TALKIN FOOTBALL

Saturday Edition
October 20th, 2012  

Talkin Football

Are Aaron Rodgers and the Packers Back

After their week 6 dismantling of the then unbeaten Texans, it would sure look to be that way. As it may have appeared last Sunday night, one game is far too small a sample to make such an assessment, but not too small to say they look close.

Close as it may be, the real assessment for Green Bay coming off that impressive win is, it was the first time this season they have looked more like last year’s 15-1 version. 

Against what was believed to be a very good Texans defense, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers passing game come out fast and furious and took it right to defense. Before anyone could blink the Packers were up by double digits putting their defense in an ideal situation; let’s face it Clay Matthews and the defense are best built to play with a lead.

Last year when the Packers were taking it to the league with Rodgers was tossing the old pigskin all around the yard, he allowed his defense to play to their strengths; pressure the quarterback (41 sacks last year) and make big plays (38 takeaways in 2011). This season has not been quite the same; just 8 takeaways in six games.

Last Sunday night Rodgers completed 24 passes for 338 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per pass. The Packers may want to run the ball, but they need to recognize they are a passing team; that is their strength, it’s what they do. This season Rodgers has averaged less than 7 yards per pass per three times losing twice; he only did this once last season in the Packers loss to Kansas City. 

When Rodgers is chucking it downfield with the degree of accuracy that he can, the Packers are unstoppable. What works for Green Bay is they are a team that can play very well with the lead as evident a week ago against the Texans. Maybe the acquisition of Cedric Benson gave head coach Mike McCarthy reason to think he needed to run the ball more and early. Whatever the reason, for the first five weeks of the 2012 season the Packers got away from what they do best.

What would seem to make sense, when healthy Benson would be the ideal back for the Packers to close out games once they are up and want to kill the clock. We may not see that now with Benson out, but if he can return to health that may be the right formula. For now the Pack will look for those answers from running backs Alex Green and James Starks.

Week seven presents a matchup against the St. Louis Rams that would offer a great opportunity for the Packers to show more of who they really are and what they can really do. Even with their top receiver (Greg Jennings) sidelined, Rodgers and company have more than enough weapons to dissect opposing secondaries.

It may be a little too early to call them back, but another strong performance this week and the Packers just may be too close for the comfort of others (in the NFC North).


By David Ortega