along with wide receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery and tight end Jared Cook.
The triple-option plays designed by Packers coach Mike McCarthy involves Rodgers faking dive runs up the middle to Montgomery along with the options of the quarterback keeping it himself, passing or pitching it to Cobb.
It adds an element of unpredictability to the Packers’ playbook. They can run the same plays from under center or the shotgun formation, making it difficult to study tendencies and pick up keys.
“Very difficult to defend,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Mike is a very creative offensive coach. They line up in that pistol. They line up in a three-back look, like an inverted wishbone with the quarterback in the gun. It’s hard to decipher which direction they’re going and things like that.
“How to call the strength of their offense relative to your defense, how to get the people lined up. We’ve practiced hard. We know it’s going to be a challenge, but we know that it’s also a challenge that we’re looking forward to.”
Rodgers is a dangerous runner even though he’s dealing with a hamstring issue. He has rushed for 285 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He has 20 rushing first downs this season.
The Texans are stressing assignment football to get prepared for the pistol.
“That’s part of football,’ Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. “They’re just dressing it up in a different way and then moving guys from one side and stacking them together, and it makes you have to think about those responsibilities and how you’re going to handle it.
“So, because we’ve seen it, it’s easier to prepare for. I think if you haven’t seen it and it gets thrown on you, then that’s more difficult. But I think that we’ll be in pretty good position to try to slow those guys down.”
Team happy to have Blue back
When backup running back Alfred Blue rejoined his teammates at Texans practice Thursday after missing two games with a calf injury, he was the subject of a warm welcome and some goodnatured jokes.
“I heard a lot of guys calling my name, saying, ‘Welcome back, Blue,’ ” he said. “I’m excited to be back out there helping my team. I’m feeling good, back to normal, back to myself.”
A valuable reserve with a powerful running style, Blue has rushed for 225 yards and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Without Blue during losses to the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, the Texans’ short-yardage running game struggled.
Blue expects to play Sunday to spell starter Lamar Miller.
“I’ve been messing with him for the past two weeks now, but it’s good to have him back,” Miller said. “I was just telling him that we need him back.”
At 6-2 and 225 pounds, Blue provides size and toughness for the backfield.
“He practiced, looked pretty good out there,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “So, it would be good if we had him back.”
Jackson fined $24,309 for hit
Veteran cornerback Kareem Jackson was fined $24,309 by the NFL for his hit on San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman.
Jackson plans to appeal the fine.
Jackson knocked off Inman’s helmet during a 25-yard reception in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 21-13 loss, but he didn’t appear to make contact with his head during a diving tackle.
“No, they didn’t explain it,” Jackson said. “Didn’t say launching or anything.”
Illness keeps Hal out of practice
Starting free safety Andre Hal didn’t practice for the second consecutive day due to an illness.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien has said he expects Hal to be fine for Sunday’s game.
Defensive end Antonio Smith was upgraded to full participation after missing practice Wednesday with a hip injury.