Field Access: How a shovel pass set up Aaron Jones’ long touchdown run

Jim Owczarski | Packers News

Our "Field Access" series takes you onto the field for an inside look at how the Packers executed a key play or plays.

GREEN BAY - Tyler Ervin had last touched the ball on offense in 2018, when he caught three passes for 35 yards as a member of the Houston Texans. His last catch had come Oct. 25 of that year, and went for four yards. He had last carried the ball Sept. 24, 2017 — a rush that also went for four yards.

Yet when the Green Bay Packers claimed Ervin off waivers from Jacksonville on Dec. 3, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur noted his ability on offense.

“I got a chance to watch a little bit of tape on him,” LaFleur said then. “He's an elusive guy. He's got some juice. He's pretty fast. I also like his versatility in terms of being able to add some depth to our running back position. He's played a little bit in the slot as well."

It easily could have been passed off as typical complimentary coach speak, but after two games LaFleur elected to deploy Ervin on offense in the Packers’ most important regular season game since 2016 on Monday night.

And on the Packers’ fourth play from scrimmage, the first play of their second possession after an Aaron Jones fumble led to a Minnesota field goal, there was Ervin set just behind wide receiver Davante Adams to the right of the Packers’ offensive formation.

Jamaal Williams was set off of Rodgers’ left hip in the shotgun, while tight end Jimmy Graham was off left tackle David Bakhtiari’s outside shoulder. Wide receiver Allen Lazard also had a short split to the left.

Packers vs. Vikings: Tyler Ervin carry Tyler Ervin's first play on offense for the Packers in 2019 set up a bigger play later in the game.

The Packers have employed two-back sets before with Williams and Jones and like using a motioning back as a receiving option. That was the case here, as Ervin motioned from right to left after the snap. Aaron Rodgers shoveled him the ball and he turned around the left side for a modest six-yard gain behind the blocking of Graham, Williams, Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins.

On that play, Minnesota linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr flowed with Ervin’s action.

The Packers would go on to punt, but the play call was intentional. Very intentional.

“It was a bit of a set up there,” a grinning Graham told PackersNews.com.

The same formation and personnel grouping were used on first-and-10 at the Minnesota 45 in the second quarter, except Ervin and Adams were to the left, Graham and Lazard to the right and Williams off Rodgers’ right hip.

Packers vs. Vikings: Fake to Tyler Ervin It looks like the same play from earlier in the game, and Tyler Ervin's motion indicates some tells in the Vikings defense.

With Ervin’s motion right, Vikings corner Mackensie Alexander and Barr shifted with him to their left. At the snap, Kendricks also took a step to his left. Graham pulled back across behind the line of scrimmage however and Williams took the handoff. But the slight steps off by the linebackers allowed a 5-yard run and the Vikings began to show some tells on how they were going to react to Ervin.

“It’s something that goes into what makes LaFleur pretty special, is that he does have these things early in the game to see try and see how guys are going to play us,” Graham continued. “And then going into the half, we have other plays off that depending on what they did. His ability to adjust during the game, his ability to have plays in there that are obviously gains but are really more telling us how they’re going to play something.”

Ervin appeared on four offensive snaps which weren’t kneel downs during the game, the last of which was a mirrored formation of his first one and with different personnel in the fourth quarter.

“Oh he sees it — Matt knows how to set people up,” Aaron Jones told PackersNews.com. “You can do anything out of those sets.”

And LaFleur did with about six minutes to go in the game and the Packers nursing a 17-10 lead. Ervin lined up behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling to Rodgers’ left. Tight end Robert Tonyan was off right tackle Bryan Bulaga’s outside shoulder, receiver Jake Kumerow with a short split further right. Jones set up to the right of Rodgers.

Packers vs. Vikings: Fake to Tyler Ervin on Aaron Jones TD run Once again Tyler Ervin goes in motion and the Vikings' react, giving Aaron Jones some space for a touchdown run.

Ervin motioned across as before, but this time Jones cut behind him the opposite direction tight to Rodgers’ chest. Minnesota linebacker Kentrell Brothers took a couple steps left and safety Jayron Kearse followed Ervin at the motion. Linebacker Eric Wilson hesitated at the play fake and defensive end Danielle Hunter also slowed at the line of scrimmage to see who was doing what with the ball.

Lazard watched from the sideline and said “It looked like (the first play). It was definitely something close to it.”

It gave Jones the free run to begin the play he needed to break off a 56-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory.

“Coach is a smart offensive mind,” Jones said. “I don’t even know what to say half the time.”

For Jones that doesn’t end with the calls themselves, as they’ve been part of the playbook all year. Rather it was the decision to put Ervin in that spot in the first place.

It was Ervin’s first action on offense overall since getting one snap for Jacksonville on Oct. 20.

“I got the call (Monday),” Ervin said with a small smile. “It’s been a minute on offense. So I’m just glad for the opportunity.”

LaFleur once again proved he’s willing to use any personnel to win the game at hand, but the head coach wasn’t the only one who knew a bit about Ervin. Jones remembered him from San Jose State, and the Packers running back got an up-close scouting report from his brother when Alvin Jones and Ervin were teammates in Baltimore for part of last season.

“He’s weapon,” Aaron Jones said. “You have to respect him. I feel like he’s a guy like me, kind of flying under the radar.”

In Ervin’s final college season in 2015, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry while rushing for 1,601 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes for 334 yards and two scores. In his last two years with the Spartans, Ervin accumulated 3,129 yards of offense from scrimmage and scored 20 touchdowns.

“I’m glad we have him on our team,” Jones said “He’s definitely a weapon. He’s definitely a special player. We’re going to use him, we’re going to need him a lot.”

Previous Field Access stories:

Communication leads to key stops vs. Bears

Inside Mason Crosby’s game-winning kick against the Lions

How Chandon Sullivan intercepted Dak Prescott in Dallas