Packnic
Cheesehead
weird little blurb from Jeremy Green at Scouts, Inc. Not sure i agree with everything especially the Arod not being athletic, but it is something to read if your bored.
Go Deep Young Man
Rodgers needs to go deep or Packers will struggle in '08
By Jeremy Green
Scouts Inc.
Updated: May 16, 2008
For the first time in 18 years, Brett Favre isn't going to be under center in Green Bay. Now, the short-term success of the Packers' entire franchise is on first-time starter Aaron Rodgers' shoulders. He will never be Favre, but he doesn't have to be because he has a plethora of talent around him and a coach who will tweak the West Coast offense to cater to Rodgers' strengths.
Aaron Rodgers will finally take over for Brett Favre in 2008.
Head coach Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense is a great system for an unproven quarterback, like Rodgers, to develop in. Inexperienced quarterbacks tend to hold on to the football too long, but because this system is based on mostly three-step and five-step drops, Rodgers should be able to get rid of the ball quicker. He performed well in this system against Dallas last season. He did a good job of dropping back, getting rid of the ball and taking what the Cowboys gave him. But, the Packers' offense needs to add the deep ball to its West Coast system. Rodgers' ability to connect on the deep ball is going to play a large role in Green Bay's offensive success this season.
One thing that made the Packers' West Coast offense under Favre a little different was the element of the big play via the deep ball. Favre was able to scramble and let his receivers get downfield. Rodgers is not nearly as athletic or mobile, but McCarthy must call for some deep balls in order to keep the defense honest. If not, defenses will start bringing their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, which would make it more difficult to run a traditional West Coast system because it is more difficult to connect on slants, curls and outs.
Stretching the field will also not allow opposing defenses to put eight men in the box to stop RB Ryan Grant and pressure Rodgers. Even though the Packers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher and the inside trio of Jason Spitz, Scott Wells and Daryn Colledge, they are used to blocking versus six- and seven-man fronts and not protecting against blitz pressure. When you can connect on a few vertical plays off the blitz, it makes the defense a little more passive and makes the defensive coordinator think twice about trying to rattle the cage of an unproven quarterback.
Week 1 will be a huge test for Rodgers and the Packers' offense. He has to be physically and mentally tough during his first start because the NFL is a copycat league and if he is challenged early on, he could struggle this season. The Packers don't need to recreate the wheel as it pertains to the offense, but a little deep ball will go a long way toward keeping this offense on track in 2008.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Go Deep Young Man
Rodgers needs to go deep or Packers will struggle in '08
By Jeremy Green
Scouts Inc.
Updated: May 16, 2008
For the first time in 18 years, Brett Favre isn't going to be under center in Green Bay. Now, the short-term success of the Packers' entire franchise is on first-time starter Aaron Rodgers' shoulders. He will never be Favre, but he doesn't have to be because he has a plethora of talent around him and a coach who will tweak the West Coast offense to cater to Rodgers' strengths.
Aaron Rodgers will finally take over for Brett Favre in 2008.
Head coach Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense is a great system for an unproven quarterback, like Rodgers, to develop in. Inexperienced quarterbacks tend to hold on to the football too long, but because this system is based on mostly three-step and five-step drops, Rodgers should be able to get rid of the ball quicker. He performed well in this system against Dallas last season. He did a good job of dropping back, getting rid of the ball and taking what the Cowboys gave him. But, the Packers' offense needs to add the deep ball to its West Coast system. Rodgers' ability to connect on the deep ball is going to play a large role in Green Bay's offensive success this season.
One thing that made the Packers' West Coast offense under Favre a little different was the element of the big play via the deep ball. Favre was able to scramble and let his receivers get downfield. Rodgers is not nearly as athletic or mobile, but McCarthy must call for some deep balls in order to keep the defense honest. If not, defenses will start bringing their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, which would make it more difficult to run a traditional West Coast system because it is more difficult to connect on slants, curls and outs.
Stretching the field will also not allow opposing defenses to put eight men in the box to stop RB Ryan Grant and pressure Rodgers. Even though the Packers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher and the inside trio of Jason Spitz, Scott Wells and Daryn Colledge, they are used to blocking versus six- and seven-man fronts and not protecting against blitz pressure. When you can connect on a few vertical plays off the blitz, it makes the defense a little more passive and makes the defensive coordinator think twice about trying to rattle the cage of an unproven quarterback.
Week 1 will be a huge test for Rodgers and the Packers' offense. He has to be physically and mentally tough during his first start because the NFL is a copycat league and if he is challenged early on, he could struggle this season. The Packers don't need to recreate the wheel as it pertains to the offense, but a little deep ball will go a long way toward keeping this offense on track in 2008.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.