Aaron Rodgers Will Practice On Wednesday - Cleared To Return From Concussion
by Brandon on Dec 22, 2010 7:01 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers News
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PrintJason Wilde at ESPN Milwaukee received a text message late Tuesday from Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers saying "I'm baaaaaaacckkkk." I'm assuming everyone agrees that this is a good thing, and QB Matt Flynn should head back to the bench. But how good of a thing is it?
I'm not suggesting a quarterback controversy. Flynn played better than I expected against the Patriots. The key point being that he did better than I expected from a first time starter. While I was relieved and impressed by what I saw, the stats at Football Outsiders said he was only the 22nd best quarterback in week 15. Here are his stats over the past two games, and the official ranking of the pass defense he faced from NFL.com:
| Opponent | Opp. Rank | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Att. | TD | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 30 | 37 | 251 | 6.8 | 3 | 2 |
| Lions | 13 | 26 | 177 | 6.8 | 0 | 1 |
That was a major change for the Packers offense. With Flynn under center, they threw shorter passes and it took more attempts to generate the same yards. The stats at Football Outsiders don't give the quarterback as much credit for a completion on a checkdown that isn't a success (i.e. convert for a 1st down). They also didn't like that Flynn took 5 sacks against a defense that had only recorded 23 in their first 13 games, and he received a downward adjustment for facing a lousy pass defense.
Here are the same stats for Rodgers in his previous four games since the bye week:
| Opponent | Opp. Rank | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Att. | TD | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 13 | 11 | 46 | 4.2 | 0 | 1 |
| 49ers | 25 | 30 | 298 | 9.9 | 3 | 0 |
| Falcons | 20 | 35 | 344 | 9.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Vikings | 10 | 31 | 301 | 9.7 | 4 | 0 |
While he wasn't battling the finest pass defenses in the NFL, the opponents he faced were better than the Patriots. The Lions game was bad for both quarterbacks as the offensive line was outplayed by the Lions defensive line. And Rodgers stats would have been more in line with his previous games is WR Greg Jennings hadn't bobbled and tipped a gift interception to S Amari Spievey.
His stats are better in the touchdown and turnover categories, but what really caught my eye was that on average, each pass attempt was good for an extra three yards. He was averaging almost a 1st down per attempt with no forced turnovers. That makes the Packers offense a whole lot better.
So while Flynn's great game against the Patriots is still in my mind, this post was a reminder that it's very good news that Rodgers will be able to play on Sunday against the Giants.
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Glad he's back
I’m very excited for Rodgers to be back. We have two playoff games the next two weeks and we need to be at our best. I, too, was suprised at how well Flynn played Sunday night and feel a lot better if we need him to make a spot start here and there (hopefully we won’t, though).
The first thing I thought when the game ended was that Flynn went to the Les Miles School of Clock Management, but that’s not fair to him. He played a strong game and that situation and the confusion is something you overcome with reps, which he just hasn’t had.
That game was a great one to watch and I couldn’t believe we almost pulled it out. The ending was immensely frustrating, but we still control our own destiny, so we have to put it behind us and move Coughlin one step closer to unemployment.
Flynn may have had a few more fans already
If that awesome fake punt pass hadn’t been dropped due to (iirc) Quarless tripping slightly as he fell forward to catch and even then almost getting it
Welcome back
Brandon, will all due respect, to even mention the words QB controversy is laughable. Let’s not set our memory retention span to 5 minutes please.
One of the best defenses in the game against the pass walks into Lambeau Sunday in a due or die game. The G-men are second in NFL passing yds allowed and also second in sacking the QB. No wonder they have forced most fumbles in NFL as well (26 FFs, by far the #1 D in forced fumbles). The pressure they will put on our O-Line will be enormous.
So you get the picture, Brian Bulaga. This game is not for the faint of heart. It’s time the big boys grab the bull by the horns and slam it to the ground.
by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 22, 2010 9:58 AM CST reply actions
G-men?
That has got to be one of Chris Berman’s absolutely worst nickname designations ever!!!
(Even worse than Jake ‘Daylight come and me want to’ Delhome.)
As a fan of a team that has a great big G on their helmets, I refuse call a team that doesn’t the G-men.
To me, that is nearly sacrilege for a Packers fan!
Just as bad as referring to the cowBoys as ’America’s Team’, IMO!
TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is still more than half-full!
sorry
Just quoting someone. We’re the real G-men of NFL. Happy now?
by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 23, 2010 10:27 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed. Flynn played well on Sunday night
but he made the big mistake that ultimately cost the team the game as well.
Really, no one should be surprised by Rodgers getting cleared yesterday. He looked lucid, alert, and engaged on the sideline on Sunday night. I have to think that most of us here only wanted the team to get out of NE without any major injuries, knowing that if the Packers win these last two that they’re in.
I’m thrilled that he’s back. Sure, Flynn played well and that’s good but he’s still no Rodgers. He doesn’t have arm Rodgers does, or the pocket awareness which I think inflated those sack numbers a bit as the offensive line actually did a pretty good job.
We just really, really need to win these next two games, and we’ll need Rodgers pocket presence against the Giants.
Fire Slocum
It always helps to get your starter back when you need a good run down the stretch.
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Dec 22, 2010 4:37 PM CST up reply actions
Dear Matt Flynn,
Thank you so much. You worked really hard and did a decent job and maybe didn’t pull wins in either game, but at least the Pack was in those games.
Having said that…
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Look out, New York Giants! Revenge is best served Green and Gold. NO PLAYOFFS FOR YOU.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
I'm happy with Flynn's performance, too...
..in fact a feel a lot more secure. We were able to see Flynn in real game situations, and most of all HE got some real game experience.
ouch
one more blast to the old bean and his games are over. not a good decision. Flynn is capable if MM can manage the clock.
#4 Superior
Well then he may as well quit football now
before he takes “one more blast to the old bean.” If the doctors cleared him, what more can they do about it?
Greinke: "It’s not about the guacamole itself. I just don’t want to let them win."
just how many blasts to the old bean have you had?
The only glove he needs is a batting glove. - RWShow on Adam Dunn signing.
by blackoutsox on Dec 22, 2010 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Those were his first two of his life
I played QB in high school (yes we play high school football in Canada), and between that and hockey I’ve probably had something like six or seven concussions. I didn’t stop playing, and I didn’t get another concussion every time my head got tapped after the first one. Did you know that Troy Polamalu, the best defensive player in the NFL, has had seven concussions in his career? How about Ben Roethlisberger, who’s had three from football and another that came along with a fractured skull in a brutal helmetless crash (ie. it was the equivalent of more than one football concussion)? Is anyone suggesting that they should retire?
Aaron Rodgers give this team a better chance to win,
and in the end, that’s how this team will be judged.
This is off-topic and probably doesnt mean much
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/22/favre-to-peppers-beat-the-packers/
But that really PISSES me off. If its possible to have negative respect for a former childhood hero, I have it for Favre.
What a bitter old man.
I’m going to throw out my old proposal from when Favre first signed with the Vikings:
Rather than retire the #4 jersey, make it the permanent number of whatever punter we currently have starting. In the future, when we think of #4, we will think of an endless line of punters, rather than this bitter, immature jerk.
by Packers3485 on Dec 22, 2010 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Go in shame, Brett Favre. Go in shame.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
Brad Nortman getting #4...
That would make my day.
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Dec 22, 2010 4:38 PM CST up reply actions
hey northstarr
who were the packers that wore #4 in the past?
we need to put their name and #4 up on the wall of fame
Listed them on the last thread that you brought this up in.
Vern Lewellen (B), Herm Schneidman (B), Chuck Fusina (QB) and Dale Dawson (K).
Of the four (ironic, isn’t it), I would go with Packers Hall-Of-Famer Lewellen, who was a part of the Pack’s first three championship teams, as the most deserving (even though he only wore that number for two seasons during his nine year career).
TT bashers - turning my stomach since 2005!
The glass is still more than half-full!
Regarding the final drive
I feel like I shouldn’t have to be defending Flynn this much…
In the post game press conference, MM said Flynn did everything correct. The team was forced to wait on the refs to say whether it was a first or fourth down. If it was a first down.. they would have spiked it and had more time. If it was a fourth down(like it was) then they would have only one realistic shot at the endzone!
So either be angry at Bulaga’s horrible blocking, OR McCarthy for not having a two plays ready!
This is even more off topic than Hawkeye's post
But can we get rid of the Fan Shots from the “Rex Ryan” guy? He’s just spamming about 20 different SB NFL sites with that crap and isn’t contributing anything to the blog whatsoever. And perhaps even more importantly, I’m sick of seeing those down there.
Or am I way off and other people enjoy those?
Greinke: "It’s not about the guacamole itself. I just don’t want to let them win."
there's OBVIOUSLY no QB controversy, but...
MM called a much better game (for 56 minutes anyway) than he had all year, because he was afraid of getting pass-wacky. Kinda’ like how the offense opened up after Finley went down because MM was no longer calling everything for the TE.
Rodgers is obviously better than Flynn, but having him is not better than having a balanced, team-oriented offense. Certain players seem to get the “who is this man, that the wind and the waves obey him” treatment from the coaches, and our team suffers for it.
…not to mention the science that’s now saying that bad concussions need months to heal, not weeks. It appears that A-Rodg had a bad concussion against the Redskins, which is why he got the second one from a bounce on the turf that wasn’t really all that bad.
Oh, and Flynn’s main problem is that he holds the ball too long, btw. If he could correct that, he’d be alot better.
Rec’d. Especially this part:
MM called a much better game (for 56 minutes anyway) than he had all year, because he was afraid of getting pass-wacky. Kinda’ like how the offense opened up after Finley went down because MM was no longer calling everything for the TE.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on Dec 22, 2010 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Quarless will only get better with experience, IMO.
So I look at these last few games as a big opportunity for him to prove he can be trusted as the #2 TE when Finley recovers.
Soon coming to SBNation: The Peyton's Liberation Army?
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Dec 22, 2010 4:39 PM CST up reply actions
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