I know, I know, we are never to speak non-glowingly of the ever mighty Aaron Charles Rodgers. That said, I think we noticed this during the game too. What bugged me was when the WR's weren't open, we could open field and he wouldn't take it. The best part I take from this is would be I believe Rodgers can turn it on when he wants to. Even when he's "off" we are still finding ways to win. Does it get frustrating, yeah, but I think it's between his ears and he controls it.

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Can Aaron Rodgers turn it on when he wants to?
I've rolled that around in my cranium for some time now.
At times I think he can, but then I wonder why he doesn't do it all the time.
I think he had a down day yesterday and looked downright lethargic at times.
Hopefully he's not on the downslide soon after he signed his mega deal.

The guy gives no insight on why he just played the worst game of his career? Does the guy know all the reads or progressions of the offense? Who the hell is this guy?

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Ben usually does. I was hoping he'd tack on some replies to the original tweet so it would save me the work, lol.

Looks like he hasn't expanded on it much. Other than this, but this doesn't tell us much.

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Yeah, AR wasn’t great yesterday.
But guys have to get open in order for him to throw to them.
It almost seems Rodgers is most accurate when he’s out of the pocket and running for his life.
If he can’t just “turn it on” whenever he wants, we are in serious trouble when the playoffs come.
The only one that is really doing well in our offense is Aaron Jones. Without him, we’d be in real dire straits.

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I like Rodgers.

When I watch other games I see QBs regularly throwing into tight coverage, but do not notice it from Rodgers.

Rodgers deep ball accuracy seems really bad to me. There seem to be lots of overthrows. Also, when he could lead the WR laterally for an uncontested, in-stride catch the ball instead is in a position where the WR has to adjust and make a difficult catch or that allows the defender to catch up.

There are people who dislike Rodgers who attribute some of this to concern about his stats. I think this is unfounded, and there are lots of other reasons why he isn't performing to the level he has proven capable of in the past.

I think Matt LaFLeur can be an average coach for the next 4 years if things continue on the current trajectory. I think he can be a great coach if he can coach Rodgers out of whatever funk he is in, whatever the cause. I don't think I have the exposure to Rodgers to be able to figure it out 🙂.

OK, I'm done spouting random thoughts now.

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Looks like he's offering up an explanation. What do you think about what he says?

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Interesting.

First, how the hell can I get this view of the game I would pay to get this!!! I would love to get this stuff!!!

Second, I have no idea whether he had a good game...or not. Now to his analysis of this play.
On first blush, he is largely not wrong, but he doesn't address the real issues on the play. Footwork (that's right NSD), pocket positioning and a sub-optimal job by our free agent right guard....IMHO.
[list]

Rogers makes the judgment that he must step up in the pocket, which is true on 95% of the times he drops back. It could be argued that his pocket positioning was not optimal because Kerrigan was on his right side, he should have been further left, field side (towards the camera) in the pocket.[list][*]My assumption is strengthened by the observation that Linsley was, sans blitz, helping left[*]There was noone chipping or TE over Kerrigan and he is their best pass rusher[/list][list][/list][*]However, Kerrigan is beginning to beat Bulaga and collapsing him outside in.[*]Rodgers, can see this as it is in his peripheral vision and MUST step up.[*]With the knowledge of the coverage BFennel points out, had Turner blocked properly, i.e. kept his guy outside, Rodgers can set up and hit either Lazard or Allison[*]Given optimal timing, positioning and footwork, Allison was the read.[*]But, since it wasn't optimal, he has to turn his shoulders to step up and not have his arm hit during a throw or before the safety committed.....or run[*]Once he sees the LB taking Williams, THERE IS NOBODY FOR 20 YARDS SO RUNNING WAS AN EXCELLENT OPTION. [*]Had Turner kept his man outside, it is an easy 10-15 yard no brainer gain at no risk other than a grass stain on his sliding ass.[/list]Also of note, in contrast to what BF asserts[list=1][*]Graham IS NOT AN OPTION[*]Williams is not an option[list][*]the fieldside corner is just waiting for him to dump off. [*]The LB is right there forcing Rodgers to lob the ball which is either a pick or he lays Williams out to get blasted[/list][/list]So yes there were guys open, but it wasn't the reads which were the problem, it was pocket positioning, footwork and Turner.

And yes Rodgers need to play better....as do alot of guys, but as a leader, and a guy making a boatload of money, he needs be the leader and step it up.

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Ben generally knows his stuff. Certainly more than most. I think he worked under Mike Mayok at NFL Network, and still works there as far as I know. He's also a Packer fan, so he's not bashing to be a hater.

Aaron Rodgers definitely needs to play much better. He needs to stop having the rookie happy feet in the pocket. He doesn't have the same scramble ability anymore. On the play in the video, I was concerned he incurred a lower leg injury due to the awkward tackle. One play like that and it's lights out for the Packers season.

If he has any chance on prolonging his career in a successful manner, he needs to play within the offense and stop extending plays so much. He's 100% capable of doing this at an elite level. That's what makes it so frustrating. He has more than enough ability to do so, he's just not playing with nearly the same discipline anymore, and doesn't have quite the athletic edge he used to have to bail him out. He's better than this, which is what frustrates Ben, among others.

Eh, except far more often than not these days, it would seem, Rodgers doesn't quite have the elusiveness to make this happen. He often gets snagged just like this play, resulting in a negative play in addition to significant and unnecessary injury risks. Plus, he's 36. He needs to play smarter and be more of a precision passer rather than so often looking for scrambles. It's time for him to adjust his game.

It's absolutely true he needs much better receiving talent. But he's not helping things as much as he's fully capable of doing.