Aaron Rodgers year 2

[Randall]

Green Bay - In his first season as starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers was merely asked to replace a legend.

 

No pressure.

 

For an encore this year, Rodgers likely will have to stare down the resuscitated gunslinger, Brett Favre, in the flesh and in the house he helped build. Oh, and Jay Cutler, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Favre in talent and mentality, has taken up residence in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears.

 

Talk about seeing ghosts. With Cutler and potentially Favre on teams making up a quarter of the schedule, Rodgers will bump into them if he's not looking straight ahead.

 

If Rodgers is going to have any jitters - which he exhibited on the practice field as the Favre situation came to a head last year in training camp - they aren't showing up yet. The adversity may be mounting, but Rodgers heads into Year 2 with his California cool still intact.

 

"You know what, I really don't get into that whole thing, I really don't," Rodgers said. "I'm so focused on what I'm doing, what our team is doing. I know we play the Bears twice a year, the Vikings twice a year and the Lions twice a year, but all that other stuff to me is stuff that sells papers, but I don't really get a rise out of it."

 

Of course, that won't stop the fans from chewing on it. And that will have ramifications if things don't go well for Rodgers and the Packers.

 

Last year, they did not.

 

After the Packers ultimately chose Rodgers over Favre, they went from 13-3 in 2007 to 6-10. In eight of those losses, the Packers either led or trailed in the fourth quarter by no more than a score.

 

Rodgers surely was not to blame. A completion percentage of 63.6, 4,038 passing yards and 28 touchdowns against 13 interceptions are impressive statistics, to be sure. But victories and losses are what matter most. And the Packers failed in that respect.

 

But where others see reason for worry, the Packers find optimism. Of course, they have no other choice, and that will not halt the chorus of doubters.

 

"There are always going to be distractions, we just have to manage them," Rodgers said. "We have so much talent in this room; the only thing that can stop us is ourselves. And we stopped ourselves way too many times last year. If we can limit the distractions, I think we're going to be in a position to make a big run."

 

Off the field, in the meeting rooms, that's exactly what coach Mike McCarthy and Rodgers are working toward together. McCarthy's confidence in Rodgers has grown after last season's performance. Rodgers now has much more input into game plans and the types of plays McCarthy will call.

More freedom

 

While Rodgers did have the ability to audible last season, he often was limited to what options he had. McCarthy has indicated to this point that Rodgers will have more options at his disposal.

 

"I just think that the way he calls plays, he'll give me more responsibility at the line of scrimmage this year," Rodgers said. "I think it's him trusting that he can call more plays where there's more of a chance that I might change it at the line of scrimmage depending on what I see.

 

"And that respect level has grown through the type of preparation I have put in. I think he saw the way I prepared every week and knew, 'OK, he's studied the film, he's studied the game plan, he knows what to expect, so I can call the play in so if he doesn't like it or he sees something different, he knows what the correct checks are going to be,' instead of calling a play where you're kind of locked into this with no other options."

His own self

 

Perhaps having more input at the line will allow Rodgers to play less managed. At times last season, Rodgers played like a system quarterback, doing exactly what he had been told the previous three seasons. It was as if Rodgers had programmed himself to be the anti-Favre: limit mistakes, let the others do the heavy lifting.

 

At times it worked. There were other times when even Rodgers' teammates told him to let loose a little bit.

 

"There were a few occasions where you could see he totally wasn't himself," receiver Greg Jennings said. "It was kind of like you could see he was trying to be what (the coaches) wanted him to be. Not saying that's what Mike and everybody wanted him to be. But it wasn't Aaron. It was like, 'Man, you have to be you.'

 

"I remember sharing that with him down in New Orleans when we were going through that shootout. That was one of the games where I really noticed it, that wasn't Aaron Rodgers playing. That was Aaron the coached-up player playing."

 

That was a season-on-the-line, got-to-have-it game. The Packers were embarrassed on national television, 51-29, as Rodgers threw three interceptions and posted his second-worst passer rating (59.8).

 

Maybe McCarthy thought the same as Jennings, because McCarthy has made it clear Rodgers needs to be his own man - warts and all - on the field. Not the man the coaches envision him being.

Coach agrees

 

"I think it's important, No. 1, for Aaron Rodgers to be himself," McCarthy said. "Do I think he's an extension of myself? Yes, I agree. But it's important for him to do that within his own personality, and you can see this football team is definitely starting to have his name on it."

 

Will that match with the names of Cutler and, likely, Favre? The Packers bet six years and $65 million - the contract they handed Rodgers after seven starts (4-3) last year - it would.

 

"You obviously want them to feel like they made the right decision," Rodgers said. "Definitely."

 

Rodgers, Year 2, starts now.

 

No pressure.

[BeeR]

I love that Rodgers had a big year even tho the team stunk. I just hope he does it again and the team does well so people can go "Brett who?"

[Ed Hoyle]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT, McCarthy, and ARog came to town. There was a reason ARog fell to the Pack in his Draft. A number of NFL Teams dropped him on their list when his "California cool or Arron-gerance" came to play prior to the draft. He has all the tools and was a decent choice at the time. However, to give him the reigns was a bit premature. GB had no choice, but should have let them compete for the job.

 

Favre waivered on his "Play or Not" for too many years. But, has anyone thought about his "waiver" timeline? He never started "holding GB" hostage, as others have said, until TT came to town. He drafted ARog to be HIS guy. In fact, he has weeded out all of the players drafted by Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman. Many were getting old, but there is a reason to go from 13 wins to 6.

 

Atmosphere is one thing. Confidence is another. ARog is a very capable athlete. He may very well break many records of Favre's in Green Bay. But, will ARog be a "True Leader"? Time will tell, but how many of those games were lost last year due to his inability to make pressure throws or lead a game-winning drive? The D/ST let GB fall behind too many times, so it is 70% their fault. 30% does lie in ARog's corner. The Pack never played with the intensity that they had with Favre.

 

Favre brought new energy to NY even when they said he would not. Did he faulter down the road? Heck yes. He should have been benched when he started throwing picks. Yet, how much was the injury? No one can tell, but after the Jets' first half of the season they were winning. 6 TD's against a SuperBowl team was a feat.

 

Time will tell, but I will be glad when GB is beaten by the Bears 2x and Vikings 2x. I would even be surprised if they didn't lose at least one against the Lions.

 

TT must go and McCarthy is no genius either. There is a reason none of his teams (as Asst. or Coord.) have done well. Look up his past.

 

So, ARog has the year to prove his worth as a true NFL leader. He can have all the numbers and stats, but if he can't bring leadership or energy, he is nothing more than a good QB...not GREAT.

[Bronco Billy]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT, McCarthy, and ARog came to town. There was a reason ARog fell to the Pack in his Draft. A number of NFL Teams dropped him on their list when his "California cool or Arron-gerance" came to play prior to the draft. He has all the tools and was a decent choice at the time. However, to give him the reigns was a bit premature. GB had no choice, but should have let them compete for the job.

 

Favre waivered on his "Play or Not" for too many years. But, has anyone thought about his "waiver" timeline? He never started "holding GB" hostage, as others have said, until TT came to town. He drafted ARog to be HIS guy. In fact, he has weeded out all of the players drafted by Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman. Many were getting old, but there is a reason to go from 13 wins to 6.

 

Atmosphere is one thing. Confidence is another. ARog is a very capable athlete. He may very well break many records of Favre's in Green Bay. But, will ARog be a "True Leader"? Time will tell, but how many of those games were lost last year due to his inability to make pressure throws or lead a game-winning drive? The D/ST let GB fall behind too many times, so it is 70% their fault. 30% does lie in ARog's corner. The Pack never played with the intensity that they had with Favre.

 

Favre brought new energy to NY even when they said he would not. Did he faulter down the road? Heck yes. He should have been benched when he started throwing picks. Yet, how much was the injury? No one can tell, but after the Jets' first half of the season they were winning. 6 TD's against a SuperBowl team was a feat.

 

Time will tell, but I will be glad when GB is beaten by the Bears 2x and Vikings 2x. I would even be surprised if they didn't lose at least one against the Lions.

 

TT must go and McCarthy is no genius either. There is a reason none of his teams (as Asst. or Coord.) have done well. Look up his past.

 

So, ARog has the year to prove his worth as a true NFL leader. He can have all the numbers and stats, but if he can't bring leadership or energy, he is nothing more than a good QB...not GREAT.

 

 

So, Bears' fan or Viqueens' fan?

[gilthorp]

As a Bears fan, I think this kid is good. The 4th quarter maturity will come with time, but he's got a lot of tools, great arm, seems like a fantastic leader as well. Learned from one of the best, and he's got a bright future. I really don't see any true knocks that can't be defended at this point.

[MikesVikes]

Rodgers passed the pressure test last year. Now he needs to make his teammates better.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT

 

TT must go

[piratesownninjas]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT, McCarthy, and ARog came to town. There was a reason ARog fell to the Pack in his Draft. A number of NFL Teams dropped him on their list when his "California cool or Arron-gerance" came to play prior to the draft. He has all the tools and was a decent choice at the time. However, to give him the reigns was a bit premature. GB had no choice, but should have let them compete for the job.

 

 

TT must go and McCarthy is no genius either. There is a reason none of his teams (as Asst. or Coord.) have done well. Look up his past.

You were never a fan. A fan sticks through thick and thin. And I'm glad that people like you don't root for the team that I do. As far as a reason why Rodgers fell in the draft blah blah blah... It was well known that either Smith or Rodgers would go first, and the other would drop due to teams drafting for need. The dude had 30+ TD's and if the defense would have played just a little below average they would have won 8+ games. If the defense was decent they could have won the division. Rodgers has no what you call "arron-gerance". He is loved by his teammates across the board, so you can get off that. It wasn't premature to give him the reigns. Watch the games, see that he is a very capable QB. He can't play defense too.

 

As far as your Ted Thompson must go non-sense... Do you remember what the team looked like under Mike Shermans reign of error? He's retooled the team and made them better across the board.

 

McCarthy is more than decent. He took a 4-12 team and then went 8-8, followed by 14-4. Last year was a disaster, but it can happen with injuries and the defense and special teams falling on there faces weekley. Remember, he's an offensive mind. Also remember what Favre was doing before MM came to town. Now go away.

 

Rodgers passed the pressure test last year. Now he needs to make his teammates better.

Nothing he could have done could have made his D line get pressure, or make the LB's make tackles.

It's up the the defense to rise to a level of at least being mediocre.

[BeeR]

Anyone else stop reading after "ARog" and "Aaron-gance?"

[piratesownninjas]

Anyone else stop reading after "ARog" and "Aaron-gance?"

I wish I would have. I file this post alongside all of the Tony Romo sucks at quarterback posts. People have lost their damn minds.

[gbpfan1231]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT, McCarthy, and ARog came to town. There was a reason ARog fell to the Pack in his Draft. A number of NFL Teams dropped him on their list when his "California cool or Arron-gerance" came to play prior to the draft. He has all the tools and was a decent choice at the time. However, to give him the reigns was a bit premature. GB had no choice, but should have let them compete for the job.

 

Favre waivered on his "Play or Not" for too many years. But, has anyone thought about his "waiver" timeline? He never started "holding GB" hostage, as others have said, until TT came to town. He drafted ARog to be HIS guy. In fact, he has weeded out all of the players drafted by Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman. Many were getting old, but there is a reason to go from 13 wins to 6.

 

Atmosphere is one thing. Confidence is another. ARog is a very capable athlete. He may very well break many records of Favre's in Green Bay. But, will ARog be a "True Leader"? Time will tell, but how many of those games were lost last year due to his inability to make pressure throws or lead a game-winning drive? The D/ST let GB fall behind too many times, so it is 70% their fault. 30% does lie in ARog's corner. The Pack never played with the intensity that they had with Favre.

 

Favre brought new energy to NY even when they said he would not. Did he faulter down the road? Heck yes. He should have been benched when he started throwing picks. Yet, how much was the injury? No one can tell, but after the Jets' first half of the season they were winning. 6 TD's against a SuperBowl team was a feat.

 

Time will tell, but I will be glad when GB is beaten by the Bears 2x and Vikings 2x. I would even be surprised if they didn't lose at least one against the Lions.

 

TT must go and McCarthy is no genius either. There is a reason none of his teams (as Asst. or Coord.) have done well. Look up his past.

 

So, ARog has the year to prove his worth as a true NFL leader. He can have all the numbers and stats, but if he can't bring leadership or energy, he is nothing more than a good QB...not GREAT.

I can't believe I read this whole post. I will never get that two minutes of my life back.

[Randall]

I was a Packer Fan...until TT, McCarthy, and ARog came to town.

 

 

You were a fan while Mike Sherman ran a super bowl team into the dirt, but not during the rebuilding?

 

OK man if you say so.

[Chavez]

Defensive and special teams problems aside, there were a handful of games where Rodgers DID have the ball in his hands with plenty of time to engineer a comeback.* His failure to do so is IMO the one blemish that is a legit criticism. I was worried about his pocket sense early on, but he got better at sensing and avoiding pressure the more he played.

 

Ideally, he is able to improve on the two-minute offense and really jump up to the elite. But I have zero complaints about his performance as a first year starter - I don't know what more some people expect him to do, aside from suddenly be from Mississippi and wear #4.

 

* - yes, I am aware that in a few of these he had ALREADY given the team a 4th quarter lead.

[bpwallace49]

I can't believe I read this whole post. I will never get that two minutes of my life back.

 

It took you two minutes to read that drivel?

 

[gbpfan1231]

It took you two minutes to read that drivel?

 

I kept rereading because I could not believe someone would actually write that drivel.

Edited July 5, 2009 by gbpfan1231

[bpwallace49]

I kept rereading because I could not believe someone would actually write that drivel.

 

Well p[layed!

 

[Ed Hoyle]

I'll eat my words if the Pack wins their division or has a winning record. You have your opinion and I have mine.

 

ARodg needs to prove he's a leader. He does have all the tools and is more mobile than Favre. He also makes better decisions. Yet, there were a handful of games that he didn't get it over the top. That should come with time. If not, what will your answer be?

 

But, you still cannot take away the intensity. GB teams of mediocrity just seemed to play with more intensity with Favre. (Who should still stay retired.)

 

But, I still hate Thompson for my own reasons, as well as McCarthy. Friends of mine in GB say the intensity of the whole organization changed when TT came on. Both he and Brett are guilty in the whole situation. It is just hard for some of us to go from having the "atmosphere of winning" with intensity vs. the drama of last year and the letdown of #4 being gone.

 

IMO, they should have let Favre compete for the job no matter the see-saw. If ARodg was that good, he'd win the job outright last year.

 

So, you can't say I'm not a Packer Fan. I just don't care for their style. I gutted through the Starr and Infante...damn..the Gregg time too.

[Seahawks21]

Defensive and special teams problems aside, there were a handful of games where Rodgers DID have the ball in his hands with plenty of time to engineer a comeback.* His failure to do so is IMO the one blemish that is a legit criticism. I was worried about his pocket sense early on, but he got better at sensing and avoiding pressure the more he played.

 

Ideally, he is able to improve on the two-minute offense and really jump up to the elite. But I have zero complaints about his performance as a first year starter - I don't know what more some people expect him to do, aside from suddenly be from Mississippi and wear #4.

 

* - yes, I am aware that in a few of these he had ALREADY given the team a 4th quarter lead.

Yep. So far he is a 45 minute player. He needs to make the biggest plays in the biggest situations. This can be learned. If his coaching really was holding him back last season, we will see what happens when they let him loose. Being a "winner" is the most important attribute of rating QB's. He isn't there yet. Most of the signs suggest he will figure it out, but until he does it a few times, he can't be labeled as a true success. It has to at least be slightly disappointing that he didn't get it done more often last year, but you can't call him a bust yet either.

[Chargerz]

I love that Rodgers had a big year even tho the team stunk. I just hope he does it again and the team does well so people can go "Brett who?"

+1

[Randall]

Yep. So far he is a 45 minute player. He needs to make the biggest plays in the biggest situations. This can be learned. If his coaching really was holding him back last season, we will see what happens when they let him loose. Being a "winner" is the most important attribute of rating QB's. He isn't there yet. Most of the signs suggest he will figure it out, but until he does it a few times, he can't be labeled as a true success. It has to at least be slightly disappointing that he didn't get it done more often last year, but you can't call him a bust yet either.

 

 

Dude with Favre around he didn't get any playing time. How did Hasselbeck do his first year? With Favre around both backups got nearly no playing time.

 

2001-Hasselbeck 12 games started 54.8% 2,023 yards 7 TD's 8 interceptions. Year 2 he got 3075 yards 15 and 10.

Rodgers 63.6% 4,038 yards 28 13

 

 

He will have to improve but he's off to a good start. He's 25 years old.

[piratesownninjas]

Yep. So far he is a 45 minute player.

So how many times did he give the pack a lead late in the fourth? He put the packers into position to win plenty of those, he cannot make the defense tackle/defend the pass better. He cannot cover Steve Smith. He cannot make Mason Crosby kick a field goal. His problem wasn't that he couldnt play in the fourth, or give them to take the game in the fourth- He did. He just couldn't do it 2-3 times in the fourth, which is where his critisism comes from.

[Chavez]

So how many times did he give the pack a lead late in the fourth? He put the packers into position to win plenty of those, he cannot make the defense tackle/defend the pass better. He cannot cover Steve Smith. He cannot make Mason Crosby kick a field goal. His problem wasn't that he couldnt play in the fourth, or give them to take the game in the fourth- He did. He just couldn't do it 2-3 times in the fourth, which is where his critisism comes from.

Right.

 

In the grand scheme of things, he had 2-3 opportunities to lead the team to a nail-biter win on a clutch 2-minute drive. He failed to do that.

 

However, in 4-5 other games, he put the team in position to win if D or special teams did their jobs. They did not.

 

Still, I think the failure in those 2-3 games is a legit criticism, and really it's the only flaw in his game.

[jgcoach]

Favre was a great QB. Maybe still has one last season in him behind a good running game and def. As far as Rodgers goes, he shows some really good stuff. What was brought up is correct, he's young and some of those games lost by just one score should be put square on his shoulders. If they had the ball after the last go ahead score, it's the mark of a good QB to lead a winning drive. Saying his team needs to get better, that argument can be made for many QBs. Bottom line, it was his first season starting. He put up great numbers. I think he'll be in GB for a long time. Whether he turns out to be just good or can he be great, only time will tell.

[bushwacked]

You were never a fan. A fan sticks through thick and thin. And I'm glad that people like you don't root for the team that I do.

 

A little too seriously? Just a tad?

[bushwacked]

Being a "winner" is the most important attribute of rating QB's.

 

Actually, I'd say getting to the point where you get chances to step up during crunch time is a pretty big progression step.

 

Dude with Favre around he didn't get any playing time. How did Hasselbeck do his first year?

 

Hasselbeck basically sucked his first season as a starter. The 2nd season he got replaced by Dilfer in the latter half of the season.