Was Aaron Rodgers really declining in 2022?
Although it is the off-season, plenty of naysayers are still spreading negativity about Aaron Rodgers. This comes with the territory, as Rodgers has a bad reputation with the media.
In my opinion, all of the off-field chatter is overstated. I want to get back to what actually matters, which is him playing quarterback on a football field.
After looking through Rodgers’ film, I was reminded that New York Jets fans have a lot to be excited about as long as Rodgers is on the team. We knew this, but it is still nice to be reminded of.
Yes, Rodgers is 40 years old and coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. With that being said, his arm and brain are not going anywhere anytime soon. That is what will matter in the long run for the Jets to contend during the Rodgers era.
I dove back into his film from when he was last on the field. In 2022, a lot of people seemed to think he was frustrated and fed up with the play of his young wide receivers and the scheme he was in. I found this to be true in some senses, but there are still a lot of positives from the last time he was on a football field. Let’s get into them.
Aaron Rodgers film
Before we go to 2022, I felt the need to put this clip in the film review to show the sheer impact Rodgers has when he is on the field.
Here is a play-action play to the left. Rodgers makes it look so easy, flipping his hips and going to the opposite of his throwing-hand side. Rodgers’ throw appears as casual as it gets, but it’s not as easy as it looks.
More importantly, watch how Rodgers points and communicates to Mecole Hardman and C.J. Uzomah to really sell that Mecole is going to block the Giants player they point at. It is a small detail but something that helps sell the PA to the maximum. These are the little nuances that don’t show up in the box score from Rodgers. His brain is truly as impactful as his arm. We rarely saw that amount of detail being put into plays from the Jets in 2023. It matters.
Easy, good yardage in the red zone. Love it.
On to 2022, this throw is just ridiculous from Aaron. This play design is a lot better than most of the stuff the Jets ran last year. Lazard motions down, fakes a block on the safety to sell the play fake, and then bursts upfield. There is minimal separation, but Lazard and Rodgers are on the same page, and Rodgers places the ball in the only spot it could be.
Lazard makes the contested catch through contact. Rodgers puts this ball in the bucket, the only place where it could be completed. Just a flick of the wrist, while he is getting hit, mind you. Sometimes, he makes the sport and position look way too easy.
Again, Rodgers is just so, so good at the little things of quarterbacking.Here, he knows he wants to hit Robert Tonyan on the seam ball, so right when he gets the ball snapped, he looks to his left, keeps the safety at bay, and drives a ball up the seam for the TD.
This is also a great ball because of the velocity and placement of it. He knows there is a safety in the deep middle of the field, but with his timing, he hits Tonyan before the safety can make a big hit or get a PBU. Timing, precision, accuracy, placement – it’s all on display here.
It’s press-man coverage across the board. The Packers are in a 3×1 set with Romeo Doubs singled up back side. Hopefully, we will see similar reps in 2024 with either Garrett Wilson or Mike Williams.
This is such an easy-looking pitch and catch, but again, Rodgers makes it look easy because he is so precise and has such elite timing and placement on these back-shoulder throws. He takes a quick 3-step drop and then rips the ball to Doubs. It allows Doubs to adjust easily and convert the TD. Get used to these back-shoulder balls.
Yes, it may be a little much to ask Rodgers to be very mobile this year, but he should still be able to make plays like this. Insert Breece Hall as Aaron Jones, and this is a play we will see happen this year. Rodgers gets through his first two progressions on this play, then scrambles outside the pocket and makes a ridiculous across-the-body flick of the wrist to Aaron Jones for the TD. Unreal placement here.
Another example of Rodgers extending plays well the last time he was on the field. He steps up in the pocket and shows that he is one of the best at keeping his eyes downfield. He sees Aaron Jones and makes an unbelievable throw across his body 30+ yards on a dot for the TD. I know it may be hard to think he is going to extend plays so well, but his pocket management and awareness have always been elite and I expect it to be the same in 2024.
The arm strength is something Rodgers has said multiple times will not leave him for long after he retires. This play is a third-and-1 play action shot on a go ball to Christian Watson. Again, Rodgers knows it’s man across the board with one MOF (middle of field) safety, so at the top of his drop, he gets his eyes to the MOF safety (who is out of position anyways), and then flicks his wrist and drops a 50-yard dime in the bucket to Watson for the TD. I could watch this rep over and over again. So elite.
Lastly is one of my favorite plays from Rodgers showing his chemistry with Davante Adams. As described by Aaron Rodgers himself:
“On the touchdown to break the record, his was a really freelance route. That’s what makes him so great is his creativity within the system. When I looked over at him on the left, I was almost going to give him a signal to make sure we are on the same page, but something – intuition, whatever – said don’t do it. Just trust it. And he didn’t do what basically is on-the-paper football offense. He lost his guy quickly and they brought empty pressure. He did exactly what I would have wanted to tell him but there wasn’t even a signal that could’ve even come close to the beauty and the creativity of that route. It’s one of those fun moments.”
Perfectly said. It’s third-and-8 in the red zone, and the Browns are bringing a zero blitz. It looks like Rodgers thinks about giving Adams a slight hand signal before the snap and then just decides to call for the snap. The Browns have a free runner and Rodgers releases the ball before Adams turns his head, but he and Adams are on the same page and connect for the TD. Special.
There is not much left to say. Get me to September and let’s roll.
