The Green Bay Packers are down four preferred starters along the offensive line, but MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers is providing a big helping hand for the patchwork group now tasked with protecting him.
A decisive quarterback distributing the ball fast and on time has greatly negated the impact of not having David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner and Josh Myers over the last month or so (or longer).
Consider this: Over the last four games, Rodgers has averaged 2.41 seconds to throw the ball and has thrown the ball under 2.5 seconds on roughly 60 percent of snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He’s completed 72 of 90 passes and leads the NFL in touchdown passes (nine), big time throws (seven) and passer rating (131.8) when throwing the ball under 2.5 seconds after the snap.
The result of getting the ball out fast? No time for pressure to arrive. And the pressure on Rodgers has been minimal.
Per PFF, Rodgers has been under pressure on just 23.1 percent of dropbacks over the last four games, the second-best mark among quarterbacks.
And from clean pockets, no one has been better. Rodgers’s 124.3 passer rating when throwing from clean pockets is the best in the NFL since Week 12.
This isn’t meant to take away from what Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, Lucas Patrick, Royce Newman and Dennis Kelly have accomplished over the last month, but there’s no doubting Rodgers’ impact. His mastery of the offense –combined with Matt LaFleur’s ability to dial up effective quick game plays – has created a decisive quarterback operating at a high level in the passing game.
Most offenses would crash and burn after losing four starters along the offensive. Not the Packers. Offensive line coach Adam Stenavich deserves a ton of credit for both developing the talent and getting the healthy players ready to go, but don’t discount the impact of Rodgers. The MVP favorite is playing fast and taking loads of pressure off the team’s rebuilt offensive line each and every week.
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