The Green Bay Packers may have wrapped up their season, but the offseason provides plenty of opportunities to study what other teams are doing right. With no new film to analyze for Green Bay, the focus shifts to other teams still competing—and their innovative strategies. This includes taking a closer look at a particularly clever play from the Detroit Lions during their Divisional Round game against the Washington Commanders.
The play in question is a brilliant pitch/shovel combo that combines misdirection and precise execution to exploit defensive tendencies. Here’s how it worked:
The Lions lined up in a 2×2 formation with 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR). Jared Goff started in shotgun with running back David Montgomery to his left. Amon-Ra St. Brown, positioned off the right side of the formation, acted as if he was simply another blocker.
At the snap, Montgomery flared out to the left, catching a pitch from Goff. Meanwhile, wide receiver Tim Patrick initially appeared to block before heading upfield into the slot, and the right-side players—Christian Mahogany and St. Brown—pulled left to suggest an outside run. As linebackers shifted to cover Montgomery, he pitched the ball back inside to St. Brown, who followed Mahogany through the line for a 20-yard gain.
This play worked beautifully due to its ability to deceive the defense, forcing them to overcommit to the outside before hitting them inside. It’s creative, effective, and, most importantly, adaptable—making it a prime candidate for the Packers to adopt.
### How the Packers Can Use This Play
The Packers have already shown they can effectively run pitch plays, a prerequisite for incorporating this wrinkle. If they were to copy the Lions’ design outright, tight end Tucker Kraft would likely be the best fit for the role that St. Brown played. Although wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is a strong blocker, he typically operates differently in Green Bay’s formations, so Kraft feels like the more natural choice.
However, the Packers don’t need to limit themselves to a direct copy. By tweaking alignments and personnel, they can integrate the concept into their own style. One idea is to run it off their successful “Spinner” series—a versatile set of split-gun run plays the team leaned on heavily in 2024.
Variation 1: Kraft as the Shovel Target
With Josh Jacobs and Jayden Reed in the backfield, Reed could motion behind Jordan Love pre-snap before releasing to the flat. Jacobs would fake a handoff to the right before flaring left to catch a pitch from Love. As the defense flows outside, Jacobs could shovel the ball inside to Kraft, who follows the pulling right guard through the line.
Variation 2: Wicks as the Shovel Target
In another version, Wicks could shift into an insert position pre-snap, simulating his usual role as a blocker. Jacobs would execute the same fake, but this time he’d pitch the ball to Wicks instead of Kraft. This alignment makes the initial run fake even more believable, as it plays to Green Bay’s existing tendencies.
Why This Play Fits Green Bay
This pitch/shovel concept aligns with Green Bay’s preference for creative counters and misdirection, giving defenses yet another wrinkle to prepare for. By building it off their established Spinner series, the Packers wouldn’t need to overhaul their offense to make it work. Instead, they’d be adding a dynamic new option that takes advantage of their personnel and scheme.
While this is the type of play that might only be used once or twice in a season, its potential to catch defenses off guard makes it an exciting addition. With the Lions showcasing its effectiveness, don’t be surprised if the Packers—and other teams—find ways to make this clever concept their own in 2025.
Leave a Reply