How Much is McCarthy Holding Rodgers Back?

[Kerb Hohl]

The QB's #1 priority is to protect the football. Romo had 358 yards and 2 TDs on Sunday, but what do most people remember about him from that game?

Funny with this thread title that I'm pretty sure the guy he's "holding back" has the best TD/INT ratio in NFL history.

[Newz]

Yep, Tolzien may have better "tools" to be an effective QB in the league, but that doesn't mean **** if he can't avoid turning the ball over. Flynn is much more trustworthy in that regard and that is why he is more successful despite the lack of arm strength and general athleticism.

How can you say that about a guy who has less than a year in the system and didn't get in QB school, camp, etc. with the team though? You only saw him for two games.

I'm not saying Tolzien is going to be a world beater or something, but come on. He looked pretty good given the circumstances. Has there ever been a guy in that situation who has come out and put up a great performance?

[trwi7]

No offense but the next person who says QB school in regards to McCarthy is going to get their scrotum ripped open and their testicles thrown at them.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Yep, Tolzien may have better "tools" to be an effective QB in the league, but that doesn't mean **** if he can't avoid turning the ball over. Flynn is much more trustworthy in that regard and that is why he is more successful despite the lack of arm strength and general athleticism.

How can you say that about a guy who has less than a year in the system and didn't get in QB school, camp, etc. with the team though? You only saw him for two games.

I'm not saying Tolzien is going to be a world beater or something, but come on. He looked pretty good given the circumstances. Has there ever been a guy in that situation who has come out and put up a great performance?

Yeah that's true. I'm not saying he can't be an effective QB, I'm just saying until he learns how to protect the ball and limit his turnovers he won't be worth a roster spot. I'm sure he'll make some major strides if he stays with the team through the off season and training camp.

[ReddRum]

I'd love to see someone else calling plays next year.

So much THIS

[Kerb Hohl]

Slocum, god of playcalling, has done well with Tannehill.

Oh wait, Mike Sherman calls the plays.

[Newz]

Yep, Tolzien may have better "tools" to be an effective QB in the league, but that doesn't mean **** if he can't avoid turning the ball over. Flynn is much more trustworthy in that regard and that is why he is more successful despite the lack of arm strength and general athleticism.

How can you say that about a guy who has less than a year in the system and didn't get in QB school, camp, etc. with the team though? You only saw him for two games.

I'm not saying Tolzien is going to be a world beater or something, but come on. He looked pretty good given the circumstances. Has there ever been a guy in that situation who has come out and put up a great performance?

Yeah that's true. I'm not saying he can't be an effective QB, I'm just saying until he learns how to protect the ball and limit his turnovers he won't be worth a roster spot. I'm sure he'll make some major strides if he stays with the team through the off season and training camp.

I definitely agree on that level. Turnovers are pretty much the most important thing in football any way that you look at it.

I just don't blame MM or Tolzien for him turning the ball over at this point. He just didn't have the proper amount of prep time to be an effective player this year.

[Kerb Hohl]

For the record, I'm not even that massive of a MM homer. He could be better. I think I can count a few guys around the league I'd maybe rather have than MM, but I'm not sure.

The expectations are just kinda funny. If you had a "fantasy draft" and made all QBs available prior to 2013, where would Tolzien have been drafted? 80?

Matt Flynn had arm issues and was cut by Oakland and Buffalo.

Aaron Rodgers has the best QB rating in NFL history, I believe.

Could it be better? Yeah. However, take a look around the league. Some of you seem to live in an NFL bubble.

[Ron Swanson]

The QB's #1 priority is to protect the football. Romo had 358 yards and 2 TDs on Sunday, but what do most people remember about him from that game?

Scott Tolzien isn't Tony Romo, heck he isn't even Kyle Orton. The discussion was never about how good Scott Tolzien is or possibly can be in the future.

It's about whether or not it makes any sort of sense to assign blame to the head coach, one with a proven track record of successful QB teaching, for a 3rd string QB's struggles in his first two starts, then conclude that another coach could have more maximized the performance they got from him.

Even if Tolzien performed as bad as possible, and thus became a factor to support your argument, Matt Flynn's performance in GB compared to his other stints firmly negates that argument. Seriously, for a guy that has quite a few flaws as a head coach, you picked the one thing that is by far his greatest strength to harp on.

[El Duderino]

I don't think he's holding him back at all.

Our offense is consistently great, I'm pretty sure Rodgers has the highest QB rating ever and he has won an MVP.

Not quite sure what more you want out of him than that. Seems about as good as it gets to me.

Not only that, i wish JSonline had archives back to Rodgers rookie year. I still remember multiple Packers beat writers talking about just how bad Aaron looked in training camp, to the point of wondering if he could end up being a bust. Also that Rodgers was initially resistant to the fairly significant changes in the mechanics of the throwing motion he brought in from Ted Tedford at Cal.

As for Rodgers stats and the offense as a whole, the team has consistently had a top 5 offense both in yards/points per game even though the talent at RB and OL has usually been below average, and home games in December are often played in crappy weather. Just imagine if Aaron and the Packers got to play 10 games a year or more in domes like Manning and Brees have been able to most of their careers given how awesome our offense has typically been in just road dome games. Hell, two years ago the team was 15-1 while having statistically one of the worst defenses in NFL history, very mediocre talent on the OL, and the leading rusher had less than 600 yards.

Besides in 2010 when the defense was really good, Rodgers and the passing game has largely carried the team lacking high quality defenses and talent in the running game to a lot of regular season wins, division titles, and a Super Bowl victory. For anyone mad the Packers and Rodgers only have one ring since he took over for Brett, it's very hard to do. Peyton Manning and Brees only have one ring, same as Flacco. Brady does have three, but hasn't won one since 2004, even with so many regular season wins. A good not great Eli Manning has more rings than his brother and as many as Peyton/Brees combined.

[JayMKE]

I wouldn't say he's holding Rodgers back but McCarthy is a poor in-game coach, his playcalling and clock management are bad. If anyone has held Rodgers back tho it's probably Capers and the defense.