Green Bay Packers Richard Rodgers a playoff sleeper?
Green Bay Packers’ TE Richard Rodgers entered the 2014 season with low expectations that he mostly failed to exceed, but with the Packers set to begin their march in the NFL playoffs, the rookie from California could be a dark horse to shine. In the Green Bay Packers’ Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions, Richard Rodgers caught five passes for 40 yards, including several key third down plays to move the chains, and the growing trust between he and Aaron Rodgers will give him increased opportunity against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Tight End hasn’t been a strength for the Green Bay Packers in 2014 with the absence of Jermichael Finley being obvious. When Rodgers was selected late in the third round this past draft, many criticized the pick as a reach for a player who lacked elite athletic talents for his position, but Ted Thompson saw something more. The 6’4, 260lb Rodgers is a strong blocker with big hands, and has shown signs of excelling with the basketball-style box-out play that helped him gain position on opposing linebackers in Week 17. With temperatures now plummeting and opposing defenses improving, look for Rodgers to see a spike in looks as the hot read for Aaron Rodgers.
“He did a heck of a job,” Mike McCarthy said following their win over the Lions. “Richard Rodgers made some huge catches there, that ball-control drive that we’re establishing there, the next-to-the-last drive. Also blocked very well. So, I really like Richard’s performance.” His downfield blocking has impressed me for a rookie, and could really help to spring Jordy Nelson on a quick slant through the Cowboys’ questionable secondary.
While both his Head Coach and Quarterback have praised the 22-year old through the past month, Rodgers is quick to keep a level head after a season in which he totalled just 20 receptions for 225 yards. “I don’t think I had that big of a game,” Rodgers said following the regular season finale. “I had a couple catches and I only had 40 yards. That’s not really a huge game, but I played well and hopefully I can just improve.”
The main reason that I predict Rodgers will make an impact this week is that the Dallas Cowboys offer a very opportunistic matchup against Tight Ends. Dallas allowed a whopping 106 receptions to opposing Tight Ends in 2014, the most in football, while the 1,052 yards allowed from the position ranks 2nd-most. The Cowboys also allowed opposing Tight Ends to score 10 touchdowns.
The trust that Aaron Rodgers has in his young Tight End cannot be understated. Inconsistent play like we have seen from fellow rookie Davante Adams can force Rodgers to look elsewhere at times, so the reliable play of Richard Rodgers could help him to fill the third option in the passion game, something that I’ve viewed as a critical hole on the Packers’ roster all season long. “He’s gotten better as the season went on,” Aaron Rodgers said. “He really understands coverages and timing. That’s something that young players don’t always understand — the timing that the ball needs to come out. He’s been great at it.”
A deep playoff run in the NFL requires that not only the stars shine, but that role players step above expectations and contribute to wins. During their 2010 Super Bowl run, the Green Bay Packers received that boost from James Starks, who rushed for 315 yards and a TD after totalling just 101 yards on the ground in the regular season.
The Ice Bowl rematch between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys will be ripe with story lines and All-Pros, but fans of the Green and Gold should keep their eyes on Rodgers. Both of them, this time.