Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers humbly puts on a show
BY MIKE VANDERMAUSE MVANDERMAUSE@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM AUGUST 26, 2010
Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 29 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns to stake the Green Bay Packers to a 28-17 first-half lead Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
It had to be a very satisfying performance for the Packers starting quarterback against the defending AFC champion Indianapolis Colts, right?
Honestly, I was disappointed until that last drive, said Rodgers, referring to the Packers eight-play, 78-yard touchdown march in the final minute and a half of the second quarter. I didnt think we had a great rhythm, but Im happy the way it ended and glad we got that touchdown. It turned out to be a pretty good half for us.
Pretty good would be an understatement in the Packers eventual 59-24 victory. The Packers starting offense, in just one half, generated a staggering 19 first downs, 236 total yards and produced three touchdowns.
If that is cause for disappointment, the Packers have much to look forward to this season. And it starts with Rodgers, who outplayed his Colts counterpart, Peyton Manning, in a nationally televised shootout.
Thats Manning, the four-time NFL MVP who is generally considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Manning completed 15 of 26 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns in two-plus quarters of work, but also threw an interception and fumbled on a sack.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has no turnovers in the preseason and his overall statistics are sparkling. In three games he has completed 41 of 53 passes (77.4%) for 470 yards and six touchdowns.
His play is getting attention from some of the best defensive players in the NFL, including Indianapolis Colts five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney.
When asked after the game if Rodgers has the potential to become an elite quarterback, Freeney replied: He is one of the better quarterbacks in the league. I think he is now. I think definitely the sky is the limit for him.
Rodgers hasnt been sacked in the preseason, and the criticism about him holding the ball too long has disappeared.
Today he got rid of the ball in a blink of an eye, said Freeney.
Hes a great quarterback. He gets rid of the ball and reads coverages great.
Rodgers credits coach Mike McCarthys play-calling for helping to keep defenders off his back. Shorter drops allow Rodgers to get the ball out quicker, and moving out of the pocket and changing the defenders rush angles has kept Rodgers out of harms way more often.
Mike and I have done a better job of thinking of ways to get myself in a better rhythm quicker, said Rodgers. When this offense gets in a rhythm were tough to stop.
Rodgers and Manning exchanged greetings and handshakes after the game. In the locker room the Colts quarterback said he was impressed with Rodgers.
Hes a good player, said Manning. He had a really good year last year. Hes got a lot of weapons. They really do some things that play to his strengths: his ability to move out of the pocket, throw on the run and throw the ball deep down the field really, really well.
Ever the perfectionist, Rodgers said the offense can get better. He didnt like the three-and-out series, which he called unacceptable, and the drive that ended on a fumble inside the 10.
But Rodgers will humbly accept Freeneys compliment. It means a lot to me, especially coming from a guy like that, he said. Hes a great player so that means a lot to me. Any time I get comments like that I really appreciate that.
If Rodgers continues on his current path, more praise like that will follow.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.