Heading into the AFC Championship Game and leading an electrifying Cincinnati attack Bengals, sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow he continues to show week after week that he is the next generation Aaron Rodgers.
The domain of the Green Bay QB Packers has spanned more than a decade, setting the standard in terms of talent that many would want in their franchise QB. Making comparisons of their careers would be a tremendous mistake, since one is more than clear and consecrated – despite what he may do in the coming years – while the other is just beginning.
What matters most to me in this article are the similarities that Burrow has shown in terms of play style, the traits that make him very similar to Rodgers.
What is it about Joe Burrow that reminds us so much of Aaron Rodgers?
The “arm talent”
Let’s start with the most obvious in all QB; the passes. Throughout his career, Rodgers has accustomed us to seeing incredible passes that land in the most precise places, with the perfect placement so that his receiver only has to stretch his arms to make the catch, without altering his speed and with the possibility to gain yards after the catch; he can also place the ball in a point that the defender cannot reach, but with a fair chance for his receiver to catch the ball.
We’ve seen those kinds of passes from Burrow as well. As if that were not enough, the arm strength is also there when you need it, the ball comes out of your hand with the famous zip and with the ideal speed to go far or get into tight windows between defenders to find the hands of his receiver, enviable characteristics that, moreover, are not something eventual, but a constant.
Such capabilities of Rodgers are perfectly complemented by the tremendous chemistry he has with his receivers, specifically with Davante Adams. In Burrow’s case, in just one full season in the NFL (plus what happened with him in college), he has developed a great rapport with Ja’Marr Chase. Many of the passes they complete are of a high degree of difficulty, where Burrow places the ball in places that require Chase to adjust his body or his trajectory to make the catch, but it looks like he’s expecting it and can do it without too much trouble.
If arm talent wasn’t enough for this pair, there’s their ability to spread plays and make things happen thanks to their legs. By no means do we think of Rodgers or Burrow as running quarterbacks; however, his way of navigating the pocket is enviable, whether climbing it or going out to the sideline.
That controversial play in the Wild Card round where the whistle blew mid-play and the Bengals scored the touchdown is the perfect illustration of something Rodgers does constantly: get out of the bag, wait for one of his receivers to get out of the way and throw the pass at the last possible moment, when he has an inch of ground left before leaving the field.
Intelligence and command of the offensive
Something highly desirable in a franchise QB is intelligence, command of the offense and his ability to process information in a few seconds. We’ve repeatedly seen Rodgers manipulate signals at the line of scrimmage, going from play to play to put his players in the best position to succeed. Although he receives a move from the staff, he has the possibility of making the change he deems appropriate.
This is something that Burrow has developed little by little, but he is getting better and better at it. your head coach Zac Taylor He gives him a play, but according to what he sees before the snap, he adjusts as necessary. From the outset, you already have the confidence of your coach to have that power.
These adjustments, coupled with his knowledge of what he can accomplish in the context of the offense, have made Burrow one of the best-performing quarterbacks against the blitz, something also characteristic of Rodgers’ game. When a defense shows frank pressure, these players can “cook” them with a quick pass; It’s like they want defenses to send that blitz to make your job easier.
Ability to respond at critical moments
Repeatedly, Rodgers has shown that he has ice in his veins by turning games that seemed lost, executing offensive series in a matter of seconds to seal the victory and charge his team. Throughout this year, and in these 2022 NFL Playoffs, Burrow has shown that same ability: The moment isn’t too big for him, he’s calm under pressure and he goes along with it with a surgical execution.
The factor clutch It is something that has been present in the brief career of the Bengals QB, and has led them to achieve important triumphs to turn around a losing history of more than 30 years.
With the NFL in the midst of a generational shift at quarterback, it’s easy to name Joe Burrow as one of the best at the position for years to come, along with stars like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen. In the case of the Bengals, they could have the QB most similar in characteristics to the MVP of the 2020 season and, possibly, of 2021.
