Is Aaron Rodgers more of the problem than we might think?

[Joemailman]

you need to read the article too. the coach himself says there's no need to change the play because the offense is designed to have an answer for everything. rodgers simply has to run it. two-minute drill and scrambling aside, unless the opponents D only has 8 men on the field (lol), or some other glaring anomaly, there's no reason for rodgers to go off script. again, if goff can do it...

Yet there some games last year where Goff REALLY struggled. On days where the opposing defense has the upper hand, there is an advantage to having a QB who can adjust on the fly instead of just always running the play that is sent in. No offense, no matter how well designed, is gonna have an answer for everything every week. I'm not suggesting Rodgers having as much leeway as he had (or took) last year. However, when Rodgers walks up to the line, he has certain mental capabilities that most QB's don't have. It would be foolish not to find a way to utilize them.

[texaspackerbacker]

I believe the media a shit ton more than I believe some idiot from Texas who has talked to none of the people involved and will only believe things he already agrees with. Also Rodgers has not the least bit of trouble calling bullshit if anything reported wasn't true.

What we want is for the receivers to be schemed open and for Rodgers to hit them before the defense has time to recover and get into position to make the play. That's the best plan for success, and keeping Rodgers upright. Also it was noted that some of scheme goes beyond a single play. So maybe in the first quart the play is an inside run that only gains 2 yards, but that sets up the third quarter with the exact same formation against the same defense a play action slant goes for 40. If Rodgers audibles the first play to a pass, they lose the big play later.

In the end, I don't care how this gets resolved, just as long as the Packers win. They haven't for the last two years, so they need to make changes.

You don't think good-natured needling like the only actual Rodgers words in the link above amounts to contradicting stuff? I suspect he is amused by it all and doesn't even consider it worth seriously commenting on. Ditto that for LaFleur - better ways to spend his time, etc.

Sure, we all want "receivers to be schemed open and for Rodgers to hit them before the defense has time to recover". What I don't want - and I hope none of ya'all want - is for Rodgers to be like pretty much every other QB and rush to throw the ball when it is not nearly 100% safe. I also have, I suspect, greater trust in Rodgers than many of ya'all to determine what is and isn't safe and a good idea to throw - after all, no QB in football history has as good a record doing that as he does. Does anybody want to disagree with that? Or maybe claim he should throw more interceptions? Same thing on judgment about setting teams up for later plays ....... I trust him, and you know what? I bet LaFleur does too - even if some media pukes, etc. do not.

Sure, we all want the Packers to win, as they haven't for a couple of years ........ some people - incredibly to me, blame Rodgers for that not winning. Hopefully, we have a much improved supporting cast this year, and nobody will have anything to complain about.

I've been accused of being overly optimistic (how could anybody get that idea hahahaha?). However, one area where I am less positive about the Packers, past few years and probably even now: the offensive line. IMO, a LOT of the reason for extending plays and not doing things the way for example, the Rams did them was the pass rush getting in too quickly. Yeah yeah yeah, some say Rodgers is wrong not just getting rid of it, etc. I say hell no, that would result in the biggest negative of all, interceptions. Give Rodgers a better line, and he could be more like ya'all wish; Give Goff the Packers O Line, and he'd probably he dead.

[Fritz]

I think Tex is clearly a little over-the-top about Aaron Rodgers, who must shoulder some of the blame for the offense's problems last year - after all, as several posters said three years ago, Rodgers led a collection of nobodies to the playoffs every year, and if this is true, then why couldn't he do it last year?

On the other hand, Tex does have a point about sports media. This is a 24/7/365 operation, and fluff pieces about Kadon Holloday (or whatever his name is) will not get you as many clicks as an article that suggests the coach and HOF QB are or are going to be butting heads.

Look, this is all going to be a big adjustment for everyone. Rodgers has never worked with an NFL head coach not named Mike McCarthy, and Matt LeFleur has never been a head coach, and has never worked with a QB like Aaron Rodgers as a head coach, or as any kind of coach, for that matter. Matt Ryan is the closest he comes. Those of you who say the Packers will take three or four, or four of five, games to figure out the offense aren't looking at this realistically. This whole season is going to be a learning curve, and it won't be until next year, after another round of offseason learning and practicing and taking in of the offense that this thing will really get off the ground. To me, this is looking like an 8 -8 kind of year, what with the injuries that will come and all the new players and the new scheme. I think next year is their target year, and if it doesn't happen next year, we may be saying hello to the 1970's all over again. An aging HOF QB, a rudderless organization.

So let's hope this season is okay, lots of learning and respect gained for the new HC, and then next year they take the league by storm.

[texaspackerbacker]

I for one, enjoy reading what you call "fluff pieces" about rookies or whoever, and of course, I just hate the shitstorm of anti-Rodgers and other alarmist crap.

It's NOT gonna take the whole season; It's not gonna take even 4 or 5 games; LaFleur is gonna have the good sense to get on the Rodgers Train and ride it all the way to the Super Bowl. As for last season, even as great as Aaron Rodgers is, he couldn't get out there and play defense. He damn near did do the job of the O Line, though, with his escapability. The reason is season is gonna be GREAT right from the start is drastically improved defense.

I say we take the league by storm THIS year.

[mraynrand]

I for one, enjoy reading what you call "fluff pieces" about rookies or whoever

I never would have pegged you for a fluffer.

Wait, let me rephrase that...

[RashanGary]

I say we take the league by storm THIS year.

I’m excited for the defense. Savage and Amos have complimentary skill sets. Alexander is poised to be a star. King and Jackson should be improve in year 2 under pettine.

Martinez is poised for a big year. Burks and Woodson’s nephew should be better in year two.

Smith, Smith, Gary and Fackrell look to be a huge upgrade to the ever dinged up or injured Matthews and Perry.

DL looks to be strong again. Clark is a star. Daniels should have at least one more big year left in him. Lowry and Lancaster are solid players.

In Pettines second year, I really do love our chances.



If Rodgers follows the game plan and runs the ball, the offense should open up and simplify for Rodgers.

MVS in his second year and Allison are better than anything we had last year after Adams. EQ and Kumerow should be better than what we had too.

Taylor is recovered from his injury this year and so is Bulaga. Turner and Jenkins give is depth. Due to Taylor and Bulaga being 100% and the new blood, the IL looks improved.

Graham is healthy.

The running backs are hitting their prime.

If AR allows MLf to run the ball, the offense is poised to be better!

Crosby is Crosby. Scott will be better. Davis is in great shape, should be an excellent returner.



Across the board, i agree with you. It’s ARs stubborn unwillingness to run the ball that concerns me. That’s why I bumped this.

[run pMc]

Look, this is all going to be a big adjustment for everyone.

Fritz with the plea for sanity! I like it!

How many first time, first year HC's have taken teams deep into the playoffs? Yeah, they might be the exception, but history is not on their side.

[Joemailman]

Fritz with the plea for sanity! I like it!

How many first time, first year HC's have taken teams deep into the playoffs? Yeah, they might be the exception, but history is not on their side.

Packers have had 2 losing seasons in a row. They just need to start winning again. If they go 9-7 or 10-6 and barely miss the playoffs, I won't consider that a totally lost season. However, if they make the playoffs and are reasonably healthy (especially Rodgers), then the only logical goal is the Super Bowl.

[texaspackerbacker]

Hey Tex, the subject is sports and not politics. Let's not allow one passion to overlap onto the other. The sports media is not the news media. Yes they do get caught sometimes embellishing their stories, but unlike the news, the sports media is subject hard statistics and a dependence upon not pissing off the sport they are covering.

Yes there is a real story, however it is in my opinion not the sensational story that the media likes to feast upon. Also, at this time of the year, stories are difficult to come by and reporters will sometimes blow it up bigger than it truly is.

All is well with the Packers, but installing a new offensive system and getting the kinks out will I believe require a good deal of fan and team patience.

Who said anything about politics? Certainly not me. That's what FYI is for.

That doesn't change the fact, though, that there is nothing lower than media pukes, not even sports agents or lawyers.

Yeah, I suppose there is a story on some level - installing a few new things, players getting used to a new coach's style, etc. - but nothing controversial. That's just media shitheads trying to stir up trouble. Fan and team patience? I guess. The players, Aaron Rodgers in particular, seem to be joking around, even ridiculing the media assholes - example: the little video in the link above about LaFleur's injury. They all know this is much ado about nothing; It's just a few fans in here who don't seem to get it. You got it right about stories hard to come by in the off-season, but that doesn't excuse the assholes from stirring up bogus crap.

[texaspackerbacker]

I’m excited for the defense. Savage and Amos have complimentary skill sets. Alexander is poised to be a star. King and Jackson should be improve in year 2 under pettine.

Martinez is poised for a big year. Burks and Woodson’s nephew should be better in year two.

Smith, Smith, Gary and Fackrell look to be a huge upgrade to the ever dinged up or injured Matthews and Perry.

DL looks to be strong again. Clark is a star. Daniels should have at least one more big year left in him. Lowry and Lancaster are solid players.

In Pettines second year, I really do love our chances.



If Rodgers follows the game plan and runs the ball, the offense should open up and simplify for Rodgers.

MVS in his second year and Allison are better than anything we had last year after Adams. EQ and Kumerow should be better than what we had too.

Taylor is recovered from his injury this year and so is Bulaga. Turner and Jenkins give is depth. Due to Taylor and Bulaga being 100% and the new blood, the IL looks improved.

Graham is healthy.

The running backs are hitting their prime.

If AR allows MLf to run the ball, the offense is poised to be better!

Crosby is Crosby. Scott will be better. Davis is in great shape, should be an excellent returner.



Across the board, i agree with you. It’s ARs stubborn unwillingness to run the ball that concerns me. That’s why I bumped this.

Nice positive post! Only one line (actually two) in the whole thing I don't agree with. I bet you can't guess which that is hahahahahaha.

[gbgary]

You need stop being an insufferable know it all and go milk your Bull. .

im not being a know-it-all. i'm simply repeating what the coach said. lol

[mraynrand]

im not being a know-it-all. i'm simply repeating what the coach said. lol

The coach needs to stop being a know-it-all and drink red bull.

[gbgary]

The coach needs to stop being a know-it-all and drink red bull.

lol...not in public without an endorsement deal. "the Official drink of Mensan Matt LeFleur."

[RashanGary]

I had a person tell me today, the reason Lovie smith said he didn’t allow Urlacher to call the plays, even though he was capable, is because he’d blitz himself on every play. Might explain some of the reason MM always said he planned to run more but it didn’t happen.

[RashanGary]

This is a little quote, Favre spent some time with Rodgers and he talks about how the offense should be built with Rodgers at QB



“So I think you let him play his game and not disturb that very much. And it’s going to be interesting to see if that happens”



apparently after Favre talked with Rodgers he came away wondering how that was going to play out too... hmmm!!!!


Is Favre a trouble making media puke, Tex? He seems to be questioning the power struggle too.