Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 14, 2015 11:20:40 GMT
Packers, Aaron Rodgers show they can grind out win without Jordy Nelson
CHICAGO -- This kind of game won't help Aaron Rodgers win the NFL passing yardage title, but Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Chicago Bears provided a look-see at the revised outline for the 2015 Green Bay Packers offense.
Without the quick-strike deep balls that Rodgers so often and so accurately threw to Jordy Nelson, who tied for the NFL lead last season in 40-plus yard touchdowns catches (with seven), the Packers might have to plod their way toward the end zone this year. They did it masterfully on the game's defining drive -- a 16-play, 78-yard slog that chewed up 9:31 of the second-half game clock and ended with a 5-yard touchdown catch by Randall Cobb.
There wasn't a completion longer than 10 yards or a run of more than 15 on the drive but what it lacked in excitement -- except perhaps for Rodgers' scramble for the longest rush -- it made up for in precision.
"Sometimes, we have to do that in those situations," Rodgers said. "It was a good drive for us, put us up eight [24-16], not only turn the field position but kind of turn the game there."
As efficiently as Rodgers performed, completing 18 of 23 passes with three touchdowns, he threw for only 189 yards. Only once last season did he throw for fewer than 200 yards in a Packers' victory. His longest completion Sunday was a 34-yarder to James Jones, who caught a pair of touchdowns in his return, and the only reason Rodgers took that shot was because he knew he had a free play when the Bears jumped offside.
Rodgers did not even attempt a pass that traveled more than 30 yards in the air, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and he tried just two that traveled more than 20. Last year, Rodgers attempted 43 passes that traveled more than 20 yards in the air (including 10 that went more than 30). Nelson caught a team-high 11 of those -- six more than Randall Cobb, who was second on the team.
"I think we're confident in what we've got," left tackle David Bakhtiari said. "Of course, you can't replace Jordy; he's a phenomenal player. But the ability of other guys to step up at wide receiver and the ability for us to grind out those plays is a huge positive to build on."
And grind they did.
In associate head coach Tom Clements' first game as the offensive play caller, the Packers rushed 30 times -- a mark they reached just seven times last season -- out of 53 total offensive plays. Part of that was Rodgers, who rushed eight times for 35 yards. All but two of those (a quarterback sneak and a kneel down) came on scrambles, not designed runs.
"I think it says more than we're just a run-and-gun team that just gets the ball out and can just pass," right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. "We can grind out those long drives, hold onto the ball and chew clock and do things like that. Those are good drives to have because it gives our defense a little chance to get a little water in and take a break, but also it wears on their defense, too.
"I remember that [16-play] drive. I went against two or three different guys because they were subbing guys in and out, and we were getting guys tired. That was a great drive."
If the Packers are going to beat Seattle Seahawks in Green Bay next week, they may have to follow the same blueprint.
CHICAGO -- This kind of game won't help Aaron Rodgers win the NFL passing yardage title, but Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Chicago Bears provided a look-see at the revised outline for the 2015 Green Bay Packers offense.
Without the quick-strike deep balls that Rodgers so often and so accurately threw to Jordy Nelson, who tied for the NFL lead last season in 40-plus yard touchdowns catches (with seven), the Packers might have to plod their way toward the end zone this year. They did it masterfully on the game's defining drive -- a 16-play, 78-yard slog that chewed up 9:31 of the second-half game clock and ended with a 5-yard touchdown catch by Randall Cobb.
There wasn't a completion longer than 10 yards or a run of more than 15 on the drive but what it lacked in excitement -- except perhaps for Rodgers' scramble for the longest rush -- it made up for in precision.
"Sometimes, we have to do that in those situations," Rodgers said. "It was a good drive for us, put us up eight [24-16], not only turn the field position but kind of turn the game there."
As efficiently as Rodgers performed, completing 18 of 23 passes with three touchdowns, he threw for only 189 yards. Only once last season did he throw for fewer than 200 yards in a Packers' victory. His longest completion Sunday was a 34-yarder to James Jones, who caught a pair of touchdowns in his return, and the only reason Rodgers took that shot was because he knew he had a free play when the Bears jumped offside.
Rodgers did not even attempt a pass that traveled more than 30 yards in the air, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and he tried just two that traveled more than 20. Last year, Rodgers attempted 43 passes that traveled more than 20 yards in the air (including 10 that went more than 30). Nelson caught a team-high 11 of those -- six more than Randall Cobb, who was second on the team.
"I think we're confident in what we've got," left tackle David Bakhtiari said. "Of course, you can't replace Jordy; he's a phenomenal player. But the ability of other guys to step up at wide receiver and the ability for us to grind out those plays is a huge positive to build on."
And grind they did.
In associate head coach Tom Clements' first game as the offensive play caller, the Packers rushed 30 times -- a mark they reached just seven times last season -- out of 53 total offensive plays. Part of that was Rodgers, who rushed eight times for 35 yards. All but two of those (a quarterback sneak and a kneel down) came on scrambles, not designed runs.
"I think it says more than we're just a run-and-gun team that just gets the ball out and can just pass," right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. "We can grind out those long drives, hold onto the ball and chew clock and do things like that. Those are good drives to have because it gives our defense a little chance to get a little water in and take a break, but also it wears on their defense, too.
"I remember that [16-play] drive. I went against two or three different guys because they were subbing guys in and out, and we were getting guys tired. That was a great drive."
If the Packers are going to beat Seattle Seahawks in Green Bay next week, they may have to follow the same blueprint.