I watched a Young QB in his 21st professional game last night, the QB was under constant assault from enemy players. I do not recall seeing him lose his cool or get rattled. I never once saw him yell at his Teamates, he kept picking himself up off the turf and statistically had the best game of his carreer. Aaron Rodgers is a playoff caliper QB, displays that he's got it thing about him. I look back at all the QB's since 1993 or so and this guy is the best we have had with the exception of one guy. Time will tell if number 12 gets on the Ring of Honor or not. What I did see was a Sports Illistrated Cover only this time True Grit goes to Aaron Rodgers.


I have had a very hard time deciding what jersey I was going to buy, my mind was made up for me last night it will be a number 12

Rodgers is hardcore. Even when he messed up last night it didn't throw him or shake his confidence.

And he was still making plays even though the team was three scores down. They got two of them and couldn't get the onside kick. In his mind, the game was never out of reach until Sidney Rice came down with that last kickoff. That's a quality that I like to see in the team's leader. Calm. Cool. And determined. He's certainly earned my respect as a fan.

Rodgers has earned respect, no doubt. His best days are ahead of him.

I agree. Last night showed me more about Aaron Rodgers than I've seen to date. He was sacked 8 times yet just kept fighting. Really, if Donald Lee caught that friggin pass in the end zone, we would have been tied or even won the game. My ultimate conclusion is that the Vikings are by far a better team but we had the better QB. Sure Favre looked great but what people don't realize is that the Packers were obviously focused on stopping Peterson leaving open zones for him to throw to. I seriously doubt Favre could have did what Rodgers did given the performance of the team as a whole. I truly saw something special from Rodgers. There is no way that game should have been as close as it was. In reality, we were a recovered onside kick away from possibly tying or winning that game. I think Rodgers earned quite a bit of respect from his teammates last night. He didn't quit fighting. Last year he would play well for 90% of the game then buckle at the end. I think he truly proved that he could overcome a tough game and keep fighting until the end. He was giving the Vikes defense all they could handle at the end of the game. Even Jon Gruden said that if he was coaching the Vikes that he would have called a timeout around the 2 min. mark because the defense just wasn't looking good. Rodgers was carving them up. Its unheard of for a guy to be sacked that many times yet throw for 384 yards and post a 110 QB Rating. Most QBs would have turned the ball over a bunch of times and played terribly. He didn't let his early mistakes and all the adversity get the best of him. He kept fighting.

I think Rodgers is maturing into one heck of a QB. He hadn't quite displayed the ability to take over a game before last night's game. I started to see it last night. The Packers as a whole got brutally outplayed by the Vikings in all phases of the game yet when its all said and done we had a chance to tie the game with 1 min. left. Amazing. I can only imagine what Rodgers could do if he had a credible NFL caliber OL. We have some serious problems in the trenches and they must be fixed. Especially on offense. We can't run block or pass-protect. This is the worst offensive line I've ever seen. Its embarrassing.

And like you I wasn't quite ready to buy a Rodgers jersey but he won me over last night. I thought he was going to be a good QB based on last year's performance but he proved to me that he is a gamer last night. I didn't see that kind of fight in him last year. Last night I saw that Rodgers is for real. Despite losing the game, all the pro-Favre ESPN commentators couldn't stop gushing over how impressed they were with Rodgers for his toughness and his will to keep fighting. When you think of a QB getting sacked 8 times. You assume a QB will probably throw for less than 200 yards complete less than 50% of their passes and post a lousy QB Rating. His performance was truly amazing given the circumstances.

I agree. I think Rodgers is going to be a stud qb in the league for a long time, that is once he gets some guys in front of him that can block.

Ray...I knew there would be a day we would agree...

Also wanted to state an analyst stated cannot recall who last night, maybe this was a coming out party for Rodgers.. He went toe to toe with favre with a line that was underperforming and darn near pulled it off...I am in hopes that Rodgers takes more positives away and this team stands up and now rallys behind this man's performance last night ...and it could happen....

Post of the day! I agree!

We agreed once before, we both love the Green Bay Packers

Yeah, now that we've seen the results of one hero worship, let's move straight away into another.

No doubt that Rodgers is the real deal. I am hopeful that the O-line can be shored up enough to perform, maybe even thrive. Tausch may not be in his prime, but it looks like veteran leadership may be the missing link. Having said that, it's time for Packers fans to rally behind Rodgers. The hardest thing for some to accept may be the difference in personality. For years, we've grown accustomed to Favre's leadership style; a true cowboy, unafraid to talk trash or clown around on the field. We'll never forget how he and Warren Sapp would trade barbs with each other between plays, and walk away chuckling. Rodgers plays his hand closer to his chest, he's quietly confident, and shows far less emotion. Perhaps this will change with a few more seasons under his belt, but it doesn't need to. The other players accept him for the leader he is, and it's time for Green Bay fans to do the same.

Just trying to find a glimmer of hope from the dark cloud that has ascended over our team!

Yeah, me too to be honest. I'm just feeling dark today and I guess that can make me kind of crappy. I'm sorry for raining on the parade.

Most of the discussions around here are bringing me down - that dark cloud is hanging over me too. It's as bad as reading about current events. I shouldn't have come into the one brightly lit room in the place and cast a shadow. My apologies for that.

I feel quite good about Rodgers too.

Meh, since Terry won't rain on the parade I will.

Lots of those hits he took were of his own doing. He held the ball trying to make big plays when all it did was cause him to get hit and make it more likely the team would have to punt. People ask why we're not using the short passing game like we did a few years ago - that game is still there, Rodgers isn't utilizing it. Rather than step up in the pocket he steps side to side, looking to get out of there and throw on the run - sometimes that works, more often than not this year he's stepping into defensive ends. He's looking too much down field rather than concentrating on moving the chains and keeping the D off balance. He's still being played by the opposing D, rather than him playing with them.

Sorry to be a downer, but after rewatching a lot of that game... my goodness, there was so much there for the taking. Minny passing D isn't that good. I really wanted GB to be the team that exposed them for the fraudulent contender they are but if Rodgers can't settle himself down then it's not going to happen.

No.

I dare say that we could have functioned just as well with 3 paper mache geisha girls and 2 turnstiles.

Edit:Turnstiles may be a bit tougher than the O line as they actually only allow one person through at a time.

No question he has a long way to go in terms of judgement, as well as recognizing defenses and spotting weaknesses.

There's a good press gazette article, which breaks down a few things - it reveals some bright lights we haven't really been talking about or crediting the Packers for, but it also highlights any number of failures. The comments, or some of them, about Rodgers certainly concur with rpiotr's remarks:



It's worth a full read:
After further review: Breaking down the tape from Monday's loss to the Vikings

I think I added something on Rodgers and at least 3 Sacks last night. In Different Topics but......hmmmmmmmm...Just Saying....

He gets one more chance on his terms, in HIS HOUSE, AT HOME... we should kick their a...

I'm a strong supporter of AR and believe he has all the tools necessary to be very successful.
He's had one full year of experience and shown to have a true NFL arm - capable of making all the throws.

The performance and descion making of any QB will suffer if under continued heavy attack. Sacks not withstanding, that includes, hurries, hits after release et al. Its safe to say that AR's been absorbing more than his fair share of abuse. When and if the OL settles down - the Packer offense will take off - believe it.

BF himself has the well earned reputation of putting the ball up for grabs - i.e. getting rid of it - after having his clock rung a few times. There isnt a Packer fan alive who hasnt scratched his head wondering what Farve had in mind after uncorking one of his wild interceptions. He's still the same guy - the media's glorification not with standing.

I mentioned to another poster prior to the MN game that I couldnt recall a game I wanted to win so badly, but was less confident of doing so. Thoughts of our losses "back-when" in Dallas came to mind. The OL issues clouded my mind to the point of despair - but still AR made a win possible (that plus BF's eagerness for a 4th TD pass when running the ball was more prudent....). AR's ability to eat up chunks of yards will show true once he feels secure in the pocket.

Things will settle down and we'll get our "W's".

Meanwhile, BF and his 10yard passes are going to be challenged by sturdier, more cohesive defenses than he's seen too date. MN's good but they're not great and I remain convinced a good passing game can (and will) take them apart. If our OL comes around, we've got the right players to do it.

Believe it.

I was going to find a word that you would have to look up in the dictionary, but Thank You will do in this case

I'll have to respectfully disagree to some degree. I'm seeing a different Rodgers from Weeks 1-2 to what I saw on Monday Night. I think the terrible OL play has completely disrupted the timing of the offense and Rodger's internal time clock. I think the first two weeks of the season really had Rodgers hearing footsteps and now he is watching the pass rush rather than going downfield. If you watch most of those sacks its fare to say that many of them were of Rodgers doing but if you really watch them you will noticed he isn't taking big hits. This is directly attributed to the horrific failures of the OL in weeks 1-2. Rodgers was standing tall in the pocket and taking brutal hits in weeks 1-2. Now he is watching the pass rush and trying to make plays with his feet. The result is more sacks but not as many big hits.

Keep in mind though that other QBs under this kind of pressure would be turning over the ball left and right. I'll take a punt over an interception anyday. That is why this team has even been close. If Rodgers would be risking tough throws under pressure he could have already thrown quite a few picks and we would have been blown out by Cincy and the Vikings. I don't understand the criticism of Rodgers. He is keeping this team in games by being smart with the ball. Sure on some of the sacks there were check down options but he is literally surrounded by pass rushers because nobody on this OL even deserves to be starting on an NFL team. The big problem is that the Vikes could even afford to rush only 3 at times and still get good pressure. Its a numbers game. When your front is getting beaten that badly its going to make it very difficult for your QB to make plays. When it takes 6,7 guys to block 4, who is going to be open? What do you think all the extra defenders are doing? They are back in coverage. What I kept seeing is the Vikings being able to drop extra guys in coverage yet still get very good pressure on Rodgers. When it takes twice as many blockers as rushers to protect the QB bad things are going to happen. That was a disaster.

I'll add another thing. I now believe Rodgers is the best QB in the NFL against the blitz. He can literally pick a defense apart when they send blitzers. He had a QB Rating above 100 last year against the blitz and all of the big plays against Minnesota came against the blitz. If we are ever able to field an OL that can do a decent job blocking 4 DL this offense will be unstoppable. We just don't have a credible OL. It is what it is. An OL made up of 2nd day draft picks. Thompson has to learn that he can't be too cheap with the OL if he wants his young franchise QB to enjoy a long career. This disaster has to be fixed. I think getting Clifton back and bringing Tauscher in will help substantially but problems still linger and this would only be a temporary solution.

I better see Thompson trading some serious coin for a good OT or trading up high into the 1st round. This team is set. We just need a couple of solid OTs. I think Colledge, Spitz, and Sitton are decent interior OL but we can't keep shifting Spitz and Colledge around. We need to draft an OT very early next year if we can't pick one up via FA or trade. Thompson needs to give up whatever is necessary for a good LT. Protecting your QBs blindside is that important. The top shelf LTs are usually find in the top half of the 1st round. OL is one of the few positions in the NFL that you get what you pay for. If you invest in the OL it will pay off. If you try to be cheap, it will show. There are exceptions but drafting OL is pretty simple. You need big athletic guys and they are usually found early in the draft. I hope Monday Night's game was a wake up call for Ted Thompson.

If Ted's wake up call was only Monday night that is an issue, this has been a problem now for 20 games going back last season. He did not get any depth at LT and we are now paying the price

Somehow I am picturing a Monty Python skit.

Not a skit, just picture the street scenes in Life of Brian...

Didn't you see the sign?

No feeding Terry's irreverence!

I don't think many teams have depth at LT. If you're a good or even decent LT, you're either playing on another team, or you're good enough to start somewhere on the offensive line. They're too precious a commodity to waste sitting on the bench.

But in general, I think TT's done a fairly poor job of building the offensive line. Or maybe it really is all coaching as some have suggested. I don't know.

I don't recall how many times AR got sacked/hurried in the Bear game but poor Barbre had all kinds of problems against Cincy. He's been better since (of course he couldn't continue to play any worse!). Then Cliffy goes down and the entire line is shifted around. Did anyone play their natural position that night besides Wells and Barbre? Colledge, who is a decent guard but not a tackle, got the unenviable task of trying to control Allen, a speedy DE taylor made for playing on that turf in the Humpty Dump. DC was spinning like a top before he got hurt. Hopefully Cliffy will be back next week and Tauscher will be resigned to shore up the other side with vet depth if nothing else.

Rodgers impressed me too on Monday night. How he withstood all of that pressure and punishment is beyond me. It is a wonder how he didn't have more than one fumble back there. He never gave up and kept making plays. Its too bad Lee dropped that TD and Finley got tripped up. If those 2 plays work that game is completely different! I think Rodgers showed us and his teammates his leadership and resolve. That will only help him next week and the rest of the season.