Why Was De’Vondre Campbell Covering Bijan Robinson on Key Third Down?

Packers coach Matt LaFleur delivered an excellent explanation of how the Falcons created a key third-down conversion on their game-winning drive.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – With 5 minutes to play and the Green Bay Packers nursing a 24-22 lead on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons faced a critical third-and-3.

If the Packers could get a stop, they’d have a chance to run out the clock. If the Falcons could get a first down, they’d have a chance to win the game.

The Falcons got that first down – easily – and won the game.

On the big play, Falcons coach Arthur Smith got electric rookie running back Bijan Robinson matched one-on-one against Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. With Campbell, a 2021 All-Pro, lined up several yards off Robinson, quarterback Desmond Ridder had an easy pitch-and-catch completion for 10 yards.

Late fourth quarter. Third and 3. Falcons right outside FG range. Packers up two.

Middle linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, of all people, lines up 10 yards off Bijan Robinson on the perimeter.

Easy first down on a slant for the guy who did what he wanted all day. pic.twitter.com/hAVxqND9td

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 17, 2023

What happened?

“We were in man coverage, they had the back out at No. 1, they saw that it was man coverage and they checked to the play,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Monay. “That happens in football and it happens every week.”

LaFleur would know. A week earlier at Chicago, Green Bay had a fourth-and-3 at Chicago’s 35. LaFleur got his star running back, Aaron Jones, matched against Chicago’s excellent linebacker, T.J. Edwards. Jones won his route, caught the ball in stride and raced untouched for a 35-yard touchdown.

Jones’ touchdown helped put away the Bears. Robinson’s catch helped position the Falcons for a chip-shot field goal to put the Falcons in front 25-24 with 57 seconds to go.

“There’s certain things you can do from a defensive standpoint that we’ll take a look at,” LaFleur said. “But credit to them. They saw the man look and they got to the right play.”

Packers LB De'Vondre Campbell tackles Falcons RB Bijan Robinson :: Photo by Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports Images

What’s the alternative? Could the Packers have adjusted their personnel and shifted a safety over to Robinson to create a better athletic matchup?

Yes, but at the risk of chaos.

“Sure, you can check out of it. You can check out of it but there’s some moving parts to that now, because if you check and they check and you’ve got guys running all over the place, you can get gutted in other ways,” LaFleur said.

“So, it’s just a chess match. It always is. Good plays are going to happen on both sides of the ball. They are. And some bad plays are going to happen on both sides of the ball.”

Campbell is an excellent player. In his two-plus seasons with the Packers, he’s won more than he’s lost in coverage. In this case, based on scheme and matchup, Campbell didn’t have a prayer.

“That’s just the way football is, and credit to them,” LaFleur continued. “They had a good matchup there. I know Dre can guard that. The thing that they did, same as we have in our offense, is they ran the No. 2 guy on what we call a stomp route and it kind of creates interference for Dre.

“We call it a natural rub route or a pick, [which is legal] as long as he doesn’t make contact with Dre. It’s challenging for the linebacker in that situation. What is the concept? They checked to the correct concept and they beat us on that play.”

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