TAMPA, Fla. The question was posed, and Aaron Rodgers responded with footballs conversational equivalent of I dont want to talk about it.
I dont know, the Green Bay Packers quarterback replied. Were going to have to watch the film.
The topic, of course, was sacks as usual. During Sundays 38-28 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, Rodgers was sacked six more times by a team that had a not-so-grand total of 11 through its first seven games to run the Packers NFL-high season total to 37. Theyre now on pace for 74 this season, which would break the 1990 teams record of 52 and means Rodgers will break Don Majkowskis single-quarterback record of 47, set in 1989, within the next few weeks.
Assuming Rodgers is still upright at that point.
We should be worried about him. Because weve got a lot of games left, and no player particularly your quarterback should be taking the punishment that he is, running back Ryan Grant said. Im surprised he gets up sometimes. Thats on all of us. Everybody. We need to get it right.
And that includes Rodgers, who is starting to show more signs that the constant beat-downs are getting to him. For the first time, coach Mike McCarthy publicly pinned a significant portion of the blame not on the offensive line, but on the quarterback himself. McCarthy intimated that Rodgers may have receivers open but is holding onto the ball too long or being indecisive with it.
I thought he had plenty of time to throw. I'm real curious to see the film because either they're doing a hell of a job covering us, (or) ..., McCarthy said, his voice trailing off. I mean, there was time and time again that our receivers on crossing routes versus that coverage ... I mean, it'll be curious to see what the film looks like."
As for the sheer number of sacks three more than Rodgers absorbed all of last season McCarthy said, It has to stop. You can't sit here and keep taking sacks. I'm sure you're tired of asking the question and I'm tired of talking about it. That's a reflection of coaching and playing. It's something that's been coached, it's something that's been trained, and it keeps showing up on Sundays. It has to end. We cannot continue to have the numbers that we have in the sacks.
Of course, the sacks werent Rodgers only problem Sunday. He came into the game as the NFLs top-rated passer, having thrown 14 touchdowns versus just two interceptions, and he left having thrown three picks to finish with his lowest single-game passer rating (57.6) since last years loss to the Buccaneers here (a career-low 55.9).
Two of Rodgers interceptions came on passes thrown late down the middle of the field. The first, picked off by lurking cornerback Elbert Mack on a deep ball to an apparently open Donald Driver, set up the Buccaneers first touchdown. The second, on a deep ball to Greg Jennings with four players around him, might have been a 42-yard touchdown anyway but it caromed to cornerback Aqib Talib at the goal line. And the last one, on a high throw to Driver on fourth-and-12 with 1:35 to go, deflected off Drivers hands to safety Tanard Jackson, who returned it for a touchdown.
"The first one, he clearly didn't see the corner. I think the other two I would consider them contested, McCarthy said. If you want to classify them he had the one minus decision."
Rodgers confessed he didnt see Mack on the first pick, then said he felt good about the second ball and said the third was desperation.
But desperation also describes the Packers protection situation. The final interception was actually set up two plays earlier, when on second-and-10 from the Packers 13-yard line, defensive end Stylez G. White beat left guard Daryn Colledge on a stunt, bull-rushing Colledge back into Rodgers for a 9-yard sack loss, leading to third-and-19 and ultimately the fourth-and-12 misfire.
Colledge said he initially blocked defensive tackle Chris Hovan, and when he recognized the game Hovan and White were playing, it was too late.
By the time I realized what happened, he was already in my lap. You just cant do that, said Colledge, who had a costly holding penalty on the previous series, too. "(White) already had leverage. I shouldve been ready.
While Rodgers is absorbing more criticism for the sacks, Colledge said the fault ultimately lies with the line.
Theres a lot of factors in why its happened so much, but the fact of the matter is weve got to block better, Colledge said. Weve got to block as long as he needs to hold the ball. Were not going to put the blame on him. The offensive line will take that blame and well find a way to do it better and longer.
Rodgers said his foot problems a sprained right foot and a sprained big toe on his left foot, which kept him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday did not factor into his play. He seemed as mobile as ever, making several throws on the run and carrying the ball three times for 26 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown.
They hurt, definitely, but I dont think it really slowed me too much, Rodgers said. I got hit in the hip, which kind of took some pain out of my feet. They werent an issue.