Is Aaron Rodgers Still The Best Quarterback In The NFL?
Imagine throwing a 25:2 TD to INT ratio and it’s considered a “down year.” That’s the standard Aaron Rodgers has set with his elite play over the past decade. It was a struggle in 2018 for Rodgers and the Packers, but is the former MVP still the best quarterback in the NFL?
From Nothing To…Everything
Despite a record-setting high school career, Aaron Rodgers was one of the least sought after quarterbacks in the nation. The only offer he could muster was the opportunity to compete for a scholarship as a walk-on at Illinois. Rodgers declined the offer. He considered quitting football for law school, but ultimately Rodgers joined Buttee Community College to continue his football career.
It was a successful Freshman season for Rodgers where he threw for 26 TDs and got his team the NorCal Conference Championship. We hear so often about coaches scouting one player and stumbling upon another. This happened to be one of those times. Cal coach Jeff Tedford was scouting Tight End Garrett Cross and just happened to discover Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers transferred to Cal, shortly after he became the starter. After an excellent two year run, Rodgers declared for the NFL Draft. The debate for no. 1 overall was between Rodgers and Alex Smith. Rodgers grew up a 49ers fan, it would have been a dream for him to play for that same organization.
While it was close, the 49ers ended up taking Smith over Rodgers. While it was a little head scratching, it was more surprising that Rodgers ended up slipping all the way to no. 24 overall. With hall-of-famer Brett Farve’s career coming to a close, the Green Bay Packers secured their future with Rodgers.
After Rodgers was overlooked year after year, it was almost destiny that the same would happen in the NFL. With Brett Farve continuing to sling passes into his late 30s, Rodgers was delegated to clipboard duties for three more years.
In 2008, in the wake of Brett Farve’s “almost retirement,” and then trade to the New York Jets, Rodgers finally got his chance to start. From there on out, he never looked back. Rodgers quickly asserted himself in the ranks of the top QBs in the NFL. Shortly after that, he made himself known as the best QB in the NFL.
Knowing how good Rodgers is now, it’s almost laughable to think this is how scouts evaluated him in 2015. They thought he was short, a system quarterback, there were a myriad of concerns that all proved to be negligible.
What Makes Him Great?
The NFL is a new era. Quarterback mobility is at a premium. The likes of Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, these ground zero quarterbacks aren’t desired anymore. Even Tom Brady who once upon a time ran a snail-paced 5.28 40 time, has worked hard to increase his speed. His increased athleticism is what allows him to play at such a high level in this new NFL.
Aaron Rodgers brings the perfect blend of pocket presence and scrambling ability. Rodgers, at his core, is a pocket passer. He’s a maestro at reading the defense and throwing from the pocket.
What makes him truly special is his ability to bounce around the pocket. When nobody is open and the pocket is breaking down, Rodgers is the best at eluding pressure and extending plays. When Rodgers starts scrambling, he isn’t just looking to run. Rodgers keeps his head up, ready to find his receivers on the scramble drill.
Those throws are far from simple, little dump offs. Flinging the ball down the field, on the run, off your back foot, is one of the toughest throws in football. Before the season started, A-Rod undoubtedly had the best arm in the NFL. But of course, Pat Mahomes has something to say about that.
Rodgers has worked hard to tighten his release year after year. A-Rod slings the ball with ease, you would think he’s throwing a piece of paper. It seems so effortless, Rodgers makes the toughest of throws look so simple. Even with awkward footwork, Rodgers gets so much velocity under his throws, it’s unbelievable.
It’s more than just getting the passes off, Rodgers makes these jaw-dropping throws with pinpoint accuracy. Rodgers can make every pass in the book. Watching Rodgers and Jordy Nelson on those back shoulders was breathtaking.
Rodgers’ first three seasons were spent learning from Brett Farve, the greatest gunslinger of all time. Despite that, Rodgers doesn’t resemble that same play style. Rodgers is one of the most aggressive QBs in the NFL, but he’s also one of the most efficient. Rodgers holds the record for career passing rating at 103.1.
Rodgers has only gone over 10+ INTs twice in his career, both times were within his first three seasons. This is a guy who consistently gives you 30–40 TDs with only 5–10 INTs. And he’s a virtual lock for 4000+ yards just about every season. Rodgers can surely produce, the added benefit is his lack of turnovers.
We can’t put enough emphasis on how smart A-Rod is, his understanding of the game is on another level. It seems to have become a lost art, but Rodgers is the best at using the snap count to draw teams offsides and then taking deep shots. It’s a no-risk play that can pay major dividends.
More than anything else, this is a guy who gets you wins. He’s driven, talented, and clutch. Rodgers elevates his team, he makes them better. He can carry the offense, but it’s always been the defense that’s lacking. The year the Packers had a top 5 defense, Rodgers brought home a Super Bowl win.
Was Mike McCarthy The Problem?
Everyone, Packers fans included, knew Mike McCarthy was holding back Rodgers. It’s frustrating for fans, but as long as the Packers were winning there was no reason for the organization to fire McCarthy.
The 2018 Packers were an atrocity to watch. McCarthy’s stone age playcalling limited the generally explosive Packers’ offense. The best offensive play callers we see today have a ton of creativity. The likes of Sean Payton, Sean McVay, Frank Reich, but McCarthy was the complete opposite. His bland, expired offense was the downfall of this Packers team.
McCarthy didn’t scheme his players open, he relied on their individual talents to get open. He never used motion, didn’t try to exploit matchups, nothing. The offense always fell on Rodgers’ shoulder. He was constantly forced to extend plays because nobody was ever open. If A-Rod could extend the play the Packers would be successful, if not, they wouldn’t.
Then there were the mind-boggling personal decisions. It took McCarthy more than half a season to realize the explosive Aaron Jones was better than the plodding Jamaal Williams. Jimmy Graham may not be the same player he once was, but he’s the big jump ball target you need to isolate 1 on 1. McCarthy couldn’t dream of attempting to do that.
The Packers had a productive run game averaging 5.0 YPC (2nd in the NFL), but Green Bay ranked last in rushing attempts. Like…what does that even mean? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out you need to run the ball, especially when it works.
The conservative decisions, the head shaking play calls, all of it led to McCarthy’s midseason firing. Aaron Rodgers is never one to complain or point fingers, he doesn’t go to the media with outbursts. Even with McCarthy’s tumultuous coaching job, Rodgers never complained, he worked with his head coach as well as he could.
There’s No ‘I’ in Team
Mike McCarthy’s formula of “let your wide receivers get open” worked when he had premier talents like Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and (a better) Randall Cobb, but not with this team. Davante Adams is elite, but the rest of this team is filled with a plethora of unreliable pass catchers. It doesn’t help when you’re top 10 in drops.
Rodgers took a whopping 49 sacks this season, but this was actually a top 10 offensive line. The Packers boasted the best pass protecting tackle duo in the NFL. The receivers inability to get open and McCarthy’s ancient offensive scheme forced Rodgers to hold onto the ball longer than he wants to.
This defense didn’t help matters, struggling mightily in 2018. Rodgers can generally offset a mediocre defense, but now we see how much of an impact A-Rod has on the whole team, dominating time of possession and field position.
The Impact of Matt LaFleur
As Frank Reich has shown in Indy, an elite QB, a top-notch offensive line, and a creative scheme can turn you into one of the top offenses in the NFL. Outside of T.Y. Hilton and Eric Ebron (lol), the Colts had no weapons to speak of. Still, they finished in the top 5 behind an excellent offensive line and an even better play caller.
The Green Bay Packers could have gone many directions, but they decided to go with Matt LaFleur as their next head coach. LaFleur is a relatively unproven commodity coming off his one year stint as the Tennesee Titans offense coordinator, but there’s a lot to like.
LaFleur worked under Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, two of the brightest minds in coaching. It’s hard to judge LaFleur’s one year as offensive coordinator considering Marcus Mariota was almost never healthy. When Mariota was healthy, LaFleur did a great job of utilizing Mariota’s skill set, getting him in positions to succeed.
It was clear LaFleur wanted to pound the ball and get Mariota easier looks off the play action, but the run game rarely came to fruition. LaFleur did manage to get Derrick Henry going towards the end of the season. LaFleur made Henry the focal point of the offense, and the running back responded with the best stretch of his career.
LaFleur knew how to use his weapons, whatever little he had. He smartly used Dion Lewis in the passing game and even got the mystifying Corey Davis to show something. The Titans lacked weapons, but LaFleur did his best to maximize what he had.
Now in Green Bay, he’ll be able to work with one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. LaFleur is unproven, yes, but he’s shown a lot of promise. It’s these creative offensive-minded head coaches that are taking over the NFL, LaFleur could just be the next.
What About That Kid From KC?
Aaron Rodgers was without a doubt the best QB in the NFL before the 2018 season started, but that Patrick Mahomes is really something. After sitting behind Alex Smith as a rookie, Mahomes had a historic Sophomore year. Mahomes threw for 5097 yards and 50 TDs through the air. He pitched in an additional 272 and 2 TDs on the ground.
Was Mahomes the best quarterback in 2018? Absolutely. But Mahomes still has some flaws in his game that remind you he’s only 23. On a 3rd and 3, Mahomes can easily run for the first down, but he’ll sling the ball 50 yards down the field on the run because it’s the opportunity to get more yards. In his head, if he does that 3 times, as long as it works once it’s a success. Which is true, but not what you want.
It’s the little things that really determine how good you are as a signal caller. Mahomes is still young, he’ll learn the value of picking up those 3 yards and getting the first down, rather than always going for the big play.
Part of being the “best” at any position is establishing yourself with consistency year to year. Having one insane season doesn’t solidify your place. Mahomes is no fluke, but he will need to prove he can do the same thing again in 2019 to be plated as “the best.”
R-E-L-A-X
After a 1–2 start in 2014, Aaron Rodgers gave Packers Nation five letters, r-e-l-a-x, he told them to relaaaaax. Rodgers has always held a calm demeanor. He doesn’t panic, he doesn’t lay blame, he just continues to work and be better.
In 2019 Rodgers will finally be free of the archaic Jeff Fisher-esque coaching scheme that held him down in the past. Coaching really matters, just ask Jared Goff. Rodgers is obviously no Goff, but with an improved coaching scheme, he can get back to his MVP ways.
The NFL just isn’t the same without Aaron Rodgers dominating. The guy is a difference maker in every single game. He doesn’t give up, doesn’t complain, he just keeps going at it. The talent, the athleticism, the cerebral instincts are all still there. Aaron Rodgers is still the best quarterback in the NFL, 2019 will remind everyone why.
