Break It Down: Evan Dietrich-Smith vs the San Francisco 49ers

If I was forced to summarize the Packers' center quality in one word, it'd be crud. After losing a talented Scott Wells in the 2012 free agency period to the St. Louis Rams, Green Bay signed Jeff Saturday, formerly the Colts' long-term center, on a two year contract. By mid-season, Saturday was benched, replaced by a 2009 undrafted free agent on his second stint with the Packers.

That man is Evan Dietrich-Smith. Prior to taking over as the Packers' starting center, the most recognition he had received was being the player Ndamukong Suh stomped on during the 2011 Thanksgiving game. Don't get it bent, though, Suh's not the only defensive lineman that stomps on EDS (as fans like to call him).

After the 2012 season, Jeff Saturday retired (either way, he wouldn't have lasted the off-season on the Packers' roster), and Evan Dietrich-Smith, as restricted free agent, was only tendered with "first-right of refusal " designation. To keep it simple, this meant the Packers were willing to have their projected starting center (also only center) walk off if any team was willing to give him any sort of money.

EDS signed a 1.32 million, one year contract with the Packers. It was obvious that Packers didn't value him much more than a one-year stop gap at the position. On Day 3 of the draft, the Packers took a left tackle from Cornell, J.C. Tretter. While Tretter played left tackle in college, many projected him as a guard/center prospect on the next level, due to his size.

It seemed like Dietrich-Smith's replacement was set, and it wouldn't have been a stretch to see Green Bay switch centers mid-season if something went wrong, as they had already recently done it. If you were a fan of that possibility, though, you must have been disappointed during rookie camp, when J.C. Tretter, the only other quality center on the Packers' 90-man roster, broke his ankle, likely ending his season.

Dietrich-Smith won the starting center job by default. He's going to keep it, too. Of the rest of the offensive linemen on the roster, Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten were the only ones with extended center experience this preseason. Don Barclay is starting at right tackle, so I highly doubt he'd move to center for any reason, and Greg Van Roten struggled with shot-gun snaps, and is likely a guard-only lineman for the rest of his career.

Enough on the background of EDS, though, onto his miserable performance against San Francisco. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this, coaches' tape of the Green Bay/San Francisco game was not available, so I had to use the TV feed.

Play 1: Eddie Lacy carries the ball for a 3 yard loss

[1] This is a simple zone running play. The run is going right, so the center goes after the person on or to the right of him. Evan Dietrich-Smith is uncovered, so his job is to block the man over T.J. Lang (the right tackle), after Lang chips him long enough for Dietrich-Smith to reach him, then Lang goes to the right inside linebacker.

[2] Lang chips the man (McDonald), then moves on his way to linebacker. The problem? Evan Dietrich-Smith's position. Not only is he not turning McDonald, or driving him backwards, but it looks as if he's pushing him from the side TOWARDS the ball carrier (Eddie Lacy). There's clearly a running lane in the B-Gap, but McDonald has penetrated the backfield.

[3] Dietrich-Smith had no chance on the play once McDonald got in front of him. McDonald makes contact with Lacy 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

[4] He makes the tackle-for-loss, while Dietrich-Smith stands next to his fallen teammate and failed blocking target.

Play 2: Eddie Lacy catches a screen and YACs for 31 yards

[1] The Packers are running a basic screen play. Lacy's catching the ball behind the line of scrimmage, while three offensive lineman (including Evan Dietrich-Smith) are moving down field to block for him.

[2] The first missed block for Dietrich-Smith. With a man RIGHT NEXT TO HIM and Lacy, he doesn't make a move. He continued to run down field.

[3] About five yards deeper than the last screen shot, Lacy breaks two tackles (including one from the man EDS should have blocked). Dietrich-Smith has two men in front of him; he has to block someone this time, right?

[4] Wrong. Dietrich-Smith buys a ticket. Instead of blocking for Lacy, or you know, even, like, looking the right direction, he decides he's going to watch him run.

[5] 31 yards past the line of scrimmage, Lacy is finally tackled near the goal line. Evan Dietrich-Smith was able to keep up with him, but he blocked a total of zero 49ers on the way there.

[6] Then Dietrich-Smith asks Lacy for some daps after the play. Amazing.

Notice the time. 1:40 in the first quarter. This isn't even all of the plays he graded poorly in, it's just the worst two in the first quarter of the game. I, as all Packer fans should, am praying for Tretter to be ready at some point in 2013. He's on PUP, so he technically can comeback, even though it's not likely. If not, fans of the team might want to familiarize themselves with the names Travis Swanson and Tyler Larsen, they'll been seeing them a lot in mock drafts.