By Cesar Castillo@cesar_jul1o)
The Green Bays again Packers they arrived as the top seed in the NFC and with high expectations to meet. Unfortunately for their fans, this team once again disappointed, because year after year they find varied and more creative ways – always disconcerting and painful – to throw away great regular season results.
On this occasion, in a masterpiece of collapse, the Packers are eliminated in the Divisional round against, who else?, the San Francisco 49ers, by a score of 13-10.
And it is that this franchise is one in the regular season and another in the postseason. This is particularly enhanced when we talk about the performance of his QB Aaron Rodgers (20-29, 225 yards tonight) who was conspicuous by his absence in critical moments.
But is this new or does it just confirm what we already knew? And that’s the lack of efficiency, presence and character that an elite QB like Rodgers should provide his team at this point in the season. With that said, let’s start breaking down the NFC North team’s lackluster season.
Is Rodgers really good in the playoffs?
Analyzing their numbers, these are far from being bad, and equally from being spectacular. Not the kind of production expected from an elite QB and future Hall of Famer. Outside of last night’s first drive, in which they really moved the ball the way they wanted, Rodgers’ level dropped, and with it his connection to his WR. Davante Adams ceased to be a factor.
The debacle began with a fumble from his tight end. Marcedes Lewis. From there, the adjustments made by the Bay team were present, and we rarely saw a comfortable Rodgers. While he had loose balls and his special teams had an all-time pathetic day, that doesn’t excuse Rodgers’ lack of rhythm and erratic offense.
It is time to judge Rodgers properly. “What if I had a good defense?” He had it, and he wasted it. This match they knocked down Jimmy Garoppolo four times (two of them from Rashan Gary) and limited Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel to averaging less than four yards per carry. After the defensive Joe Barry stopped on fourth and 1, the passer could not command an offense that would give them a first and ten.
The same thing happened in the conference championship against the Bucs, when the defense intercepted Tom Brady: Offenses of three and out.
The latest performances of the Green Bay quarterback in the postseason tell us that, when his defense returns the ball to him and puts it in favorable conditions for him to shine and dress as a hero, he simply does not give the width, he does not fulfill the role that he should . The effort made by their peers is not reciprocated.
Rodgers talked about this in his post game presser but on his last pass that he heaved up for Adams into double coverage, Lazard broke wide open over the middle. Tough to tell here but the all-22 later in the week will be pretty obvious. pic.twitter.com/NCBWzqxtyx
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) January 23, 2022
Sad and mediocre performance of a guy who has plenty of talent and spectacular moments. But none of this works without championships when you play in a place they call Titletown, USA. It was Super Bowl or flop and ended up last
Special Teams: A time bomb that exploded at the most critical moment
Normally we don’t pay much attention to this side of the ball, it’s clearly not the one that looks the best or the most attractive. Although a solid special teams system does not guarantee resounding success to anyone, having special teams as poorly trained and serving the opposing team as what Green Bay presented to the orders of Maurice Drayton not just today, but the entire season, ended up costing this game.
It was a weakness that had been pointed out throughout the regular season and constantly exposed on the field. And it is that “bad” falls short to describe the operation of this unit. Every time the Packers’ STs were on the field, the feeling of a big play or generous field position for the opposing team was there.
Blocking a field goal or punt is rare and difficult in this NFL. Since it is something that is almost formal. Something of the most basic, but no less important. Well, in this game, the Wisconsin team allowed a field goal from Mason Crosby and a clearance of Corey Bojorquez blocked. We could say that this translated into three points that were not consummated and seven points that you gave to the rival, which weighs heavily in such close matches.
This unit was only in charge of returning, and at no time did I add with any explosive return or with any block. He compromised the great work of his defense, which he constantly placed on short pitches, close to the 50-yard line. All of the above is enough and more than enough to say and endorse that “Mo” Drayton must be immediately removed from his position as coordinator of special equipment.
No coordinator should survive this:
The NFL’s worst special teams unit turned in one of the worst special teams performances in NFL playoff history … and appears to have had only 10 men on the field for the winning field goal. pic.twitter.com/bJvPtHYXkQ
– Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 23, 2022
What’s next for the Packers?
Without a doubt, a very hectic period in terms of controversy, rumors and movements that will decide where this team is headed for the following season. An important thing to consider is Green Bay’s salary-cap situation versus free agency. Little money to offer and many players to retain does not look like a simple scenario. This obviously marks and affects the role with which this franchise will start the following campaign. Contender or rebuilding team?
If with the base of talent that they had this year nothing transcendent is achieved, what makes us think that next season, with the departure of important players, this team will be a serious contender? Dave Adams, Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan, Lucas-Patrick Y De’Vondre Campbell, among others, they appear on the free agent list in the offseason.
This issue of which players leave and which ones stay will be very much related to the Rodgers situation. If he plans to stay, he won’t do it without Adams. If he sees that the talent drain is considerable, he will surely refuse to play and start another drama. You don’t want to waste your last few years of “good” gaming in a GB without a lot of capital to fight for that coveted ring. He himself said that he does not plan to belong to a team in reconstruction.
On the other hand, we will have to talk about Jordan Love. LaFleur and management will have to see what he’s made of. And with Rodgers there, the Utah State alum has no place as a starter. If they are looking for a trade for the product of the University of California, it should be for valuable picks that help in a hypothetical reconstruction.
Right now, in Green Bay there seems to be two ways: You retain as much talent as possible to find another last shot at Rodgers, or trade him and have the picks surround Love and assess what’s with him. Because eventually you have to evaluate and pay back the first-round pick you invested in Love.
It could be seen as a win-win. Rodgers is leaving for a team that (he says) gives him a better chance of winning an SB in the twilight of his career. The Packers organization evaluates what they believe to be their new franchise QB in Love and add cheap young talent to the team through the picks obtained by last season’s MVP.
If something comes in Wisconsin, it is a time of uncertainty and a lot, a lot of innuendo. Interesting and morbid wherever you look. Aaron Rodgers assessing his future, a QB to be known in Jordan Love, a management historically lukewarm in roster movements (to add, because the hand of the Packers does not shake hands) like that of the Packers, and a franchise that seems to be saying goodbye of an era, they are highly attractive ingredients for a good offseason drama.
