The Green Bay Packers are quietly rolling out a new wrinkle in their offense, a “Dash motion” that might look simple on the surface but is setting up something far more intricate. While the initial payoffs have been modest, watching how they’re building this play package is a masterclass in strategic setup. It’s all about getting a defense to bite, then hitting them with the counter.
Unpacking the Dash: What It Is and How It’s Used
So what is this “Dash motion” all about? Picture this: a blocker goes into a long, looping motion behind the line before the snap. It’s not your typical straight-line shuffle, more of an arc. Then, at the snap, that blocker immediately heads towards the line and, you guessed it, blocks. It’s a hybrid move, kinda like Orbit motion meets a tight end motion block. The 49ers, for example, used this with Kyle Juszczyk to attack different parts of the line, keeping the Rams defense off balance during their drubbing in Australia. The idea is to create confusion, right?
The Packers have started experimenting with it too, using it a handful of times against the Vikings. Mark Redman [86] was usually the Dash blocker, kicking out the End Man On Line (EMOL) while Jacob Monk [62] pulled from his left guard spot. The handoff would go to the running back, who’d burst behind this protection. They ripped off a nice run with it early, but overall, the results were “middling,” as the source puts it. Here’s where it gets interesting: a pattern quickly emerged. Every time the Packers used Dash motion, the outside defender from Redman’s original side would blitz. Isaiah Rodgers [2] was one of those guys, making a beeline for the backfield.
The Slant Setup and What Comes Next
This isn’t just about a new run play; it’s about the setup. The Packers noticed that auto-blitz tendency. A few plays later, they showed the Vikings the exact same look: Redman in Dash motion, kicking out the EMOL, Monk pulling, and Rodgers blitzing. They were laying the groundwork.
Then, on the very next drive, they changed it up just enough to test the theory. They were still using Dash motion, but this time Josh Whyle [81] was the motion man, and Matthew Golden [0] lined up wide outside where Whyle had been. The play call was a direct challenge: are the Vikings automatically blitzing the boundary when Dash motion hits? If that was the case, the Packers were ready with a counter. Golden was set to run a slant right behind that blitzing defender. Rodgers, to his credit, hid his intentions until the snap, but as soon as the ball was snapped, he was gone, heading straight for the backfield. Jordan Love [10] took a quick glance and saw him coming.
This kind of subtle play design is what early season football is all about. The Packers are installing new concepts and then immediately testing the defensive reactions. Expect to see this Dash motion package expand in the coming weeks. If defenses don’t adjust to their blitz tendencies, Green Bay is clearly ready to punish them for it. Every NFL team should be watching this closely, because what the Packers are doing with this motion could be a real problem for unprepared secondaries.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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