Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Rodgers still has one big step to take 
The Packers QB will escape the shadow of Brett Favre if he can have another strong season -- and make a long playoff run.


By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune
Last update: September 12, 2010 - 9:21 AM

GREEN BAY, WIS. - Preparedness, pinpoint accuracy and the league's smoothest deep ball have made the Packers' Aaron Rodgers one of the NFL's best quarterbacks at the still tender age of 26.

But personal stats and pretty passes won't make him a legend. Not in Titletown, USA.

To emerge from the considerable shadow of Brett Favre, his predecessor, Rodgers needs to win a Super Bowl. Sorry, but that sure seems to be the unwritten rule in a city that's celebrated 12 NFL championships, including Super Bowls I, II and XXXI.

"I don't know about shadows or eclipses or any of that stuff," right tackle Mark Tauscher said. "All I know is Aaron's a good player who is getting a lot better. He's already his own quarterback, not the guy who replaced Brett. He's had success, and I expect he'll have a lot more success before he's done."

The Packers play Sunday at Philadelphia in the opening game of a season many experts believe will culminate with the Packers winning Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas. Concerns about the offensive line and the pass defense often are cast aside because of the efficiency and sheer explosiveness of Rodgers and the passing attack.

"If the defense slacks, they can count on us 100 percent," tight end Jermichael Finley said. "We're going to put that thing in the air, and we're going to get in the end zone real fast. I don't think we can be stopped, to tell you the truth."

Rodgers is the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. He's also 17-16 with no playoff wins as a starter, so the next logical step in his career evolution is experiencing postseason success.

This could be the year. This is the best team he's had around him and, besides, he turns 27 in December. That's the same age Favre was when he won Super Bowl XXXI on Jan. 26, 1997.

"The bottom line is we have a great quarterback," receiver Greg Jennings said. "He's got great physical skills, great leadership skills, and he can get the job done. The chemistry is great. He's got a lot of weapons. We're getting into open spots and he's putting the ball right on the money no matter where we are."

It was another near-flawless preseason for Rodgers. He completed 77.4 percent of his passes (41 of 53) for 470 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks while playing parts of only three games.

The Packers are hoping their pass protection holds up through the regular season. The past two seasons, including playoffs, Rodgers has been sacked 89 times and lost eight of his 21 fumbles. The Arizona Cardinals returned one of those fumbles for the game-winning touchdown in a 51-45 wild-card playoff victory last season.

"I think the offensive line will be fine," Rodgers said. "And with the weapons we have, we feel we can score every time we touch the ball. All I have to do is be accurate. Whoever gets open will get the ball."

Including playoffs, Rodgers has completed 64.3 percent of his passes with 62 touchdowns and 21 interceptions the past two years. He's also averaged 7.9 yards on 1,119 attempts.

The seamless transition at quarterback from Favre to Rodgers didn't happen by accident. It took Packers General Manager Ted Thompson drafting Rodgers 24th overall in 2005. It took Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy having enough confidence in Rodgers to risk their careers by unloading Favre when he decided to unretire in 2008. And, oh yeah, it took a lot of time and effort by Rodgers during the three years he was Favre's backup.

"It was 100 percent hard work," Rodgers said. "I'm a full-time football guy. I'm a March 15 to every-day-in-the-OTAs to training-camp kind of guy. I think that full-time work pays off. Good old-fashioned work has paid off for myself and the team."

And now Rodgers will try to wrest the NFC North from the Vikings and Favre. At 40, Favre is a part-time kind of guy who skips everything from February through mid-August, yet he still managed to beat Rodgers and the Packers twice last season.

Rodgers isn't interested in comparisons between Favre and himself.

"He has nothing to do with me or this team," Rodgers said.



Not an original idea or even word in this piece. But this site is first and foremost a repository of Packers-related articles for Kevin, so here's another one.
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Fan Shout
packerfanoutwest (5h) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
Zero2Cool (13h) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Pretty sure they already have scouting reports on guys who aren't even starting for their college team. The future is now for me.
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : I tend to let Gute and Co. Worry about the future.
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Jaire and Evans Williams are both ACTIVE! Good news.
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : The badgers really need to change the whole offensive scheme. No draws no screens plus the quarterback is marginal
Cheesey (17-Nov) : If the Badgers had a decent QB, they would have won. The guy can't hit a wide open receiver
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : chop block
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : there was a very questionable job Block call that upon viewing replay was very borderline
beast (17-Nov) : How so? (I didn't watch)
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Badgers got hosed vs Oregon
packerfanoutwest (16-Nov) : damn,he hasn't played since week 2
Mucky Tundra (15-Nov) : poor guy can't catch a break
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