Just before his HOF pass to Cook, much has been said about how Rodgers held onto the ball on that sack and rightly so. Grip and grip strength is something Rodgers works on diligently as part of his fastidious preparation.
But my question is this: How could Rodgers not know where the second safety was?
This is a guy who knows where the D players are as they substitute. Forget the stats, no QB has ever approached Rodgers’ ability as it pertains to the cerebral part of QB play. Given his decent throwing and scrambling abilities it is in the execution of his cerebral football acumen brilliance that allows Rodgers to stand alone as the unequivocal QB GOAT. His fastidious film prep and ability to reads defenses and ability to anticipate what a D is doing is like no other. It is his MENTAL fastidious [look that word up] attention to detail that provides for his accuracy. On the last throw he sets 2 times on scramble; watch this play in slowmo Rodgers’ somehow on the run arranges his body in perfect throwing form on the throw to Cook. This is why the throw seems so unbelievable because all other QBs throw on the run; Rodgers throw standing still in the pocket while he’s moving. EVERYTHING that makes Rodgers great emanates from his fastidious mental preparation.
But, on this play, he doesn’t know where the 2nd safety is. It is inexplicable. Hundley and Callahan wouldn’t have made that Cook throw; but they would have at least known where that 2nd safety was.
Monty was set to his right; Rodgers could have moved Monty to left side, because Bak and Taylor were outnumbered or if Rodgers’ knows Dallas’ tendency to threaten blitz and drop the safety he at least has to account for dropping back, or if the safety comes Rodgers needs to roll right.
The single thing that separates good crunch time players from not so, in any sport is the ability to not change the approach taken when it is not crunch time. If Mason’s thinking is about the moment instead of the mechanics of his job; his accuracy will drop precipitously.
After the game Wilde asked Rodgers about his emotions on final drive; Rodgers said, "I was thinking about on that last drive just thinking about my breathing and trying to steady that," Rodgers said. "I felt good. I felt very calm, and I was very positive in the huddle and felt like we were going to go down and score."
This is why Aaron grabs for the collar in big moments; he changes his approach at crunch time. He has to, among other things, work to control his breathing; he’s thinking of this instead of locating the 2nd safety. This is why the 1st pick in 391 passes was thrown at the time it was. This is why the drive to end the game resulted in a FG instead of a run out the clock score. This is why the D has been required to close out all but 2 of Rodgers’ playoff wins. And the D closed out this one, by stopping Dallas for FG and leaving time on the clock.
This also provides the answer to the question of another thread: Belichek would have less rings if Rodgers was his QB [even though Rodgers is better than Brady].