Click bait, beginning with the provocative title, "Packers: Aaron Rodgers is the problem in Green Bay".
- Cowboys, a team that finally wins a game after three bad losses is "suddenly red hot".
- "He foolishly committed an intentional grounding." Could it be because his arm was hit and he couldn't get enough on it to reach the line?
- His slightly "off target" throws. Perhaps him placing the ball where the WR gets it or nobody does. It's no secret WRs are not getting a lot of separation on opponents. Three of his 5 WRs were undrafted free agents, which is an amazingly sad fact! Also he has one TE past his prime with the rest being blockers. Can you imagine if the Packers had invested more in offense instead of the over 70% investment in defense in top three rounds the past nine years?
- "Rodgers threw for just 203 yards and one touchdown." MVS and Gmo make their catch and suddenly Rodgers is over 300 yards and two TDs.
- "Rodgers decided to make a low-percentage and off-target throw to Tonyan instead of running for what would have been an easy first down." Watch the play again ignoring Aikman commenting on that "open run" he had. There was a safety running laterally with Rodgers one yard inside the first down marker so it was questionable that he picks that one up, so he the throws it safe to avoid a turnover.
This is a team that is 11-3 and below average in almost every important statistic. So what's going on? How can we be tied for 2nd best record in all the NFL with statistics like that? Is there any one of you that can honestly say that our D, O or ST are Top 10 and should be at 11-3? We are over-performing in the statistic that matters - wins and losses. They're doing something right. Contrary to popular opinion lately, perhaps Rodgers is a main reason for this.
There are only two important stats where we are Top 10 that I could find - Turnover Differential (#2) and Time of Possession (#8). Rodgers holds the all time record for career INT %. Rodgers holding the ball, throwing the ball away and not taking stupid risks downfield is why he has so few offensively. 14 games in and 2 INTs! While we get frustrated with Rodgers conservative play - myself included - it does contribute to why we are winning. And running out the play clock every time? This does limit the amount of time the D is on the field, and additionally give them rest and explains Time of Possession dominance. Food for thought anyway.
I agree that conservative play is an issue. If you get hot, unless up be three scores comfortably into the fourth quarter, stick with what works until it no longer does. Don't drop into a conservative game. I also agree that we have too many deficiencies to get past the 49ers, Saints, and Seahawks and will have to hope for the best. This Vikings game will be interesting.
Lots of good stuff there!
It's obvious we're only an average running team. We keep being told we don't have decent receivers. Our defense constantly struggles to stop teams from scoring. Our kick return team has been a disaster. Scott is near the bottom in punting net average.
What's left? We have a kicker who's good as gold. We also have a QB that some people want to blame for everything except WWI. The fact is, as Packer fans, we are totally spoiled. We're so used to having a young Favre, and young Rodgers, that we can't seem to look past the fact that they may lose some of the magic they had, but both had a way of finding something special, to make special plays, when needed - after the legs aged, and the arm weakened.
The fact that we have a decent enough running game (17th best in the league) to help make the passing game better, and a QB who seems to make throws that are getting through - to guys not good enough to be in the league - according to some, I'm gonna have to say Rodgers seems to be doing an excellent job under those circumstances because we're scoring enough to win games, and he keeps making those throws when we need them, to keep important drives alive.
Next year, there will be changes, no doubt about it. But, sometimes the changes that look like they might help, are actually not what they seem. When it comes to draft picks, too few actually perform at a level in their first year, that sets the league on fire, and those that do are gone, long before the Packers will pick.
I just hope Rodgers and the receivers continue to improve their on field chemistry. I saw some of it developing in this last game, and it made me smile, because there's nothing better than seeing that trust between players improve like it has.
At the same time, I do understand the frustration. But, if things are that bad, how come we're doing so well? The NFC is not a weak conference. We're either even with, or 2 games up on the AFC in cross conference play.
No, he hasn't been the flashy superstar surrounded by a group of quite elite receivers as he has been during some years in the past, and although I sometimes scare the animals a time or two during a game due to his antics, I'd rather suffer through that than what many teams have put up with in the QB position this year.
