Green Bay Packers: Under the Scope (Week 3)

Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Palmer Earning His Job

It seems like linebacker Nate Palmer is intriguing fans on a weekly basis. He performed very well in run support against Jamaal Charles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s draw our attention to one play in particular. The Chiefs take over on offense on their own 20-yard line, late in the first quarter. A screen play is called for Charles and a timely one at that. The Packers blitz, bringing six defenders to pressure the quarterback who gets the ball out just in time. Palmer is left alone in coverage closest to the line of scrimmage and he is responsible for covering Charles. Charles catches the screen and sees a blocker out in front. Nothing but daylight up ahead.

Palmer is able to skillfully shed his blocker, force Charles to hesitate, and enforce enough leverage to push him out of bounds. The Chiefs had two more blockers ready to help and leading the way. This is a huge play by Palmer who saved the Packers from having Charles run wild in the open field against very few defenders.

A play that does not matter much on the stat sheet went a long way in preventing the much-talented Chiefs running back from shredding the field for a monstrous gain. Everything was there – the pass, the lane, the blocking, the help. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, so was Nate Palmer.

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