Bobbles Offseason Position group breakdown: Quarterbacks

[bobblehead]

Ok, I plan on doing a position by position analysis over the next few weeks cuz I'm missing Packers football already.

What can go right: Lafleur gets Arod back into the flow of things, teaches him how to properly use RB's and TE's en route to another MVP season. We never even sniff Kizer or Boyle after preseason.

Kizer and Boyle show signs of true development in the offseason and preseason. We fall in love with Boyle so much that we dish Kizer for...anything.

What could go wrong: Arod simply never could throw a screen like Favre could and he hasn't utilized a zone busting TE yet. Maybe it wasn't all MM's fault and ARod simply doesn't look underneath...ever.

Maybe he proves that father time and the NFL grind has taken its toll on his body and he isn't the same QB anymore. His accuracy was REALLY bad at times last year. Concussions have to be a real fear at this point. And at times the hungry young ARod has shown signs of becoming the entitled complacent Favre towards the end.

Both Kizer and Boyle look like crap on a stick all offseason and preseason and give us no choice but to stick with ARod through anything as we have no future on the roster.

Bottom line: I'm very concerned that Rodgers isn't the same guy and I'm not convinced he has the hunger he once did. I do think he wasn't listening to MM anymore and one of them had to go...and we chose correctly. Often times I think both should be gone and its time to start over, but I am also a realist in that he gives us our best chance at an Owl any time soon.

Hopefully he gets the "I'll show fat Mike" attitude that favre did in turning in a couple of his best seasons with the Jets and Vikings. I'm praying he buys all in with LaFleur and we sneak one more title out of him before we have to try for a 3rd HOF QB in a row.

Kizer has never given me any good reason to believe he can be a quality starting NFL QB. Boyle is too young to assess accurately at this point.

[Bossman641]

Good take. I also worry about Rodgers utilizing the rb's and te's. Saw a pass chart of his and it was shocking how often he throws outside the hashmarks compared to the rest of the league. The NFL has made passing over the middle so much easier then ever before but we didn't take advantage whatsoever.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I think Kizer won't be on the team next year. I think they will actually spend $ on a backup that can at least complete a pass to someone on our own team.

[Pugger]

I really think hiring LaFleur will be just the elixir to get Rodgers back. Our new HC will intellectually challenge Rodgers and we all know how competitive AR is. I wouldn't mind it if we found a better backup than the 2 we have presently.

[texaspackerbacker]

A lot of good points in the posts above. I also wouldn't be surprised if Kizer is gone, but I doubt we bring in a vet - just maybe a 5th-7th rounder to compete with Boyle. I don't think it is a matter of "teaching" Rodgers so much as improving pass route designs and coaching receivers to do better in scramble situations. Also, just maybe the O Line improves with a new O Line coach - wouldn't that be nice, seeing Rodgers get something resembling Brady-level pass blocking? (I'm hoping against hope that the O Line problems are curable by coaching, not just poor quality personnel.)

I guess I was a little surprised to read about Rodgers throwing so much to the outside. That's even more impressive when combined with his fantastic record of not throwing interceptions.

[ND72]

I think Kizer won't be on the team next year. I think they will actually spend $ on a backup that can at least complete a pass to someone on our own team.

LaFleur coached at Notre Dame Kizer's redshirt freshman year.

[pbmax]

I think two of bobble's concerns get addressed by coaching changes.

Packers didn't screen much in later years with Holmgren and Lewis, might have to do with D adjustments or the backs on the field. Sherman really emphasized it with his run game and as a pass rush deterrent and they got much, much better, even better than early Holmgren.

With time and attention paid to it, they will all improve again. Rodgers looked much more in tune with Jones by the second half of the season and Williams has been very good for awhile.

TEs in that video about McCarthy and Rodgers butting heads said that M3's offense did not feature a lot of TE routes. Not sure how the Shanahan offense likes its TEs, but the Titans loved Walker until he got hurt early in LaFleur's first year.

[bobblehead]

I think two of bobble's concerns get addressed by coaching changes.

Packers didn't screen much in later years with Holmgren and Lewis, might have to do with D adjustments or the backs on the field. Sherman really emphasized it with his run game and as a pass rush deterrent and they got much, much better, even better than early Holmgren.

With time and attention paid to it, they will all improve again. Rodgers looked much more in tune with Jones by the second half of the season and Williams has been very good for awhile.

TEs in that video about McCarthy and Rodgers butting heads said that M3's offense did not feature a lot of TE routes. Not sure how the Shanahan offense likes its TEs, but the Titans loved Walker until he got hurt early in LaFleur's first year.

I've been on record blaming MM before Arod for lack of screens and TE usage and I will maintain that view until proven wrong. Too many bubble screens to TEs for it not to be MMs fault. LaFleur's reputation is that he will be up on the modern usage of TE and RBs. I think I read something about separation on routes being pretty high for Tennessee last year, just that Marriota was epic levels of suckitude.

[bobblehead]

A lot of good points in the posts above. I also wouldn't be surprised if Kizer is gone, but I doubt we bring in a vet - just maybe a 5th-7th rounder to compete with Boyle. I don't think it is a matter of "teaching" Rodgers so much as improving pass route designs and coaching receivers to do better in scramble situations. Also, just maybe the O Line improves with a new O Line coach - wouldn't that be nice, seeing Rodgers get something resembling Brady-level pass blocking? (I'm hoping against hope that the O Line problems are curable by coaching, not just poor quality personnel.)

I guess I was a little surprised to read about Rodgers throwing so much to the outside. That's even more impressive when combined with his fantastic record of not throwing interceptions.

I think one of Kizer or Boyle is gone next year. Sadly its likely Boyle. I don't think the team will bail on Kizer just yet. If you just hired the young hotshot coach you should have his project readying himself. I can't even guess who that might be. Kizer because of pedigree and former connection? Boyle because of the flashes we all saw? Someone we draft late this year that LaFleur hand picks?

[mraynrand]

I think one of Kizer or Boyle is gone next year. Sadly its likely Boyle. I don't think the team will bail on Kizer just yet. If you just hired the young hotshot coach you should have his project readying himself. I can't even guess who that might be. Kizer because of pedigree and former connection? Boyle because of the flashes we all saw? Someone we draft late this year that LaFleur hand picks?

Almost certain they will bring in a rookie QB. Someone will fall to them and you should always be prepping the next guy. Kizer's hesitation, especially in red zone, may be incurable.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

While the Great Arm of Butte exhibited humble toughness last season, he ain't the Gunslinger tough. As insurance in case, God-forbid, Butte gets KIA (again), the Packers need to acquire an inspiring, experienced vet who has not only seen all the horrors of NFL wars, but one who has done it all as well.

Kap.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Also, just maybe the O Line improves with a new O Line coach - wouldn't that be nice, seeing Rodgers get something resembling Brady-level pass blocking? (I'm hoping against hope that the O Line problems are curable by coaching, not just poor quality personnel.)

Ole Tom gets rid of the rock so fast, he could have Spriggs, Murphy and Tony Moll blocking for him along with Deputy Nutz as their OL-coach, and he would still make 'em all look like leftist media-selected All-Pros.

[texaspackerbacker]

No, as a matter of fact, Brady is a fairly immobile throw-it-down-the-field kind of QB most of the time who has gotten fantastic protection. I absolutely would not want my team's QB - be it Rodgers, Brady, or somebody lesser - to unload it quick most of the time. That is a recipe for interceptions and losses. Sure, you gotta mix in a few quick slants or quick outs or that kind of WR screen that some in here seem to hate, just like you have a few running plays for change of pace, but you win games by throwing it down the field 10 or 15 yards and occasionally more. And if your pass protection ain't good, you buy time scrambling in order to throw it down the field.

[bobblehead]

No, as a matter of fact, Brady is a fairly immobile throw-it-down-the-field kind of QB most of the time who has gotten fantastic protection. I absolutely would not want my team's QB - be it Rodgers, Brady, or somebody lesser - to unload it quick most of the time. That is a recipe for interceptions and losses. Sure, you gotta mix in a few quick slants or quick outs or that kind of WR screen that some in here seem to hate, just like you have a few running plays for change of pace, but you win games by throwing it down the field 10 or 15 yards and occasionally more. And if your pass protection ain't good, you buy time scrambling in order to throw it down the field.

Are you watching Brady right now?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Are you watching Brady right now?

What's up with Ole Tom? Ain't watching the game. Boycotting the NFL.