Packers QB has been sacked a league-worst 20 times. Associated Press
From The Associated Press:
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Even after getting sacked a league-worst 20 times and taking plenty of hits in the Green Bay Packers' first four games, Aaron Rodgers isn't about to complain about his porous protection.
Despite spending too much time on the turf, the second-year starter isn't inclined to call out his line.
"It really doesn't do any good," Rodgers said Wednesday. "I trust those guys. I love those guys. They take care of me, I take care of them. That's the way it goes. We have a tight-knit relationship. Nothing gets done when you do something like that publicly."
Rodgers reiterated Wednesday that he has confidence in his linemen, adding that everyone on the team wants and needs to play better for the Packers (2-2) to hit the high expectations they carried into the season.
"We're all pros," Rodgers said. "We all hold ourselves to a standard of play, and I'd say myself and those guys included would probably all agree that personally, we haven't played up to our potential at all times. We all want to play better. We're going to play better."
They'll get their chance in Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions (1-4).
Veteran left tackle Chad Clifton may return after missing two games with a sprained right ankle. Clifton's return would allow fill-in left tackle Daryn Colledge to return to left guard, and Jason Spitz could move from left guard back to center.
The team also made a deal to bring back veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher on Monday. Tauscher is working his way back from a knee injury last December and is not likely to play this week, but could eventually push Allen Barbre for the starting right tackle job.
"I'm going to continue to stay confident," Rodgers said. "They want to do better and we had a good start to the week today. Getting Chad back obviously helps. Daryn can go back to his more natural position of left guard. Jason is back at center where we worked all training camp. And I think Barbre's got to realize this is going to be good for him, to push him, bringing Tausch back. And just having Tauscher around here is fun, definitely miss his spirit and character."
But while Rodgers isn't complaining about the number of sacks he has been subjected to, wide receiver Greg Jennings vented some frustration. Jennings said Monday that he wants more passes thrown his way, but understands it's futile to complain to Rodgers when he's getting hit so much.
Jennings also wondered if the Packers would alter their play-calling in an attempt to minimize protection problems.
"If we can't protect, if that is the case, let's take some of the stress off the offensive line -- period," Jennings said. "Or off the protection. That's typically how it works. Will we do that? I don't know. If it's raining, I'm going to pull out an umbrella."
In all, Jennings said, Rodgers was doing a remarkable job under the circumstances.
"He's second to none," Jennings said. "I'll give you a statistic: He has one pick. One pick, and he's been hit more than any quarterback in the league."
Packers coach Mike McCarthy brushed off Jennings' comments Wednesday, and didn't want to delve into the problems the Packers had in their first four games.
"We've talked about it and it's been addressed," McCarthy said. "When your team statistics are in order, your individual statistics will be in order. That's where I am at on that."
McCarthy recently noted that Rodgers shoulders a significant responsibility for the team's sack total because he has held on to the ball too long in some situations.
Rodgers agreed, but said it would be counterproductive to radically change the way he plays.
"I'm playing quarterback the way that I know how to play quarterback: instinctually, trusting my feet, trusting my time clock," Rodgers said. "And that's going to happen at some point. I'm going to hold the ball too long, maybe feeling like I'm not under pressure, not seeing the pressure. But I'm not going to change."
Anyone else reading between the lines here? The offense's two best players are questioning the Head Coach, especially Jennings. If GB wins fewer than nine games this year and misses the playoffs, McCarthy looks like he's gone. Ted will probably be given at least one more year, though. to see what happens with a new coach. It's unbelievable how poorly McCoached the Packers are. Lose to Detroit or Cleveland and they'll be McCooked.
I'll tell you what's going to happen with the Packers. This Sunday, the Pack will come to play against the Lions. There will be no looking ahead. This team has had two weeks to marinate over a game everyone wanted real bad. This week, at 2-2, the season begins anew. The Pack will win against Detroit, the Pack will win against Cleveland, and then we beat the living hell out of the Vikings the following week. This team is way to good to go down without a fight.
I think its interesting to see how many people bought into the pre-season hype (myself included).
They tried to do what Jennings suggested in the Vikings game, their first drive was impressive utilizing screens and short passes to defend agains the pass rush.....until of course the fumble. I think a large part of the blame (in addition to the o-line) falls squarely on the shoulders of Ryan Grant and his inability to pick up any yards. If he could do ANYTHING, not just pick up yards in garbage time, it would take a lot of pressure off the o-line constantly defending a pass rush.
I want to see what Brandon Jackson can do, I think when healthy he's going to push for Grants starting spot.
Finally, look at it this way all of you McCarthy and TT haters, at least we don't have to suffer through the ineptness of people like Dan Snyder and Al Davis.
Rogers might say all the right things when addressing the media but there have been plenty of closeup shots of him during games where his facial expressions and body language communicate impatience and frustration at his teammates. While certainly some of that is understandable a true leader will not show it. Rogers could take a lesson from Bart Starr.
There are alot of pieces that make this happen, but I think play calling is a HUGE part. Mike McCarthy has never called enough screens and draws to keep the DLine and LBs honest. He called a few screens against MIN that were successful, but needs to call more.
Secondly, GB gets away from run plays far too frequently. Their run to pass ratios are almost always out of whack and makes them very predictable to the DEF. Last year, AR's QB rating wsa like 120 -130 on play action passes vs. 60 - 70 on straight drop backs. But you can't have the play action success if you don't run the ball.
And ARodgers does at times need to get rid of the ball including swing passes to backs in the flat. I think he was spoiled by the team's success on deep plays during the pre-season when opponents weren't blitzing. Now they are blitzing and there isn't enough time to hit the deep routes as he's expecting.
I completely agree with you Pack fan in Nebraska. A-Rod seems like such a baby on some of those close up reaction shots when the play doesn't go perfectly. It's kind of ridiculous. It's like watching a Pop Warner game...and the spoiled little kid who thinks he's better than everyone else, pouting when the rest of his team isn't winning.
Apparently Rodgers never got a good spanking from his parents when he acted like a little a*shole...
Wow, and Lord Brett never made a face or injected himself in a teammates contract dispute. Note to Favre>Packer fans. He's gone. Won't be back. He even told you to move on, he loves his new fan base better. I Iknow you are like the little kid who's mommy (Brett) got a new husband (The Viking's), and you take it out on your new step mom (A-rod) so grow up. Daddy (The Packers) is a lady's man and every few years you will get a new younger mommy.
I feel for the guy - I just hope he doesn't end up getting shell shocked from all the hits he's taking.
I watched the Bears-Packers game earlier this year, and it's not just the left side getting beat like a drum. Ogunleye ate Barbre's lunch and absolutely embarrassed him.
Unfortunately, the Packers problems were exposed in the first 4 games, and not in pre-season. That lead to unrealistic expectations. The Packers are a badly coached mediocre team. They will win against the real bad teams and lose against good teams, it's as easy as that. 8-8 seems the perfect record for that team this season, and it has nothing to do with Rodgers or Favre at QB. If the Packers had played the first 4 games against the preseason opponents, they'd probably be 4-0 or 3-1 at worst. You realize that the preseason opponents have a combined 4-13 record? That's why Rodgers was not touched. Now, with the Packers having played 3 good and one bad team, it is somewhat surprising that they are 2-2. they should be 1-3, but Cutler threw the first game away, although the Bears clearly are the better team. Now the Packers will play 3 bad teams and 1 good one, so they should go 3-1, so should be 5-3 after 8 games. With all the meaningless QB discussion going on (the guy is gone, so just let it go), unfortunately nobody has realized that talent evaluation at OL and DL really lacks, as well as coaching for those positions. Yet the worst position group may be RB, where Grant wouldn't start for many teams in the NFL, Jackson is always injured and Wynn is a waste to begin with. One cannot win without a running game, and cannot win with weak DL and weak OL, and that is what Green Bay has. so get used to it fellow Packers fans, as long as those areas are not fixed, there won't be playoff games for us.
DANIEL right on Rogers needs to forget about the quarterback rating and just win some games.
BRAD what's your problem and why are you so defensive about Rogers - none of the posts here even referred to FAVRE. One of them mentioned Rogers should act more like Bart Starr - that's a bad thing? Maybe you are the one that needs to grow up. Anyone posting here is entitled to their opinion - deal with it.
Blue Devils coach Cutcliffe coached...
Bears add Tim Holt as O-line coach
Replaces the promoted Tom Clements
Ex-Patriots safety takes issue...
Veteran coach was team's offensive...
Oct 15, 2009
12:24 PM
He's had one pick because he doesn't throw unless a receiver is 5 yards wide open.
He'd rather take sack after sack and have everyone blame his Oline than let his precious QB stats be affected by an interception.
He needs to worry less about his QB rating and more about winning games.