GREEN BAY, Wis.– If it appears the Green Bay Packers have actually gone unnoticed of late– at least because the hubbub over their choice to prepare their possible quarterback of the future in the very first round passed away down– then thats simply fine with their quarterback of the present.
Aaron Rodgers sounded as though hes taking pleasure in the fact that regardless of coming one win short of his 2nd Super Bowl look, theres so much focus around the NFL on the likes of Tom Brady in his new home in Tampa Bay and other stories, consisting of one including his former coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas.
” You know what, I dont learn about our squad,” Rodgers stated Wednesday. “I believe the appeal existss a great deal of discussion about other teams, whether its Tom and Tampa, or the teams that were truly strong last year, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas with Mike and what theyve done to their lineup. I like where were at as far as kind of flying under the radar despite the fact that we went 13-3 last year. Weve got a possibility to prove what sort of team we are to start the season out on Sunday, and I look forward to the opportunity.”
1 RelatedThe Packers didnt give Rodgers any receiver assistance in the NFL draft and rather traded up to take Jordan Love at No. 26. Love will open the season as the No. 3 quarterback behind Rodgers and Tim Boyle.
Still, Rodgers, 36, looked particularly sharp as practices advanced throughout the shortened training camp. The Packers shifted into a regular-season practice mode last week, but Wednesday was the very first actual regular-season practice.
” It hasnt seemed like a normal anything truly with no preseason video games and the schedule being various, and clearly the COVID testing every early morning,” Rodgers stated ahead of Sundays opener at the Minnesota Vikings. “That has all felt really various. Today seemed like the very first day of a game week. I dont know exactly what happened, but I understand I seemed like I was in a rhythm from the minute I stepped on the field and I wished to lead with some energy today to kind of set the tone that video game weeks are different than training school.
” Everything is amped up a little bit, to even, like I told the guys before practice, its simple to get amped up, obviously more on video game day and with each progressing week, the seriousness and the value clearly gets and so today I felt was a good day for us energetically. And it was absolutely the very first time I believe, for me, that the realness of this type of set in and the understanding that now it does matter. Hopefully, the rest of the guys dont take up until Sunday to have the very same sensation since I know its been strange for everybody.”
Rodgers remains in his second year under coach Matt LaFleur, and while Green Bays offense was inconsistent last season and Rodgers numbers were down– he posted his least expensive Total QBR as a starter– the Packers still made it all the method to the NFC title game. Despite having no in-person offseason work, Rodgers took an active role in assisting LaFleur modify the offense and revise in Year 2 with an eye on playing faster.
Something that wont alter is the playcalling wristband cheat sheet that Rodgers debuted last season. Thats here to stay.
” I do not think its possible with the length of much of these calls in our offense to not use a wristband moving forward, so I expect to probably have that on due to the fact that the density of a few of these plays provides to actually needing to use that to streamline the head coach-to-quarterback playcall and after that myself to the huddle and the offense,” Rodgers stated. “Were actually attempting to get in and out of the huddle a bit much better. We took a look at some of our delays in 2015 and a few of our up-against-the-clock snaps, and we d like to get some better pace being available in and out of the huddle. I think the method to do that is to utilize the wristband.”
The greatest remaining question about the Packers heading into the opener is who will secure Rodgers on the ideal side. They lost longtime right take on Bryan Bulaga to the Chargers in totally free company and they have not settled on a starter. Their confident starter, Billy Turner, didnt practice Wednesday due to the fact that of a knee injury, however at least the Packers wont need to deal with Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, who was put on hurt reserve Wednesday.
If Turner cant go, then veteran free-agent pickup Rick Wagner might start at right tackle. Or LaFleur might move one of his beginning guards– Elgton Jenkins or Lane Taylor– to deal with.
” I think thats type of a work in development right now,” LaFleur said of the right take on spot. “Well see where were at healthwise at the end of the week and then decide that we feel is going to provide us the very best chance to win.”
1 RelatedThe Packers didnt give Rodgers any receiver aid in the NFL draft and rather traded up to take Jordan Love at No. 26. Love will open the season as the No. 3 quarterback behind Rodgers and Tim Boyle.” It hasnt felt like a typical anything really with no preseason games and the schedule being different, and obviously the COVID screening every early morning,” Rodgers said ahead of Sundays opener at the Minnesota Vikings.” I dont think its possible with the length of many of these calls in our offense to not use a wristband moving forward, so I expect to probably have that on since the density of some of these plays lends to truly requiring to use that to enhance the head coach-to-quarterback playcall and then myself to the offense and the huddle,” Rodgers said. The most significant lingering concern about the Packers heading into the opener is who will protect Rodgers on the best side.
