"When we talk about quarterback turnovers we focus on interceptions, but that’s a bit myopic, especially considering how much of the offense the quarterback controls. Rodgers is among the league leaders in sacks taken, and while you might be tempted to blame the line for that fact (and sometimes they deserve it), Rodgers is the primary culprit. He loves to hold the ball waiting for the big play and he is also willing to take a sack instead of throwing a risky pass, but while many sacks are preferable to interceptions, 3rd down sacks are a different story. 56% of Rodgers’ sacks have occurred on 3rd or 4th down, and while sacks on third down are common (because passing on 3rd down is common), Russell Wilson, who also takes a lot of sacks (32 so far this season, to Rodgers’ 30) has been sacked on 3rd or 4th down just 43% of the time.
Indeed, in this game Rodgers was sacked four times on 3rd down, killing several promising drives. Wilson was never sacked on 3rd down, and as a result, Seattle converted 6 of 15 opportunities. The Packers converted just 3 of 11 third downs. Rodgers is on pace to take 48 sacks, which wouldn’t be a career high, but would still be a lot. However, there’s reason to think that raw number understates the severity of the situation. Rodgers is on pace for just 237 rushing yards, which would be his lowest 16-game total since 2008, and he’s averaging just 5.1 yards per carry, his lowest since the injury-shortened 2013 season. Rodgers is hitting the age where nagging injuries start to build up and mobility fades. He’s already suffered a few leg injuries this year, and it’s likely his mobility, and escapability will continue to decline."
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/packers/when-it-all-goes-bad/
Obviously I agree with the quoted text whole heartedly. This has been a problem with Rodgers for years now. What's frustrating to me is that I honestly do not believe that we're far away from having a very good offense. IMO if we'd only:
1) Commit to running the ball 40% of the time we'd still have pass heavy offense but atleast one that keeps defenses honest and slows down the rush. We'd set up more third and shorts and more favorable passing situations on first and second down. I put this one on Rodgers, this would explain the row between him and McCarthy and is consistent with smoke coming out of the locker room. It'd also explain those curious games where Rodgers is struggling the run game is on fire and we abandon it.
2) Get Rodgers to work the entire field. His obsession with the down field passing game is limiting his play and the offense. When teams are dropping back into three deep coverage and giving you a 10-15 yard bubble aside from a linebacker spy you have to hit those checkdowns make them pay for it. They get a running or fullback rumbling into their secondary enough times it'll not only loosen up the downfield game but it'll wear down their DBs... thinking of which we could use a good 230 pound bruiser who can catch. A DC sees a bruising physical back running over his CBs and safeties once or twice and he'll change the way he calls a game.
3) This is on MM, also from the article:
"One of McCarthy’s biggest flaws is telegraphing a play. He’s very likely to run from running formations, pass out of passing formations, and generally telling the defense exactly what is about to happen. At least twice in this game Davante Adams was targeted on deep passes and came out of the game for the next play. On both occasions, McCarthy ran the ball up the gut with Aaron Jones. On both occasions, the Seahawks had no fear of the Packer passing game without Adams, and easily snuffed out the run. Those were wasted, costly plays, and a better coach would never have run them."
MM has said it on many occasions that it doesnt matter if they know what youre doing as long as you do it well enough. It's a mantra well supported with our personnel groupings and play selection. My thought, what kind of fresh idiocy is this? There's a very real value to keeping teams off balance. Show pass and when they set their DEs up in 9 tech send a halfback dive right up the middle. Show a 2TE or I form run set force their line to bunch with the DEs at 5 tech and then set up the slow developing double move route outside. These aren't novel concepts, football sometimes is about creating mismatches and exploiting them. Whether it's MM telegraphing our plays or Rodgers insisting on throwing deep into 3 deep drops with end rushers at the 7 or wide 9 this Packer fan has had enough. Let's start playing smarter football on offense.
Indeed, in this game Rodgers was sacked four times on 3rd down, killing several promising drives. Wilson was never sacked on 3rd down, and as a result, Seattle converted 6 of 15 opportunities. The Packers converted just 3 of 11 third downs. Rodgers is on pace to take 48 sacks, which wouldn’t be a career high, but would still be a lot. However, there’s reason to think that raw number understates the severity of the situation. Rodgers is on pace for just 237 rushing yards, which would be his lowest 16-game total since 2008, and he’s averaging just 5.1 yards per carry, his lowest since the injury-shortened 2013 season. Rodgers is hitting the age where nagging injuries start to build up and mobility fades. He’s already suffered a few leg injuries this year, and it’s likely his mobility, and escapability will continue to decline."
https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/packers/when-it-all-goes-bad/
Obviously I agree with the quoted text whole heartedly. This has been a problem with Rodgers for years now. What's frustrating to me is that I honestly do not believe that we're far away from having a very good offense. IMO if we'd only:
1) Commit to running the ball 40% of the time we'd still have pass heavy offense but atleast one that keeps defenses honest and slows down the rush. We'd set up more third and shorts and more favorable passing situations on first and second down. I put this one on Rodgers, this would explain the row between him and McCarthy and is consistent with smoke coming out of the locker room. It'd also explain those curious games where Rodgers is struggling the run game is on fire and we abandon it.
2) Get Rodgers to work the entire field. His obsession with the down field passing game is limiting his play and the offense. When teams are dropping back into three deep coverage and giving you a 10-15 yard bubble aside from a linebacker spy you have to hit those checkdowns make them pay for it. They get a running or fullback rumbling into their secondary enough times it'll not only loosen up the downfield game but it'll wear down their DBs... thinking of which we could use a good 230 pound bruiser who can catch. A DC sees a bruising physical back running over his CBs and safeties once or twice and he'll change the way he calls a game.
3) This is on MM, also from the article:
"One of McCarthy’s biggest flaws is telegraphing a play. He’s very likely to run from running formations, pass out of passing formations, and generally telling the defense exactly what is about to happen. At least twice in this game Davante Adams was targeted on deep passes and came out of the game for the next play. On both occasions, McCarthy ran the ball up the gut with Aaron Jones. On both occasions, the Seahawks had no fear of the Packer passing game without Adams, and easily snuffed out the run. Those were wasted, costly plays, and a better coach would never have run them."
MM has said it on many occasions that it doesnt matter if they know what youre doing as long as you do it well enough. It's a mantra well supported with our personnel groupings and play selection. My thought, what kind of fresh idiocy is this? There's a very real value to keeping teams off balance. Show pass and when they set their DEs up in 9 tech send a halfback dive right up the middle. Show a 2TE or I form run set force their line to bunch with the DEs at 5 tech and then set up the slow developing double move route outside. These aren't novel concepts, football sometimes is about creating mismatches and exploiting them. Whether it's MM telegraphing our plays or Rodgers insisting on throwing deep into 3 deep drops with end rushers at the 7 or wide 9 this Packer fan has had enough. Let's start playing smarter football on offense.
