Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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Green Bay Let's just get this out of the way: Aaron Rodgers has done a lot more right than wrong in his 25 games as starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

His statistics are gaudy. He's fourth in the National Football League with a 101.8 passer rating. Rodgers' 134.9 rating on third downs is far and away the best in the league. He has thrown 17 touchdowns against just five interceptions.

And he certainly has the smarts and the physical tools needed at the position.

But has Rodgers really made the throws or the plays when the team needed him to? You know what we're referring to: tough throws into impossible spots in gotta-have-it moments? The kinds of plays that separate the good quarterbacks from the elite?

It's a small sample in a such a young career, to be sure, but perhaps not. It might be part of the reason, despite the stats and talent, that Rodgers owned just a 10-14 record as a starter heading into Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

And then "The Drive" happened against the Cowboys. And it might have changed everything.

Fifteen plays. Eighty yards. Eight minutes, 36 seconds off the clock. And two throws (and catches) that were described by Rodgers' coaches and teammates as "big-time."

And now as a result, maybe Rodgers' time has truly arrived.

"The two big third-down throws, you talk about your quarterback making three or four plays a game, those two right there are huge plays," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday in a Lambeau Field office right off the media auditorium. "And those kind of plays win games. Those plays can change a game. And that's when you talk about prime-time players. Your prime-time players win big games because they make those one or two plays. Those definitely fit in that category."

Up to that point, Rodgers had made two clutch throws that were in the same ballpark: the late third-quarter, thread-the-needle touchdown pass to Greg Jennings last year at Tampa Bay and the game-winning throw to Jennings in the season opener against Chicago.

But the Packers lost to the Buccaneers, and Jennings was wide open when the Bears busted a coverage.

There's no denying what happened against the Cowboys, however.

On third-and-11 from the Packers' 34-yard-line, Rodgers made a route adjustment at the line and then threw a bullet to Jennings, who was tightly covered by nickel back Orlando Scandrick on the inside. Cornerback Terrence Newman sagged on the outside as he looked to come off his man and jump the route.

Three plays later, on third-and-13 from the Green Bay 45, Rodgers somehow completed a pass down the middle to tight end Donald Lee with linebacker Keith Brooking underneath and safety Patrick Watkins charging hard from the top.

The receivers were, for all intents and purposes, covered on each play. But Rodgers gunned passes in there anyway, something he was reticent to do not only earlier in the game, but for much of his young career.

Rodgers had not shown much of a knack for "throwing a receiver open." But it's essential to success.

"That's something great quarterbacks do," said former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, who will call Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers for Fox. "When they go to let go of the ball, you can look at what he's throwing to and go, 'What the heck are you doing?' The really good quarterbacks recognize that the margins the receivers are open in this league are so very narrow and that you do have to throw a receiver open. He showed that ability to do that there."

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said throwing open is a talent learned through experience.

"This isn't college football where receivers run free and there's big open space and big windows to throw into," Jaworski said. "This is the National Football League. You're constantly squeezing balls into tight coverage. It takes a while to figure out who you are at this level.

"I can remember one of my old coaches, Sid Gilman, would always tell me, 'In the preseason, especially, you've got to experiment. You've got to try to make those throws. Yeah, they're tough throws, but see what you can do. You've got to test yourself.' And it really takes time for a quarterback to understand what he can do in situations. Do you really trust, not only your receiver, but do you trust yourself? And I think what came out of that game is an opportunity where Aaron did make some throws, where there was tight coverage, where there were small windows, where there was only a small area to throw the football."

Rodgers also completed a tough pass on third-and-6 from the Dallas 8 to Jordy Nelson that set up the touchdown that put Packers ahead 10-0. Cowboys standout linebacker DeMarcus Ware was in Rodgers' face, which forced him into an awkward release. But Rodgers found a way to get it there.

There were other encouraging signs on that drive. Rodgers hit on four short passes. He released the ball almost always on rhythm with a three-strep drop. His only release time over 2.77 seconds came on a throwaway out of bounds (another improvement). On his 10 dropbacks (7 of 9, 59 yards, one sack), Rodgers released the ball in under 2 seconds five times.

"That was definitely a point of emphasis, the time clock and playing with some rhythm and some timing," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. "It all came together on that drive."

So too may the Packers' season, if Rodgers and the rest of the offense can build on it.

"There are always some defining moments in a player's career," Jaworski said. "You look back at plays, drives. That could be one of them. It's against the Dallas Cowboys, it's a must-win game. You're at home. You've had some people on your back a little bit. It was a heck of a drive under tough situations against a team that gets after the quarterback."

And it likely signifies a big step in Rodgers' development.

"Is this putting him into that elite group of quarterbacks? Yeah, I think he's taking that step with those throws," McCarthy said. "When you make those types of plays, those are the kinds of plays that win games.&ensp.&ensp.&ensp. If he continues to do those types of things, I think they'll talk about him that way."


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dyeah_gb
15 years ago
This article is a strectch since it was only one drive. I do agree with the main point that Rodgers is a good qb but still has a lot of room to grow. I suspect that he has a hard time finding his receivers because the windows of opportunity for his open receivers go by so quick. I was pleased to see him control the tempo much more in the 4qth quarter of the game.

I think this is something that I have to consider as a fan; that I have to be patient as Rodgers and the offense continue to mature.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool - R. Feynman
PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
Keep calling plays like was done against Dallas, and you will continue to see Rodgers play the way we know he can. Remember the 9+ minute drive against Carolina last year.

The scary thing is, yes Rodgers has room to improve, and when he does, he is going to be damn good.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
Stevetarded
15 years ago
Rodgers made a "tight throw into a small window" 50 yards down the field against TB and everyone said it was bad.
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Rockmolder
15 years ago
Makes you wonder, if the Bears CBs had been tighter on Jennings against the Bears, would that have made for a better completion by Rodgers? Would he then have made that throw that "we're all waiting for" for the comeback?
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
This is a dumb article. It's a backhanded compliment at best, full of qualifications and "maybes." If the Packers lose this week against the 49ers, the columnists -- ahem, reporters -- will all be back to their snide remarks again.

As I said before the season began, rank bandwagon jumpers, all of 'em.
UserPostedImage
15 years ago
I really wanted to see Rodgers trust in the offense, himself, and his receivers and make those throws when the rhythm offense dictates. That was what made me so happy about that drive.
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Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
15 years ago
Give me a break.

Further proof that the quantitative understanding of the average journalist is at C- level or worse. One observation does not a defining sample make.

I like Rodgers. I'm glad he's the QB. But it has nothing to do with his performance in one game, much less his performance on one drive.

I like Bedard, too. Fortunately for him, my like isn't based on a single column that he has written.

Dumb.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Silentio
15 years ago

Rodgers made a "tight throw into a small window" 50 yards down the field against TB and everyone said it was bad.

"Stevetarded" wrote:



Yeah and the ball hit the receiver in the hands.
blank
15 years ago
He made that throw with a separated shoulder too.
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wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
dfosterf (25-May) : AI system resorts to blackmail when its developers threaten to take it offline
beast (22-May) : Colts Owner Jim Irsay has passed away
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Well, emailing should work now. After not working for almost a year. Oops.
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Brotherly Shove did not get enough votes.
Zero2Cool (20-May) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users
Zero2Cool (20-May) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah
Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
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