Ok I want to start this off by saying... Rodger is a great QB. And I think Green Bay is truly lucky to have him on their side on Sundays. With that said... I am really sick of people blaming everyone but him. Offensive line, JJ, Cobb for not tackling before the second INT. His play on Sunday was atrocious. With great pay comes great expectations. And if you don't believe what I say, go back and re-watch these plays and tell me I am wrong.
First a fun stat:
Rodgers: 26/43 244 and averaged 5.7 per play
Running game: 30 attempts 182 yards and averaged 6.1 per play
Bet that hasn't happened in quite some time... Anyways
So I am going to go over some of the plays that changed that game... you re-watch and decide.
First Int - 3:11 left in the 3rd -
2nd and 3 - Rodgers goes deep, and throws it in between two receivers. Not exactly sure who he was even throwing it to. Either he was short throwing to Jones, or long throwing to Jordy. But on that play Cobb is open for the first down which would have moved the chains. Not the biggest deal by itself but if you dont have the arm keep just get the first down.
3rd and 3 - Now this is the pick... First of all anyone who listens to Aikman's analysis is wrong to begin with. Yes Jones stopped running his route, but I dont believe its because as Aikman said "he sold out his quarterback." What i think happened in reality is that Jones was covered and knew it. Franklin comes out of the backfield with room to run and JJ see this stops in order to set up to block as I am sure he taught to do. This also would have made more sense considering the coverage and the pass to Franklin would have been a lot smarter at the time.
Put this aspect aside and it was a horrible read by Rodgers... He stared down his receiver and both linebackers floated over to Jones' direction. Leaving Cobb wide-open on the crossing pattern. If Aaron is able to see the field correctly Cobb has more than enough for a first down.
Second Int - 13:41 4th -
Not much to say, about the dumbest play you could make in this situation. 5 yards out of the Redzone, 1st down with a lead in the 4th quarter. Just inexcusable for someone who is considered a top 3 quarterback. Added to that his two outlets were wide open on the play.
Franklin Fumble - 5:14 4th
2nd and 6 Rodgers takes a sack as he continues to look deep with both of his outlet receivers (Quarless and Franklin) open right in front of him. Either of them would have got a first down. He takes the sack, Cobb ends up 1/2 yard short of the first. And Franklin fumbles on fourth. But it shouldnt have ever made it that far.
Side note: He made a **** poor attempt at a tackle on that play as well... Not that I expect him to be a great tackler but come on man... give it a better try than that. Also, Im not saying Franklin's mistake is excusable, but you expect more from the highest paid player in the league, than a rookie 4th round running back.
Final drive - 1:37 4th
1st down... on the Bengals 20. 1st down he throws to JJ who is double covered and had Cobb open on the same side for 15+ yards. Who know with his speed he could have got it in or at least close.
My main point of this isn't to say, hey look this guy sucks. But you cant look at the game through rose colored glasses either. Aaron made a plethora of mistakes in that game. Anyone that says this is the offensive lines fault or defense for playing zone has to put equal or more blame on Rodgers.
One could easily blame him for both INT's and at least 2 of his sacks... Add that to the ******* move to try and run it in on 3rd and goal and getting rocked.
He isn't the only reason the Packers lost, but he sure was a big part of it...
First a fun stat:
Rodgers: 26/43 244 and averaged 5.7 per play
Running game: 30 attempts 182 yards and averaged 6.1 per play
Bet that hasn't happened in quite some time... Anyways
So I am going to go over some of the plays that changed that game... you re-watch and decide.
First Int - 3:11 left in the 3rd -
2nd and 3 - Rodgers goes deep, and throws it in between two receivers. Not exactly sure who he was even throwing it to. Either he was short throwing to Jones, or long throwing to Jordy. But on that play Cobb is open for the first down which would have moved the chains. Not the biggest deal by itself but if you dont have the arm keep just get the first down.
3rd and 3 - Now this is the pick... First of all anyone who listens to Aikman's analysis is wrong to begin with. Yes Jones stopped running his route, but I dont believe its because as Aikman said "he sold out his quarterback." What i think happened in reality is that Jones was covered and knew it. Franklin comes out of the backfield with room to run and JJ see this stops in order to set up to block as I am sure he taught to do. This also would have made more sense considering the coverage and the pass to Franklin would have been a lot smarter at the time.
Put this aspect aside and it was a horrible read by Rodgers... He stared down his receiver and both linebackers floated over to Jones' direction. Leaving Cobb wide-open on the crossing pattern. If Aaron is able to see the field correctly Cobb has more than enough for a first down.
Second Int - 13:41 4th -
Not much to say, about the dumbest play you could make in this situation. 5 yards out of the Redzone, 1st down with a lead in the 4th quarter. Just inexcusable for someone who is considered a top 3 quarterback. Added to that his two outlets were wide open on the play.
Franklin Fumble - 5:14 4th
2nd and 6 Rodgers takes a sack as he continues to look deep with both of his outlet receivers (Quarless and Franklin) open right in front of him. Either of them would have got a first down. He takes the sack, Cobb ends up 1/2 yard short of the first. And Franklin fumbles on fourth. But it shouldnt have ever made it that far.
Side note: He made a **** poor attempt at a tackle on that play as well... Not that I expect him to be a great tackler but come on man... give it a better try than that. Also, Im not saying Franklin's mistake is excusable, but you expect more from the highest paid player in the league, than a rookie 4th round running back.
Final drive - 1:37 4th
1st down... on the Bengals 20. 1st down he throws to JJ who is double covered and had Cobb open on the same side for 15+ yards. Who know with his speed he could have got it in or at least close.
My main point of this isn't to say, hey look this guy sucks. But you cant look at the game through rose colored glasses either. Aaron made a plethora of mistakes in that game. Anyone that says this is the offensive lines fault or defense for playing zone has to put equal or more blame on Rodgers.
One could easily blame him for both INT's and at least 2 of his sacks... Add that to the ******* move to try and run it in on 3rd and goal and getting rocked.
He isn't the only reason the Packers lost, but he sure was a big part of it...