MVP debate: Who's most deserving? A.Rodgers - JJ Watt - T.Brady - P.Manning - D.Murray?

[mraynrand]

But look at Rogers and the Pack. Just a few years ago without a serious running threat we had Jennings, Jordy, Cobb, Jones and Finley. Now with Lacy we can get away with Jordy and Cobb. ARod can do things that Romo can't but a running game can open up the pass.

Sure, the ability to run is a great thing, esp. if you get cold and high winds (see Packers, 2007). But I'd still take the Packers receivers over the Cowboys every time. Just compare R.Rodgers and Witten against Detroit and you can see that one ascending and the other descending have met in the middle. Jordy>>Bryant, Adams>(slightly) Williams (I'd concede Williams slightly better if you pushed me), and Cobb>>Beasley Reece.

Packers d-backs are far superior relative to the Dallas WRs than Dallas DBs to Packer WRs. Without the PKD™, Dallas will struggle to get pressure on Rodgers and he should gut them, assuming the wind isn't ridiculous and his calf holds up.

[mraynrand]

Yeah, people often forget how much a pocket QB Young became over time. Plus his accuracy was a step above Montana's high mark, albeit in slightly different eras.

Rodgers reminds me of Montana in part because he does not seem as physically robust as Young or Favre. Montana/Rodgers seem leaner. Which makes their survival all the more remarkable.

Montana was a squirrelly little guy for 6'2' Rodgers - same height - probably has 25 pounds on him. Helps when you get planted in the turf by Giant defenders.

[ThunderDan]

Sure, the ability to run is a great thing, esp. if you get cold and high winds (see Packers, 2007). But I'd still take the Packers receivers over the Cowboys every time. Just compare R.Rodgers and Witten against Detroit and you can see that one ascending and the other descending have met in the middle. Jordy>>Bryant, Adams>(slightly) Williams (I'd concede Williams slightly better if you pushed me), and Cobb>>Beasley Reece.

Packers d-backs are far superior relative to the Dallas WRs than Dallas DBs to Packer WRs. Without the PKD™, Dallas will struggle to get pressure on Rodgers and he should gut them, assuming the wind isn't ridiculous and his calf holds up.

I would take the Packer WRs also. But if you have a solid running game and a WR like Bryant you can make the O work. When you have a solid running game with Jordy, Cobb and a developing Adams along with ARod you can flourish on O.

[pbmax]

Montana was a squirrelly little guy for 6'2' Rodgers - same height - probably has 25 pounds on him. Helps when you get planted in the turf by Giant defenders.

Yeah, but Young was significantly shorter than Montana I think, and looked stouter. I get the same impression from looking at Favre and Rodgers side by side even if they are virtually the same height.

[pbmax]

[mraynrand]

Young was 6'2" as well and about midway maybe between Montana and Rodgers.

[mraynrand]

Ya, Monatana - squirrelly; Young - built like a halfback. Just look at the difference in the thickness of the legs.

[pbmax]

That picture looks straight out of 1988 (which it probably was) but Shanahan looks right out of 1974. Or '64. Would be '54 too but not sure about color football photography in those days. Probably reserved for game days.

[woodbuck27]

That picture looks straight out of 1988 (which it probably was) but Shanahan looks right out of 1974. Or '64. Would be '54 too but not sure about color football photography in those days. Probably reserved for game days.

That photo was taken in 1992.

In 1992 Mike Shanahan was hired as OC for the San Francisco 49ers or the last season that Joe Montana was a 49er.

[Bossman641]

Another article on Rodgers as the new Joe Cool (and the Packers new-age wco) from Chris Brown (smartfootball):

http://grantland.com/features/aaron-...coast-offense/

Just came here to link to that article. The GIF's are great. About the only thing I disagree with is that the Packers complete 5-10 slants a game.

Also, for as much shit as MM has taken around here I think this quote describes his offenses perfectly...

Football is a cycle. You’re going to see things in this league or out of this league and in college football.’ It’s very important to stay on the front side of that cycle.

[vince]

Another article on Rodgers as the new Joe Cool (and the Packers new-age wco) from Chris Brown (smartfootball):

http://grantland.com/features/aaron-...coast-offense/

Great article thanks for the link dy.

Most fans haven't yet caught up with the Packers' use of play packages referenced in the article - and the freedom McCarthy gives Rodgers to control (in no-huddle) and/or change the package based on pre-snap reads - making the conventional notion of "playcalling" obsolete.

There's an optimal play option on just about every play against whatever the defense shows if the team executes. Given Rodgers' Mensa-esque football IQ and freedom McCarthy has given him to use it, Rodgers has far more control over the plays that are run than McCarthy.

To say that McCarthy is a good or bad playcaller isn't relevant to the way the Packers operate - at least when Rodgers is on the field.

It does take the cat and mouse game to the next level though because at times I think defenses can show a specific look - and have a good idea about how the Packers are going to want to attack that look. I think this is more true when they want to run the ball. They'll run to the weakness of the defense consistently, and perhaps predictably, which is the right decision in theory but that tendency - to the extent it exists - can give the defense a quick step to overcoming it.

[pbmax]

These guys did a piece on packaged plays a little while ago:

Jersey Al - ALLGBP @JerseyAlGBP · 10h 10 hours ago
@smartfootball We took a look at #Packers packaged plays a week ago: http://ow.ly/GWX4I

And just to note, the first time I saw them mentioned as part of the Packers offense, it was smart football talking about the Read-Stick. Mesh with RB, watch OLB. If he committed to LOS, throw stick route to slot or TE. If he stayed in coverage, hand it off.

[George Cumby]

Love the Sig', PB.

[Smidgeon]

Honestly, I thought packaged plays were standard in the NFL for years. Source: I was using similar concepts in Madden back in 2008 to rack up 80+ points per game on the hard mode (yes, that's tongue in cheek). I expected head coaches and playcallers to be on that stuff a long time ago. My football IQ isn't that high.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000456836/article/aaron-rodgers-limited-but-still-shows-mvp-form-in-win

Aaron Rodgers limited, but still shows MVP form in win ( Over Dallas @ Lambeau Field ... Sun. 11 Jan. 2015 )

By: Chris Wesseling .... Around the NFL Writer

Published: Jan. 11, 2015 at 05:09 p.m. ... Updated: Jan. 11, 2015 at 11:27 p.m.