As Romeo Doubs breaks out, Christian Watson can be the key to unlocking the next level of the Packers offense

No other team boasts the roster Todd Bowles can deploy, but the approach might feel replicable for some teams. In the second half, in a stretch when a Green Bay Packers offense that had been rolling went three-and-out on eight straight possessions, Bowles tightened up his corner alignment, allowed no more free yards underneath, and dared the Packers passing game to beat them over the top. While teams like the New England Patriots don’t have the personnel to handle the run the same way, they’ll no doubt see the success Bowles had and at least attempt it. The key for the Green Bay offense finding answers isn’t the breakout rookie Romeo Doubs, but his fellow rookie Christian Watson.

Jason wrote earlier this week about the need to push Romeo Doubs vertically, but if Christian Watson is healthy, they don’t need to do that to make the offense work. It would benefit both Doubs and the offense if he showed that part of his game, but that’s why the team drafted two size/speed freaks.

Doubs is already a top-10 receiver in the league in terms of how often he’s open based on ESPN’s tracking data.

Seth Walder @SethWalder

Extra small sample because fewer routes for him but Doubs leads all rookies and ranks T-8th overall in Open Score in 2022. Here's an untargeted open route from him (87).

Jonathan @IcyTonyan

@SethWalder Romeo Doubs?

That’s happening in part because of terrific scheme by Matt LaFleur, play concepts that often require a receiver to clear out a side, take a safety or corner with him, and open up something underneath where a player can catch and run. If we think of the in-breakers to Sammy Watkins and then Doubs, they’re predicated on both a play-action fake and a deeper route to the opposite side of the field to hold the safety.