Maybe I'm Wrong About Aaron Rodgers
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I usually don't like to take away too much from the first preseason game, especially when a player is facing the opposition's second defense, but I was mildly impressed by Aaron Rodgers' performance in last night's 13-9 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brett Favre struggled mightily in four series against the Steelers, completing two out of seven passes for just seven yards. The Packers did not pick up a first down with Favre in the game.
But with Rodgers in the game, the Packers picked up their first first down four minutes into the second quarter, picking up a second one on the next play, and two possessions later, scored on a field goal after Rodgers executed a two minute drill on a drive that began on the Packers' own 11-yard-line.
Rodgers then punctuated the Pack's first possession of the second half by tossing a nice touchdown pass to Carlyle Holiday.
Rodgers finished the game by completing 18 of 27 passes for 168 yards and the one touchdown.
I have been one of Rodgers' critics since he fell into the Packers' laps three years ago. I have always been the first to point out that an aging Brett Favre is still better than a young Aaron Rodgers.
He showed patience. He showed poise. He showed his athletic ability by also scrambling for a 20-yard gain midway through the second quarter. And he got the job done.
No, his statistics were not overwhelmingly impressive, but what they were was efficient, and with the team the Packers have this year, efficiency is what will win them games. The offense is lacking, that part we know. The part we don't know is whether they will even be able to hold on to the ball long enough to keep their strength on defense fresh.
I don't want to say that Favre should retire now. He still possesses one of the best arms in the entire NFL, and he still definitely has the ability to make any receiver look like Jerry Rice on any given day.
But here's to hoping Rodgers wasn't the only one working on his patience and efficiency this past training camp.
Other observations from Saturday's game:
- Cullen Jenkins, now playing defensive end rather than tackle, seems poised to become the better of the two Jenkins brothers. Jenkins quietly recorded 6.5 sacks last year playing behind both Ryan Pickett and Corey Williams, and I have stated over and over that Jenkins could be a monster if he played more. With two sacks last night against both the starting and second unit tackles (one of them forced a fumble that he recovered), I would like to thank Cullen for proving me right, if only for one game...
- Mason Crosby will probably boot Dave Rayner right off the team. A sixth round pick out of Colorado, Crosby nailed a 52-yard attempt in the fourth quarter Saturday night. Not bad for your first field goal attempt in the NFL.
