RealGM

If you had to pick one reason the offense isn't clicking right now, what is it?

Discuss.

I think it's some of each of those things, not mostly any of them, but the single biggest reason is that Rodgers is off his game. He's not seeing things as well as he normally does, and he's not as accurate with his throws as he normally is.

Still, though, I think a lot of these sacks are when he's got 1-on-1 coverage outside and our WRs just aren't beating it. By the time he comes back to the shorter stuff, it's covered up, and teams are staying very disciplined with how they rush him so he can't make the plays outside the pocket he normally makes.

It's not really a new thing, but teams definitely figured out (finally) that blitzing Rodgers = death, so they very rarely do it.

I think it's the offensive line and injuries to our playmakers. I think that when the other team knows they can rush 4 and keep 2 guys 25 yards downfield while jamming the WRs, it is tough. If Rodgers had 5 seconds to throw in that case he'd be fine...but he doesn't.

I voted other: Greg Jennings

I think the recent struggles aren't completely due to Jennings being out but it is definitely a huge factor. Jennings makes Jordy, JJ and even finley more effective with his superb route running... He's able to do what these guys cant and it's greatly missed. Without Jennings, those folks are looking like "1 trick ponies" and it's shaken the receiving corp's confidence in turn compromising Rodgers' trust and confidence in them and killing this offense. While I could see Cobb replacing Jennings, Cobb is probably a season away of experiance from being able fill that void.

Jennings cannot come back soon enough.

It's a combination of the book being out on our offense, our offensive line being extremely inconsistent and our play calling being very suspect at times. Voted for the former, because I think that's the biggest thing.

RiotPunch wrote:It's a combination of the book being out on our offense, our offensive line being extremely inconsistent and our play calling being very suspect at times. Voted for the former, because I think that's the biggest thing.

I agree with this. I would also add Rodgers holding the ball too long at times into the equation as well.

Newz wrote:

RiotPunch wrote:It's a combination of the book being out on our offense, our offensive line being extremely inconsistent and our play calling being very suspect at times. Voted for the former, because I think that's the biggest thing.

I agree with this. I would also add Rodgers holding the ball too long at times into the equation as well.

This brings up an interesting question. There have definitely been some plays where he held on too long or stepped up into the wrong section of the pocket.

However, what do we want him to do? Increase his interception total to up some of the completions (a la Favre) or throw the ball away regularly, decreasing the plays he makes with his feet?

GrendonJennings wrote:This brings up an interesting question. There have definitely been some plays where he held on too long or stepped up into the wrong section of the pocket.

However, what do we want him to do? Increase his interception total to up some of the completions (a la Favre) or throw the ball away regularly, decreasing the plays he makes with his feet?

I have seen some people going crazy on Rodgers. Some people have even gone as far to say he's "hurting the team" when I have talked to them about this. (Not on here, just in general) I'm certainly not in that camp as I still think he's actually having a pretty decent season... he's just been bad by his standards.

There are plays where he should certainly eat sacks. He isn't above criticism though, there are plays where he has missed the open guy and held onto the ball when he should get rid of it though. I think it has certainly been a contributing factor this year.

That being said I'd rather have him eating sacks than turning the ball over.

Him holding onto the ball too long also partially falls into the suspect play calling category. When you have routes drawn up that take a while to develop, you're asking for sacks. Granted, Aaron has got to be smarter about getting the ball out of there sooner, be it throwing the ball away or finding someone.

It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

RiotPunch wrote:It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

Yup. It's unbelievable. Those quick slants often busted for HUGE gains and sometimes long TD's too. It gets Cobb in the open field, which with Jennings out should be a big priority for our offense. I don't know if it is Mike being stubborn about his playbook or what, but don't try to fix things that ain't broke.

Newz wrote:

RiotPunch wrote:It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

On a lot of these plays where he holds it too long, those shorter passes are available early, but he's looking downfield.

emunney wrote:

Newz wrote:

RiotPunch wrote:It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

On a lot of these plays where he holds it too long, those shorter passes are available early, but he's looking downfield.

Yeah, that's true. So maybe it is more on Aaron than McCarthy, at least on certain occasions. I also noticed a few times that players are not coming back to the QB after their route has been run, which doesn't help anything.

It's hard to pick just one. I think it is a combination of Rodgers not playing well (holding on to the ball too long and overthrows), our offensive line collapsing like a house of cards, dropped passes, and game plans that aren't adjusting to how defenses are playing us. Add it up and we are 2-3 looking at 2-4 in the mouth.

emunney wrote:

Newz wrote:

RiotPunch wrote:It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

On a lot of these plays where he holds it too long, those shorter passes are available early, but he's looking downfield.

I think this is the a big part of the problem as well. In the past, I have heard/read Rodgers state that the approach is to look deep first and work his way back, always looking for the deep strike.

To this point, Rodgers and McCarthy have simply been too stubborn/arrogant to adjust to the safeties staying deep. This is why balance, AKA running the ball, does matter. Regardless of what McCarthy says, his offensive line's performance during his tenure has never indicated that they emphasize the run game in their training camps, practices, or game plans. Until a defense has a legitimate reason to bring one of those safeties up into the box, we're going to continue to see what we've seen since last year's KC game, alot of 3-and-out's. losses, and close-ups of McCarthy and Rodgers looking frustrated.

I have also heard that Rodgers goes to the line with a run or pass option on every play too. So it may also be on him that we don't run the ball enough when it is actually being successful.

One way or another though, we have to fix what is happening. Even without Jennings, Finley and Benson there is too much talent on this team offensively to not be a top 5-10 offense.

askdavescat wrote:

emunney wrote:

Newz wrote:
Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

On a lot of these plays where he holds it too long, those shorter passes are available early, but he's looking downfield.

I think this is the a big part of the problem as well. In the past, I have heard/read Rodgers state that the approach is to look deep first and work his way back, always looking for the deep strike.

To this point, Rodgers and McCarthy have simply been too stubborn/arrogant to adjust to the safeties staying deep. This is why balance, AKA running the ball, does matter. Regardless of what McCarthy says, his offensive line's performance during his tenure has never indicated that they emphasize the run game in their training camps, practices, or game plans. Until a defense has a legitimate reason to bring one of those safeties up into the box, we're going to continue to see what we've seen since last year's KC game, alot of 3-and-out's. losses, and close-ups of McCarthy and Rodgers looking frustrated.

Running matters, but I think it's more than that. I think it's just about giving equal shrift to all areas of the field. We had so much success down the sidelines with Jordy last year. There's a lot of positive reinforcement behind the urge to revisit that well again and again. I just think there's a lot of underutilized room on the field between the deep sidelines/back shoulder tree and the bubble screens and screens to backs. That crossing pattern to Cobb was a great example. I'd like to see our RBs run more actual routes from the snap. I think that in the same way defenses want to put more guys into coverage, we have to resist the urge to keep more guys in to block. By dropping more guys back, they are essentially telling you what they're afraid of. PRESS THAT. On passing plays, I don't want 2 deep to even be an option because somebody will be running free underneath. Spread them out and trust Aaron's pre-snap recognitions. Play to your strengths. Force them to cover you.

I agree, there are other theoretic ways to address the 2 deep safeties, but again, McCarthy/Rodgers refuse to consider them. They've never been a good screen team under McCarthy. I think opposing DB's have figured out how to defend our receivers on the sidelines in a manner that takes away that back-shoulder throw. A fast TE attacking the post is supposed to be a way to beat cover 2, but Finley keeps dropping the ball. For the most part though, I believe there are open receivers on short routes, but by the time Rodgers comes off his initial deep read, and starts looking for an outlet, it's too late, the pocket is collapsing, and he gets sacked.

To me, they need to read to coverage, and if Rodgers has to squint to see both safeties, he needs to look short first - get the ball out of his hands and move the chains. Like you said, if you keep doing that, eventually, one of those safeties will move up, and then you can burn them deep. What they can't continue to do is the same old thing, just looking deep over and over again. It's getting to be like that definition of insanity, where you think you can do the same thing over and over again, but get a different result.

I vote coaches are a mess with the departure of Joe Philbin.

This is the same offense as last year.

Problem is Tom Clements and Ben McAdoo.

emunney wrote:

Newz wrote:

RiotPunch wrote:It's been talked about a lot, but what happened to our screen and quick slant game? That used to be among our most common and successful play calls, and with Cobb on the roster we have no reason not to be calling those plays.

Definitely agree with this. It makes my jaw drop when he has no options other than guys running around 15-35 yards down field. Our offense has always been at its best when using quick routes, IMO.

On a lot of these plays where he holds it too long, those shorter passes are available early, but he's looking downfield.

Yea, a lot of the pass routes in a given play have at least one receiver running a short route or a checkdown is built into the play.

A problem for fans though is that on many plays where a pressure or sack happens, a replay isn't shown of the receivers to see who might have been open and when. Or if none were ever open. McGinn in game ratings has mentioned multiple times about how receivers simply aren't getting open enough. Then when a big play chance does open up, Rodgers makes a bad throw or the receiver drops the pass.

One thing everyone here should listen to is Tuesday's with Aaron on 540 ESPN Radio. Podcasts are archived. Each week one thing Wilde asks Rodgers is what he thought happened/saw on a few key plays from the previous game. He goes into very high detail as to exactly why he did what and what he saw on those plays. Like how on a fair number of play calls, it has a run or pass option built in and it's up to Aaron to decide based on what he sees. Very informative stuff.