Packers' Rodgers still a work in progress

[woodbuck27]

Packers' Rodgers still a work in progress

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/10/10/packers-rodgers-still-a-work-in-progress

Packers!

[Tyrone Bigguns]

It's also worth noting that those same people believe the uneven play up to now of the Packers' veteran playmakers — WR Greg Jennings particularly comes to mind — certainly hasn't helped Rodgers any.

[Brandon494]

I got nothing out of this article.

[swede]

I got nothing out of this article.

Perhaps you don't have an agenda. Get busy, son.

[Partial]

A very weak article but without a doubt there are still key questions about Rodgers. In PS, he looked great. To me this season he has looked pretty poor outside of a few key plays.

[retailguy]

A very weak article but without a doubt there are still key questions about Rodgers. In PS, he looked great. To me this season he has looked pretty poor outside of a few key plays.

It would be a rare QB that would look good whilst the line looks bad. I just don't get why you do not understand this...

Rodgers is NOT the problem.

[Partial]

A very weak article but without a doubt there are still key questions about Rodgers. In PS, he looked great. To me this season he has looked pretty poor outside of a few key plays.

It would be a rare QB that would look good whilst the line looks bad. I just don't get why you do not understand this...

Rodgers is NOT the problem.

I understand what you're saying I just do not agree with it entirely.

If he is so aware of where the next hit is coming from as you claim, why is he not unloading the ball in this case or scrambling to get out of the pocket and unload the ball?

Big Ben never had a problem with this and won a super bowl with an equally bad line.

Play calling can easily compensate for the line play, so MM shares some of the blame.

[retailguy]

I understand what you're saying I just do not agree with it entirely.

If he is so aware of where the next hit is coming from as you claim, why is he not unloading the ball in this case or scrambling to get out of the pocket and unload the ball?

Big Ben never had a problem with this and won a super bowl with an equally bad line.

Play calling can easily compensate for the line play, so MM shares some of the blame.

Making comparisons to the Steelers really isn't reasonable. Totally different kind of offense. Totally different commitment to the running game. It really isn't comparable. If we had a decent running game right now, the offense would have a better chance to execute. but we don't.

The WCO relies on "precise execution". If you don't have that, the whole thing falls apart. the OL doesn't have "precise anything". One week you get a good game out of a guy, the next, he looks like a turnstile. Rodgers does not know where the next hit is coming from. Neither do the coaches. You can't tailor your playcalling to something you can't predict.

He's holding the damn ball, because he has to find a way to do something with it. Favre could compensate because he had 15 seasons of experience at that time. Expecting that out of Rodgers is unreasonable.

Comparing him to Roethlisberger, who runs a very different offense, AND, has several seasons more experience is also unreasonable.

[Partial]

Making comparisons to the Steelers really isn't reasonable. Totally different kind of offense. Totally different commitment to the running game. It really isn't comparable. If we had a decent running game right now, the offense would have a better chance to execute. but we don't.

The WCO relies on "precise execution". If you don't have that, the whole thing falls apart. the OL doesn't have "precise anything". One week you get a good game out of a guy, the next, he looks like a turnstile. Rodgers does not know where the next hit is coming from. Neither do the coaches. You can't tailor your playcalling to something you can't predict.

He's holding the damn ball, because he has to find a way to do something with it. Favre could compensate because he had 15 seasons of experience at that time. Expecting that out of Rodgers is unreasonable.

Comparing him to Roethlisberger, who runs a very different offense, AND, has several seasons more experience is also unreasonable.

Steelers ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing in 2008.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&offensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=ALL&role=TM&season=2008&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

You can tailor your playcalling to knowing there will be consistent pressure. The short slants, crossing routes, and screens have been virtually non-existant this year. Either ARod is missing them, or MM isn't calling them. I wouldn't be shocked by either.

Roethlisberger is a young QB, too. He's only been in the league one year longer than Rodgers AFAIK. I don't relate experience with knowing to get rid of the ball. I relate that to instincts. Last year he showed all the time that he would do it. This year, he's trying to be the man instead of doing the smart thing and chucking it away like last year.

The article says that Packer insiders think Rodgers are responsible for at least half of the sacks taken. That is really bad any way you slice it.

[falco]

RG, I agree 100% with the point you've been pushing the last few weeks. Hard to expect an QB to develop a rhythm with the line they've got.

[retailguy]

Making comparisons to the Steelers really isn't reasonable. Totally different kind of offense. Totally different commitment to the running game. It really isn't comparable. If we had a decent running game right now, the offense would have a better chance to execute. but we don't.

The WCO relies on "precise execution". If you don't have that, the whole thing falls apart. the OL doesn't have "precise anything". One week you get a good game out of a guy, the next, he looks like a turnstile. Rodgers does not know where the next hit is coming from. Neither do the coaches. You can't tailor your playcalling to something you can't predict.

He's holding the damn ball, because he has to find a way to do something with it. Favre could compensate because he had 15 seasons of experience at that time. Expecting that out of Rodgers is unreasonable.

Comparing him to Roethlisberger, who runs a very different offense, AND, has several seasons more experience is also unreasonable.

Steelers ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing in 2008.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&offensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=ALL&role=TM&season=2008&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

You can tailor your playcalling to knowing there will be consistent pressure. The short slants, crossing routes, and screens have been virtually non-existant this year. Either ARod is missing them, or MM isn't calling them. I wouldn't be shocked by either.

Roethlisberger is a young QB, too. He's only been in the league one year longer than Rodgers AFAIK. I don't relate experience with knowing to get rid of the ball. I relate that to instincts. Last year he showed all the time that he would do it. This year, he's trying to be the man instead of doing the smart thing and chucking it away like last year.

The article says that Packer insiders think Rodgers are responsible for at least half of the sacks taken. That is really bad any way you slice it.

Willie Parker was a "threat" to take it on any play last year. The backups, Mendenhall and Moore, are much better than what we've got. Again, you've got a different offense, a point you ignored... Don't give me statistics. At the end of the day, teams can play well with crappy statistics. Teams can play poorly with good statistics.

Next, Roethlisberger has started how many games? Partial, you don't gain this experience by sitting on the bench. Rodgers and Roethlisberger aren't even comparable right now. Another season of experience for Rodgers? Then I'm on board. Not yet.

The only point you've made that I agree with is the playcalling. While it is tough to playcall when you don't know where the pressure is coming from, that's the only thing this team can do at this point. I said it was difficult, but didn't say impossible. McCarthy has to help out Rodgers, but so far, has stubbornly refused to alter the gameplan to the weapons he has.

Blaming Rodgers for "holding the ball" is ridiculous no matter who says it. You cannot tell me that Rodgers game is not impacted by the poor performance of this line. How do you measure the "impact" on Rodgers? How do you measure "skittishness"? This point is BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT no matter who says it, including McCarthy.

[retailguy]

RG, I agree 100% with the point you've been pushing the last few weeks. Hard to expect an QB to develop a rhythm with the line they've got.

Thanks for that. I do appreciate it. I just don't understand why we have so many inexperienced linemen. It is almost like we're trying to get Rodgers killed. I don't get it. Young QB's need a good line. What young QB has developed as a youngster behind a bad line? I remember Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde trying to play behind bad lines in Tampa. They became great QB's after they left, but were soundly criticized as being busts during their time there.

[falco]

It's funny, I thought MMs ability to gameplan around our weaknesses was the whole reason for 13-3 in 2007. But this year, I'm not sure anymore.

[PlantPage55]

Big Ben never had a problem with this and won a super bowl with an equally bad line.

False. I have watched damn near every football game that has been available to me for the last, maybe, 6 years, and that includes a lot of Big Ben Steeler games. He has been stellar, but his bad line is not as bad as ours is.

I have NEVER seen a QB have to run for his life as much as Rodgers has. The success he is actually having is way more than one should reasonably expect out of a guy. I've never seen pass blocking this bad before. Never. Not even David Carr with the Houston Texans. Aaron needs to get rid of the ball sooner, but look at how often he'd be doing so! Our O-Line is a turnstile right now.

[retailguy]

Big Ben never had a problem with this and won a super bowl with an equally bad line.

False. I have watched damn near every football game that has been available to me for the last, maybe, 6 years, and that includes a lot of Big Ben Steeler games. He has been stellar, but his bad line is not as bad as ours is.

I have NEVER seen a QB have to run for his life as much as Rodgers has. The success he is actually having is way more than one should reasonably expect out of a guy. I've never seen pass blocking this bad before. Never. Not even David Carr with the Houston Texans. Aaron needs to get rid of the ball sooner, but look at how often he'd be doing so! Our O-Line is a turnstile right now.

He's looking at the statistics again. Yes, they were bad statisticly but, when it matters they weren't really that bad. Also, they steadily improved as the year went on. This year, they are much improved as an OL. Probably the most improved OL in the NFL.

These comparisons are just ridiculous. When you watch Rodgers, you see his head snapping back and forth. But he isn't looking for receivers, he's looking at his protection, and THEN looking at the receivers. By then, it's too late.

It reminds me of Jeff Garcia in his last season in SF. He had happy feet so damn bad, he couldn't even set himself for a throw by the end of the year. Watch Rodgers feet. Constantly moving. Intuitively knows he has to take off at any given moment. Can't be successful like that.