Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers shows MVP potential
BY PETE DOUGHERTY PDOUGHER@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM AUGUST 28, 2010
Yes, its a little early to hand out awards for the 2010 NFL season, and this preseason will be long forgotten in two weeks, when many promising developments in training camp begin succumbing to the reality of the 16-game schedule.
But theres also no denying that the Green Bay Packers quarterback has followed up his strong 2009 season with an elite performance through three preseason games. Considering he plays the games marquee position for a team with a promising outlook in 2010, thats the stuff of which MVP candidates are made.
Im feeling sharp, for sure, Rodgers said Thursday night after putting up a 124.9-point passer rating in the Packers 59-24 preseason win over Indianapolis. When Im playing well its a combination of a number of things. Mentally Im in a good place, the (pass) protection is solid, and theres a rhythm with the play calling.
I think weve got all those three things. I felt real confident with what Ive been doing, protection has been excellent, thats important. And the play calling has allowed myself and our offense to get in a good rhythm. Mike (McCarthy) definitely deserves credit for that.
As of Saturday afternoon, Rodgers ranked just ahead of New Englands Tom Brady for the top passer rating in the preseason (141.2 points to 140.6 points) and figures to remain there after the 10 games scheduled for Saturday night because Brady already has played this week.
In three games, Rodgers has played 14 series and put up points on eight of them (seven touchdowns and one field goal). Two of the non-scoring drives ended with a lost fumble by a halfback and another when McCarthy tried to convert a fourth down rather than kick a 40-yard field goal, something he likely would have tried in a regular-season game.
So, the Packers have punted on only three of the 14 series with Rodgers at quarterback, and only one of those series was a three-and-out.
Besides the numbers, there also was Rodgers lone hurry-up possession of the preseason, last week against Indianapolis. Taking over at his 22 with 1 minute, 33 seconds to play in the first half and two timeouts, Rodgers threw seven straight completions, minus one spike to stop the clock, and put a touchdown on the board with 3 seconds left.
The 2-minute drill he has a good command of those situations, said Joe Philbin, the Packers offensive coordinator. His mind with time management is very good, when to call time out, when to (spike), hes usually beating us as coaches to the punch with those things. Hes got a good football mind, situational mind, because he works at it. Hes been playing well.
Still, its a ways from a strong preseason to contending for an MVP. Last year, Rodgers also had an impressive preseason (147.9 passer rating, six touchdown passes and no interceptions), and while he went on to finish fourth in the NFL in passer rating in the regular season, he was not on the short list of MVP candidates. Indianapolis Peyton Manning won the award in a landslide (39 of 50 votes), with New Orleans Drew Brees (7), San Diegos Philip Rivers (2) and Minnesotas Brett Favre (1) the only others receiving votes.
Still, Rodgers plays the right position to get on the short list this year: Seven of the last 10 MVP awards have gone to a quarterback, including 2003, when Manning and former Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair shared the award.
Hes also reached a ripening age at 26 he turns 27 in December and in his third season as NFL starter. Favre won his first MVP at age 26, Manning was 27 when he won his first, and Brady was 30 when he won his lone MVP.
Rodgers also has an improving arsenal of weapons. Most notably, tight end Jermichael Finley has taken off (12 receptions for a 13.6-yard average in limited playing time) and has been the teams second-best player in training camp, behind only Rodgers. Along with Greg Jennings, that gives Rodgers two receiving threats that defenses will have to account for, which will make receivers Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson that much more difficult to defend.
I feel better this year, Rodgers said. I like the identity weve established. Last year we made a bunch of big plays in preseason, but I dont think we were as consistent game in and game out. You look at the stats (from the 09 preseason) Cleveland we did some good things, Buffalo I only had one incompletion, Arizona. But this year I feel like we have more of an identity. Were going to find ways to get the ball to 88 (Finley). Were going to find ways to get the ball to Donald (Driver) and Greg (Jennings) and JJ (Jones) and Jordy (Nelson). I think we just have a better direction.
Rodgers and McCarthy also are counting on starting the season much better than in 09, when sacks were a major issue in the teams 4-4 record halfway through the season. Rodgers bore responsibility for occasionally holding the ball too long, but the Packers also had problems at both tackles, where Chad Clifton missed four of the first seven games on the left side because of a recurring ankle injury, and Mark Tauscher didnt become the full-time starter until the final seven games after coming back in midseason from knee reconstruction surgery.
This year, Clifton and Tauscher have been healthy and practicing since the start of offseason practices, and at ages 34 and 33, respectively, have looked good in training camp. Last week they held up well against as good a pass-rush duo as theyll face all season in Indianapolis defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
If you look at us starting the season, I feel good about Chad being healthy, Mark being in there, Rodgers said. But two guys Daryn (Colledge) is Mr. Consistency, hes done a good job for us when hes played left guard but I dont think (right guard) Josh Sitton gets enough credit, hes played excellent. And (center) Scott Wells, after sitting last year for a few weeks, hes as consistent as they come but hes also really smart. He takes a lot of the pressure off me to make protection calls.
The Packers might need an MVP-type season from Rodgers to advance deep into the playoffs this year, depending on how much their defense improves when it is finally healthy, most notably getting injured key starters Clay Matthews and Cullen Jenkins back for the start of the regular season.
Last year the defense finished No. 2 in the NFL in yards allowed and No. 7 in points allowed, but it had well documented problems against the best quarterbacks it faced. Favre (twice), Pittsburghs Ben Roethlisberger and Arizonas Kurt Warner (in the playoffs) put up an average of 37.8 points and 439.3 yards in those four Packers losses.
This year, Rodgers might have to win some shootouts against quarterbacks such as Washingtons Donovan McNabb, Favre (twice), Dallas Tony Romo, Atlantas Matt Ryan and New Englands Brady.
Maybe so, Rodgers said. We talked about it on the sideline (Thursday night). I was actually talking to some of the defensive guys about that. Were a little undermanned right now with some guys we need to get healthy. (But) we feel like if we get in a shootout like this we can put up some points. We dont want to every week, but we have the kind of offense where we can score in bunches.