HarveyWallbangers
03-04-2008, 01:07 PM
We need some positivity. Of course, Iyer was the one guy who picked the Packers to do well last year, so maybe he's a closet Packers fan.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Avdwo1wYm49n2mfC2Nt4uLL.uLYF?slug=favrel esspackingoodhands&prov=tsn&type=lgns
The Green Bay Packers have lost a Hall of Fame quarterback but might not lose a beat.
It’s impossible to replace Brett Favre’s personality, but replacing Favre the quarterback is not as tough as you might think. Heir apparent Aaron Rodgers’ playing style and talent better fit coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.
It certainly will be easier to convince the much younger Rodgers to not take as many gunslinger’s chances in throwing downfield. He will be called upon to the spread the ball around in the passing game, playing wisely off the running game.
Rodgers will have trouble matching the pure passion of Favre—which current NFL quarterback can, really?—he has the skill set and enough time and “experience” to keep Green Bay’s offense humming.
Whether intentional or not, Rodgers’ three years riding the bench worked out for the best—for him and for the team.
In the 2005 draft, there was a debate as to which was the best quarterback prospect, Utah’s Alex Smith or Cal’s Rodgers. The answer came quickly, at least considering how the teams selected in the first round: Smith went No. 1 overall to the San Francisco 49ers and Rodgers slid to No. 24 to the Packers. Green Bay officials surely didn’t know Favre would play three more seasons, but it did allow the team time to properly groom Rodgers.
Smith has taken a lot of lumps in three seasons as the San Francisco starter because of a limited supporting cast and an ever-revolving door of offensive coordinators. Meanwhile, Rodgers has remained mostly a mystery, sitting and waiting and learning behind Favre. It remains a big question whether he can lead the Packers and guide them that one final step—to the Super Bowl.
As a rookie in ‘05, Rodgers’ only action came from mopping up in two blowouts, a 52-3 Packers win over the New Orleans Saints and a 48-3 Packers loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Nothing to see there, really.
In ‘06, it was more mopping up, first against the Philadelphia Eagles and second against the New England Patriots in a 35-0 loss. In that second appearance, Rodgers completed only 4-of-12 passes before breaking his left foot. Already, even as just a backup, he wasn’t as durable as Favre.
Then came hope in ‘07. All that time watching Favre conduct the Packers’ offense paid off for Rodgers, who wasn’t getting physically, mentally and emotionally battered like Smith.
In the Packers’ biggest regular-season game, on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, Favre was knocked out in the second quarter with an injured right elbow and a separated left shoulder. Rodgers had to play—and play well—to give the Packers a chance on the road.
Rodgers was impressive, although Dallas still won, 37-27. Rodgers looked the part of a starter in a West Coast-tinged offense. Thrust into pass-happy mode with the Packers trailing, he faced the Cowboys’ merciless 3-4 pass rush and showed good poise, mobility and efficiency and even displaying his strong downfield arm.
With that confidence, Rodgers is in position to pick up where Favre left off. Sure, it’s just one game. However, the key with a young quarterback is showing improvement over not-too-long of a stretch, that’s what Rodgers has done.
Rodgers also has a talented young team around him, and he won’t have to light up the scoreboard. The Packers have a solid all-around defense with top-flight playmakers such as Aaron Kampman and Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.
Offensively, the reason Favre finished his career on such a high note was the performance of some promising young receivers and a young running back. Greg Jennings emerged to join Pro Bowler Donald Driver as a big-time threat all over the field, and No. 3 receiver James Jones and tight end Donald Lee also were critical to the Packers’ success. Newfound feature back Ryan Grant looks like the real deal with his cut-and-go running meshing with the team’s zone-blocking scheme.
There is work to be done in solidifying the offensive line, getting a healthy third-down back and adding insurance in the form of a backup quarterback. For the past decade and a half, their No. 2 quarterback wasn’t all that important—Doug Pederson, anyone?—because the club was spoiled by Favre’s ridiculous durability. Rodgers has an unproven health record, and general manager Ted Thompson would be wise to add a veteran behind him. Craig Nall is not the answer, and he is a free agent, anyway.
The Packers enjoyed multiple waves of success over the past 16 years because they had stability at the game’s most important position. No one expects Rodgers to start the next 275 games, but he is well prepared to maintain the Packers’ status as Super Bowl contender.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Avdwo1wYm49n2mfC2Nt4uLL.uLYF?slug=favrel esspackingoodhands&prov=tsn&type=lgns
The Green Bay Packers have lost a Hall of Fame quarterback but might not lose a beat.
It’s impossible to replace Brett Favre’s personality, but replacing Favre the quarterback is not as tough as you might think. Heir apparent Aaron Rodgers’ playing style and talent better fit coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.
It certainly will be easier to convince the much younger Rodgers to not take as many gunslinger’s chances in throwing downfield. He will be called upon to the spread the ball around in the passing game, playing wisely off the running game.
Rodgers will have trouble matching the pure passion of Favre—which current NFL quarterback can, really?—he has the skill set and enough time and “experience” to keep Green Bay’s offense humming.
Whether intentional or not, Rodgers’ three years riding the bench worked out for the best—for him and for the team.
In the 2005 draft, there was a debate as to which was the best quarterback prospect, Utah’s Alex Smith or Cal’s Rodgers. The answer came quickly, at least considering how the teams selected in the first round: Smith went No. 1 overall to the San Francisco 49ers and Rodgers slid to No. 24 to the Packers. Green Bay officials surely didn’t know Favre would play three more seasons, but it did allow the team time to properly groom Rodgers.
Smith has taken a lot of lumps in three seasons as the San Francisco starter because of a limited supporting cast and an ever-revolving door of offensive coordinators. Meanwhile, Rodgers has remained mostly a mystery, sitting and waiting and learning behind Favre. It remains a big question whether he can lead the Packers and guide them that one final step—to the Super Bowl.
As a rookie in ‘05, Rodgers’ only action came from mopping up in two blowouts, a 52-3 Packers win over the New Orleans Saints and a 48-3 Packers loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Nothing to see there, really.
In ‘06, it was more mopping up, first against the Philadelphia Eagles and second against the New England Patriots in a 35-0 loss. In that second appearance, Rodgers completed only 4-of-12 passes before breaking his left foot. Already, even as just a backup, he wasn’t as durable as Favre.
Then came hope in ‘07. All that time watching Favre conduct the Packers’ offense paid off for Rodgers, who wasn’t getting physically, mentally and emotionally battered like Smith.
In the Packers’ biggest regular-season game, on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, Favre was knocked out in the second quarter with an injured right elbow and a separated left shoulder. Rodgers had to play—and play well—to give the Packers a chance on the road.
Rodgers was impressive, although Dallas still won, 37-27. Rodgers looked the part of a starter in a West Coast-tinged offense. Thrust into pass-happy mode with the Packers trailing, he faced the Cowboys’ merciless 3-4 pass rush and showed good poise, mobility and efficiency and even displaying his strong downfield arm.
With that confidence, Rodgers is in position to pick up where Favre left off. Sure, it’s just one game. However, the key with a young quarterback is showing improvement over not-too-long of a stretch, that’s what Rodgers has done.
Rodgers also has a talented young team around him, and he won’t have to light up the scoreboard. The Packers have a solid all-around defense with top-flight playmakers such as Aaron Kampman and Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.
Offensively, the reason Favre finished his career on such a high note was the performance of some promising young receivers and a young running back. Greg Jennings emerged to join Pro Bowler Donald Driver as a big-time threat all over the field, and No. 3 receiver James Jones and tight end Donald Lee also were critical to the Packers’ success. Newfound feature back Ryan Grant looks like the real deal with his cut-and-go running meshing with the team’s zone-blocking scheme.
There is work to be done in solidifying the offensive line, getting a healthy third-down back and adding insurance in the form of a backup quarterback. For the past decade and a half, their No. 2 quarterback wasn’t all that important—Doug Pederson, anyone?—because the club was spoiled by Favre’s ridiculous durability. Rodgers has an unproven health record, and general manager Ted Thompson would be wise to add a veteran behind him. Craig Nall is not the answer, and he is a free agent, anyway.
The Packers enjoyed multiple waves of success over the past 16 years because they had stability at the game’s most important position. No one expects Rodgers to start the next 275 games, but he is well prepared to maintain the Packers’ status as Super Bowl contender.