Is Aaron Rodgers even good anymore?

[Fritz]

I've had the opportunity to look at 4 or 5 games of all 22(coaches film) and I've seen the same things that Ben Fennell has seen.

There are definitely open receivers. Rodgers is sometimes antsy in the pocket, bailing quickly even when protection is holding up.

But, if you look at the film and try to see the routes that Rodgers' prefers. They are not usually open. A WR might break open over the middle,
but the sideline route and the RB in the flat are not open. Some of the time, that's when he throws the post to a doubled WR, probably in hopes of getting a flag.

At this point in his career, Rodgers is not going to change where he looks to throw. He will not give up an interception in a contested game. The best chance for
this offense to show marked improvement is to get another "sudden" WR. One that quickly gets open so that Rodgers can hit his preferred throws.

That means waiting until next year.

Beveaux's two posts on this topic make the most sense to me; his sentiments are echoed by others in this thread. I don't know if I'll have the time or make the time to look it up, but I'd like to see what percentage of Rodgers's throws are over the middle versus toward the sidelines, and also see what depth he most frequently throws to. If in fact Rodgers is loathe to throw short or middling deep over the middle, he's made opposing D coordinators' jobs easier. You still have to have people cover the middle, but you can use more of your resources to cover the sideline areas.

What we have to remember, too, is that Rodgers, like other NFL superstar QB's, has been told for most of his pro career how wonderful he was. Hell, even when he was a junior college QB, he was still considered the best athlete ever coming out of Chico, CA. Then he becomes an All Pro QB, and he's told, over and over and over, that he can do no wrong. Think about it: he got all affronted over being drafted 25th or whatever it was in the first round. As one commentator once said, every NFL athlete is very likely the best athlete in the history of whatever little city or town he came out of. Ever. So when players like Rodgers get to a certain level, they become gods. And gods are never wrong. So no wonder Rodgers would balk at being told he's got to do things differently than he does. He's been encouraged to value his skills, his football IQ, and his opinions regarding running an offense.

Detroit fans often complain that Matt Stafford doesn't stand up enough and demand enough from the Lions' organization. They want him to stand up in the meeting room and call out the coach, tell him the plan won't work, have his guys' backs. But Matt Stafford is not an "A" type personality. He's just not. The down side is that he's not demanding, but the downside of that type of player - like Rodgers - is that they are stubborn and won't accept the idea they might need to change.

[Bossman641]

Then why do they have the highest separation rate in the league? Something doesn't compute! It seems they have receivers who aren't dynamic, flashy or suited to the big plays, but more than capable for methodical, grind it out drives. The issue seems to be that too often in the middle of games they foregoe the singles and doubles, looking for the triples and homeruns that the receivers are not consistently capable of.

I find it telling that when the game requires it, opening drives to establish the offense and late drives to preserve victories, the drives have been there, including passes to open receivers for modest gains. The same approach needs to be used more often in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

I haven't watched the video but I think that separation stat is misleading. Unless something has changed, it only grades separation of the WR that is targeted, not all WR on the field. Since Rodgers rarely forces the ball to covered guys, this makes the WR look better then they actually are under this grading methodology.

[pbmax]

He’s always thrown it if the receiver is WIDE open. Very seldom with a safety bearing down or with a CB within a step of the WR.

This is overstating the case.

I flat out don't buy the separation stat. There is nothing except Adams that stands out to me in route running this year. Allison and Graham aren't getting wide open. Tonyan was open today buy wan't bending the route away from coverage to open a lane to throw. Its as simple as that.

Rodgers doesn't think anyone other than Adams or Lazard will win a contested ball. I think its as simple as that.

I think half the pass blocking efficiency is Rodgers moving around. Or waiting.

[pbmax]

nm

[pbmax]

could this also be the reason why the red zone offense has struggled for so long?

red zone is basically forcing rodgers to throw to the routes he refuses to throw to

Except the Packers are second in the League in the red zone for TDs.

[gbgary]

Except the Packers are second in the League in the red zone for TDs.

due to running the ball.

[beveaux1]

This is overstating the case.

I flat out don't buy the separation stat. There is nothing except Adams that stands out to me in route running this year. Allison and Graham aren't getting wide open. Tonyan was open today buy wan't bending the route away from coverage to open a lane to throw. Its as simple as that.

Rodgers doesn't think anyone other than Adams or Lazard will win a contested ball. I think its as simple as that.

I think half the pass blocking efficiency is Rodgers moving around. Or waiting.

I remember one throw today that was over the middle to Graham. It was almost intercepted by a Bear's LB. Nearly every other throw was to the sideline, the flat, or deep to the post. I do agree that I'm probably overstating, though.

[beveaux1]

He did complete a medium post over the middle to Adams that was virtually uncovered. Big gain.

[pbmax]

due to running the ball.

OK, but red said its a crappy red zone team. Which it's not.

[esoxx]

OK, but red said its a crappy red zone team. Which it's not.

Due to running the ball.

[MadtownPacker]

What does running the ball due?

[pbmax]

Due to running the ball.

I read Catch-22, the Emmitt Smith story, years ago. You can't confuse me.

[esoxx]

Who said what now?

[MadtownPacker]

Who said what now?

PB said he was confused due to running the ball.

[esoxx]

PB said he was confused due to running the ball.

Perhaps he's been drinking.