NFL Update: Green Bay Packers looking strong in 2010, high hopes for Aaron Rodgers
The Packers are being considered as one of the favourites for this year’s Super Bowl Championship and quarterback, Aaron Rodgers is at the centre of their bid. He brings more than just raw talent and offensive prowess to the Green Bay side. He invokes confidence and boosts the Packers moral.
The Packers offense is one of the best in the league. When Brett Favre left the Packers back in 2007, many questioned Rodgers’ ability to fill his shoes. “I think the toughest mental change is to go from being a big-time contributor like we all are in college to trying to figure out what your role is once you're not the guy,” Rodgers said. He had a lot of time to figure that out, as he waited three seasons before he got the starting position with the Packers. When he did get his chance, he knew he was ready for it even if there were those who didn’t believe in him.
In the end the naysayers were proved wrong when Rodgers threw over 4,000 yards in his first season as starting quarterback. He followed up that feat the very next year with another 4,000 yards season. There are no doubters anymore; Rodgers has established himself as a brilliant and dependable quarterback. In fact, he is one of the top picks this year most valuable player. Green Bay is in love with him and analysts have nothing but praise for him.
Former Arizona Rams quarterback Kurt Warner believes that Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He said that the ability to throw different passes in different situations is what separates a great quarterback from the pack and that is an ability that Rodgers certainly has. The Packers championship run is thought to be in the clear on the offense side with Rodgers and his crew, the defence however would be tested.
Making things more challenging for the Packers would be the absence of cornerback Al Harris. He has been placed on the physically unable to perform list and won’t see any action until the 7th week. Also on the list is safety Atari Bigby. The two have not able to recover until the deadline from the knee and ankle injuries.
Bigby is the starting safety for the Packers whose position would be filled by rookie Morgan Burnett. Not to undermine the third round pick from Georgia tech but Burnett is no Bigby. Coach McCarthy showed his reservations about the packers defence. “I can't deny the fact we haven't played good defense in the preseason. We don't have the continuity we would probably like because a number of our starters have been out because of injuries.”
Answering questions about the Packers regular season opening game against Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, McCarthy said that they would love to be able to sack Kevin Kolb but acknowledged that the Philadelphia offense would be formidable. The pressure would be Green Bay on Sunday especially considering the fact that the Packers haven’t won a game in Philadelphia in decades.
Sunday’s game would put Rodgers against Kevin Kolb. The two quarterbacks are close friends; Kolb even has Rodgers on his speed dial. This would be Kolb first year starting for the Eagles after the departure of Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. There are many parallels to be drawn between Kolb and Rodgers. Both started as backups for exceptional quarterbacks and now both have raced ahead to become the starters for their teams.
Kolb was closely watching Rodgers transition from a backup to start in anticipation of when he would himself make that transition. Since McNabb’s trade was confirmed, Kolb has been in contact with the Packers quarterback, seeking advice. Even until last week the communiqués continued.
Rodgers was more than willing to help Kolb. “I was just honoured that he would seek my input-slash-advice, whatever he wanted,” Rodgers said adding that he could empathize with Kolb. “He's a very talented guy, so I think he's going to make the transition very smooth.”
The student and his mentor would face off on Sunday at the Lincoln Falcon Fields.
Tags: