Every adjustment Aaron Rodgers made to his game made sense
http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-jamaal-williams-jersey , but most of them are terrible for his long-term effectiveness."(*Fun fact! Gomez
actually scored on this play without ever touching home plate. It’s probably
happened before, but I don’t think it’s happened much.)Gomez even hits well, and
sometimes very well, but his contact skills have always been dicey, and at age
32 coming off of one of his worst seasons, and noticeably slowing, the end is
likely in sight. This type of trajectory is what worries me about the current
version of Rodgers. He hasn’t really needed to make quick throws because he’s so
good at moving in the pocket and buying time, but we saw that agility and speed
begin to fade just a bit last season, and with that decline comes some added
hits, added injuries
Womens Kyler Fackrell Jersey , and ineffectiveness. This tendency has already hurt Rodgers, and if he didn’t play behind what is essentially an elite
offensive line, things would be even worse. Rodgers is currently incapable of
hitting big plays without his mobility. If he doesn’t put serious work into
developing an old man’s game, he will simply not age well. He has already not
aged particularly well.Analysts like to compare Rodgers to Tom Brady and Drew
Brees when projecting longevity, but Brady and Brees are masters of creating big
plays from quick throws. In 2018, both held the ball an average of under 2.61
seconds before throwing (top 5 among qualifiers). Both quarterbacks play the old
man’s game as well as it can be played, and Brady especially has feasted on an
entire offensive roster constructed to facilitate a quick-strike, YAC-based
scheme that keeps him upright and healthy. Rodgers averaged just 7.4 yards per
attempt last season despite (or because of) holding onto the ball forever, and
that was his highest mark in five years. Brees averaged 8.2 Y/A with his quick
strike execution. Brady averaged 7.8.Rodgers’ current game developed naturally,
in response to changing circumstances with the team
Muhammad Wilkerson Jersey , including the loss of Nelson, the presence of a truly great line, and a distaste for risky throws. It has also instilled
terrible habits that result in more frequent hits and a style that simply
doesn’t age well. If the new regime can coach up his old man skills that will
help the current and future Packers immensely, but it won’t be easy. For Aaron
Rodgers to really last, he’s going to have to make some throws that make him
uncomfortable, and maybe even see a momentary dip in his turnover efficiency. If
he can’t adjust, I think many will be surprised at just how quickly he hits the
cliff. The Meadowlands Miracle never should have happened. Coming back from two
scores down to win a road game — which turned out to be the only win away from
Lambeau on the year — brought joy and excitement to the fanbase. However, the
price was too high. Jaire Alexander left the game injured. David Bakhtiari
pulled up lame. Aaron Rodgers gutted out through multiple ailments. Davante
Adams took a shot to his knee, an issue bad enough to keep him out of Week 17.
These were hits the Packers’ franchise players never should have taken. Aaron
Rodgers should want to play if he’s healthy enough to go. All of his points
about leadership and gutting it out for his guys, those are valid points worth
considered. Okay
Womens Kyle Murphy Jersey , they’ve been considered, you’re sitting.Joe Philbin would never stand up to the star quarterback insisting on playing. He’s coaching
for his livelihood. The players want to play, not just to avoid the collar on
the road this season, but because plenty of guys on this roster may not have a
place in Green Bay next season. They want to show out in the final weeks of the
season playing to win. Rodgers wants to put an ugly-for-him season in the
rearview mirror. For a brief, glimmering moment in New Jersey, he did. On the
first possession of the Week 17 game, Rodgers’ season ended as it had began:
hurt. Concussions add up and make a player more likely to get them in the
future. Sam Shields could tell you that. Risking brain injury to the most
important guy on the field for a game that means nothing is a dereliction of the
team’s responsibility to its players and its long-term outlook. It’s all fun and
games until your franchise player rattles his gray matter. And for what? To beat
the Lions? This isn’t the same as leaving the star basketball player in the game
with three fouls in the first half, trusting him not to pick up a cheap one
before the half. We are talking about the bodies of these players, their very
livelihood. Their brain health. Ask Randall Cobb or Clay Matthews what wear and
tear can do to the body. Adams now has to rehab a knee injury. Rodgers added
risk for future concussions. Alexander won’t be able to immediately start on a
Year 2 leap body program because he’s dealing with a groin problem. Bakhtiari
clearly gutted it out to protect Rodgers, as evidenced by his removal from the
game after Rodgers exited. It was the All-Pro left tackle who gave up the
pressure that got Rodgers hurt. Not only will he have to rehab an injury to
start the offseason
Womens Za'Darius Smith Jersey , simply his being out there while injured may have helped lead to another player’s injury.And not just any injury: Aaron
Rodgers’ brain. We can’t isolate just this week either, though the decision to
play Rodgers without Adams in the game and with a gimpy Bakhtiari, two backup
guards, the backup running back, and practice squad receivers was indefensible.
Rodgers shouldn’t have been out there is because Adams and Bakhtiari were
already hurt. How did they get hurt? Playing in a meaningless Week 16 game, one
of them on a play that literally didn’t even count! What’s the upside of
subjecting Rodgers to more hits while throwing to a fifth-round draft pick and
two receivers who may not even be on the team next season? Are we sure Jimmy
Graham will be around in 2019, making it vital for him to get more game reps
with Rodgers? It doesn’t matter that none of these injuries are likely to
trickle into 2019. That’s entirely beside the point. The risk itself should be
concerning for the franchise, one entering the most pivotal offseason in a
decade.Does Josh McDaniels really need one more reason to spurn the chance to
leave the Patriots? Would injury questions cloud the willingness of Lincoln
Riley or Pat Fitzgerald to leave college for the NFL?Someone needed to be at the
wheel for all of this and it should have been Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst.
They needed to step. Circumstances hamstrung Philbin, while competitive vigor
always trumps player safety among the players themselves. They’re not thinking
about the long-term view. That’s up to the people in the organization who get
paid to take the long view of everything. Just take the most cynical viewpoint
of all of this: the Packers sit Rodgers, Adams
Bart Starr Jersey , Bakhtiari, Alexander (and that might literally be the full list of players worth sitting given how many other key guys are already hurt).
Lose to the Jets. Lose to the Lions, even in embarrassing fashion and it’s
“Well, they weren’t trying to win. They were trying to protect their guys and
give some young players a chance.” That’s not just a better narrative, it
resonates within the locker room and through the halls of 1265 Lombardi Ave. How
much worse does it now look that the Packers watched as literally every last
meaningful player on the team get injured and got their doors blown off at home?
By stubbornly acquiescing to Rodgers, Green Bay only legitimized the narrative
that he’s really coaching the team. This was an opportunity for the Packers
front office to save the players from themselves for the long-term health —
figuratively and literally — of the franchise. They failed miserably.
