Call me crazy but….
“YOU’RE CRAZY!”
Uh, thanks. Anywho, you may have been reading our Packer Yearbook Awards here at AllGreenBayPackers.com and noticed I picked Aaron Rodgers as the player most likely to have a career year in 2011. I have no doubt some of you reacted by spitting all over your computer screen. If I made you ruin your monitor, I apologize. I’ll send Windex.
Yes, I was serious and don’t call me Shirley. Call it a gut feeling.
With Rodgers coming off a 28 TD, 11 INT season that was capped with a Super Bowl MVP, and a 30 TD 7 INT performance in 2009, it may seem downright impossible for the Packers QB to top either of those efforts.
To that I say hogwash. Rodgers is entering only his fourth year as the starting quarterback. The kid is only going to get better. Now there’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL. Hell, I’ll even argue that Rodgers in two years may be the best quarterback in the league period, let alone the best one to wear #12 (I’m looking at you, Mr. Brady).
Here are five reasons why Rodgers may be in for the best year of his career in 2011 in no particular order:
1. The return of Jermichael Finley It was obvious in the latter parts of 2009 and early 2010 that Rodgers and Finley were developing that special kind of chemistry between a quarterback and a receiver (or tight end in Finley’s case). We’re talking Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison type stuff.
Finley is a terrible matchup for a majority of defensive backs in the league due to his height. Throw in his “freakish” athletic skills with Rodgers lethally accurate arm, and you have a tandem that will be among the toughest to stop in the NFL.
2. The emergence of the rushing attack The Packers running game was virtually non-existent from the time Ryan Grant went down in Week 1 until the emergence of James Starks in the late regular season and postseason. Due to a lack of a running attack, the Packers were one of the most one-dimensional teams in the league for the majority of the regular season.
Despite this, Rodgers was still able to push 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Keeping in mind that was with the opposition focusing solely on him. With Starks and Grant in the backfield, opponents will have to pay some attention to them which will allow Rodgers and the passing attack more room to operate.
3. The potential for true greatness. Yes, the Packers’ magical run to Super Bowl XLV was truly great and the efforts of Rodgers and company will forever live on in Cheesehead lore.
Yet the day after he won the Super Bowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers was looking ahead. He said in his press conference that the challenge goes to repeating. It has been said that defending the crown is much tougher than chasing it because 31 other teams are all gunning for you. He knows he and his teammates can become truly “special” in NFL history by winning at least one more ring.
Throw in the thought that Rodgers will pass his predecessor in the only column that really counts in Green Bay (world championships) with one more Lombardi Trophy, and #12 should be salivating and ready to rock and roll in 2011.
4. He is one with his head coach. It’s very zen-like, but it became obvious during Super Bowl XLV that Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy were functioning as one brain. McCarthy mentioned in his post-Super Bowl press conference that he put the game on Rodgers’ shoulders and let his quarterback loose.
While such action had disastrous consequences in the past in Green Bay, not so was the case with Rodgers. He performed brilliantly and was smart with the ball against one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL. Rodgers’ pinpoint passes left the Steelers secondary dumbfounded.
What does this mean for 2011? Well, the bond between player and coach will only continue getting stronger. It seemingly has gotten to the point where each can read the other’s mind and that’s a scary zone for a quarterback and play caller to be in.
McCarthy’s offenses are so multiple and with so many plays featuring run-pass options, Rodgers will keep opposing defenses guessing all season long.
5. Pressure? What Pressure? Many have wondered how Rodgers will fare now that he is officially one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. We’ve seen that he can handle adversity better than just about anyone but how can he handle success?
If you’ve followed Rodgers’ career path from high school to college to the NFL, the answer to this question is obvious: handing success is the easy part.
He was not initially given a chance in the NCAA so he went to community college . Then he went much lower than expected in the 2005 NFL draft. Then he dealt with the shadow of one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Handling success? Piece of cake. Rodgers is not too far removed from some of the toughest years of his life so there’s no doubt in my mind that he will not let his current run go to his head. Rodgers is an admitted perfectionist so it is highly unlikely that he will rest on his laurels.
That gulp you heard was likely those of the other 31 defensive coordinators.
Topping these past two seasons may be a monumental task but Rodgers is more than up to the challenge. He has learned his lessons well and reached the peak of his profession much sooner than many had anticipated.
Don’t sweat Packer Nation. The best of Aaron Rodgers is yet to come.
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Kris Burke is a sports writer covering the Green Bay Packers for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WTMJ in Milwaukee. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) and his work has been linked to by sites such as National Football Post and CBSSports.com. Follow @KrisLBurke
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Hey Shirley,
Not crazy. Keep your Windex.
Kris, how could anyone disagree with your Zucker-like disertation. I’m with you 100%, we are a long way from seeing AR’s best.
After the Detroit loss, GB could not lose another game. If that’s not pressure, I don’t know what is. In my opinion AR thrives on pressure. In the last two seasons AR was sacked 82 (might be off by a couple) times. Still he threw for over 8k yards, had approximately 60 tds against around 25 Ints. The man is as close to super-human as a mere mortal can get.
And best of all, he’s our QB!
While the 28 TD season is a very impressive statistic, most people forget they were attained in a little less than 14 1/2 games. Excited what he will produce playing an entire season. Yes, I’m aware I’ve probably just jinxed him (please see earlier admissions to being highly superstitious.)Rodgers is still rather young, and that is why the part of me that isn’t getting irritated by all the comments that “oooh, shiny, Manning and Brady are better” don’t really bother me. Those two are in the back half of their careers. In my opinion, they’ve hit their respective peaks and we have yet to see what the Packers with Rodgers under center truly has to offer.
I think #4 is a very important distinction to make when it comes to Rodgers. Great quarterbacks can do awesome things, but when they are in tune with their head coach/coordinator, then they can be out of this world. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are prime examples of this.
The only reason to disagree with you is the belief that 2012, 2013, and 2014 will be even better that 2011. Rodgers’ will peak in the next 3 to 4 years, and it’s going to be a *fantastic* ride for Packer fans.
Yes, this is the “problem” IMHO. Not that 2011 will be better than it has ever been, because I fully believe that, and Kris has stated the reasons why.
But rather, that it will be the BEST year in his ENTIRE career. While that could be the case if he has a season like Mannng in 04, I don’t see Rodgers regressing. Having a down year? Absolutely, it’s impossible not to do so, but not regressing.
My only worry is that the offense will press too much. This offense is dynamic when it just takes what the defense gives them. At times they can impose their will on a defense, but there is not a defense in the league that can match the talent at the skill positions. Just find the open man AR and let them do their thing. I have mentioned before that early in the year the only drawback to his game that I could see was he was unwilling to hit the checkdown when it was open. He wanted to push the ball down the field. Second half of the season he was pretty much flawless.
I agree with this as well..
Rodgers’ ability matched with his confidence -could- result in him pressing the pass too much.
This, tied in with MM’s trust in Rodgers- and giving him a lot of control with run/pass options, does make me wonder if having our run game back might end up being squandered to some extent. MM has commented in the past that certain games we did not run as much as he’d have liked because it was a run call with a pass option and Aaron checked out to pass almost every time..
If Rodgers learns to trust the run and learns how to set up defenses with well-timed run checks at the line, the sky is the limit.
I think Rodgers goes to the head of the class of quarterbacks by the end of THIS season. As long as they continue to improve the offensive line, Rodgers will Flourish. My only worry is that the defensive lines in our division are improving dramatically, especially Detroit’s.
I would not trade rodgers for any player in the league. I said that two years ago and it is still true.
6. Solid returning O vs opposing D uncertainty. The Packers O will return virtually intact (Colledge leaving isn’t even a certainty). Most if not all opposing D’s will have several new players either FA’s, rookies, or backups moving into starter roles. For instance, the Bears have two LB’s on their roster and one 6th round draft choice, the Saints have 27 FA’s and Carolina will have a new coach/new scheme. Rodgers could have a field day taking advantage of mistakes, mismatches, and D’s inability to play complex packages b/c of the turnover.
IMO the only way an opponent will be able to stop the GBP offense is by knocking AROD out of the game. Way too many concussions.
the packer Logan is a fan to you gous
Reason #6 Offensive line will improve. With the another first round OT Sherrod coming into the picture gives the Pack the flexibility of moving TJ Lang to his strongest position on the line which is Guard to replace Daryn College who is really a whole lot of average. I would expect the backup tackle position and Guard to improve this season.
The only thing that will keep Rogers from all time greatness is a serious career ending injury. The skies the limit with this cat.