Best & Worst Case Scenarios: 2013 Packers Quarterbacks

In Aaron Rodgers' worst-case scenario, 2013 is the year he loses his mobility and he endures another 50 sacks.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Photo by Corey Behnke of CheeseheadTV.com.


It's time for the seventh annual "Best & Worst Case Scenario" series, a feature that goes back to the days of the old RailbirdCentral.com domain.

I attempt to take a look at what is the very best possible season a player is capable of producing, and on the other hand, what would happen if a player fell flat on his face (without assuming they suffer a season-ending injury). These are intended to be extreme scenarios on both sides of the spectrum. More than likely, each player is going to fall somewhere in the middle, but every now and then, they just so happen to come to fruition.

As one final note, I also try to take a look at what these scenarios would be from an individual standpoint and not necessarily what's best (or worst) for the team.

Aaron Rodgers

Best-case scenario: Rodgers may have finished sixth on the NFL Network's list of the league's Top 100 players in 2013, but by 2014 he's back in the top spot with no questions asked. It's yet another year in which he attempts more than 500 passes and completes more than two-thirds of them for easily more than 4,000 yards. Like usual, he ranks No. 1 in the NFL in quarterback rating and touchdown-to-interception ratio. But perhaps best of all for Rodgers' health and the Packers' fortunes, he's subjected to less than 35 sacks, thanks to a combination of better protection and Rodgers getting rid of the football more quickly.

Worst-case scenario: Rodgers has reached a point in his career where a bad year for him is more than likely better than most other quarterbacks' good years. But 2013 is the year where age catches up to Rodgers from a mobility standpoint. His arm is fine, but gone are the days where he rushes for more than 250 yards and averages more than four yards per carry. The Packers can still win without Rodgers' legs as they have plenty of good skill position players to make up for it, but fantasy football owners might be annoyed. Even a poor year by Rodgers' standards still includes a completion percentage over 60, nearly 4,000 passing yards and between 25 and 30 touchdown passes. The sacks yielded is still a problem, however, as Rodgers endures another 50 more.

Graham Harrell

Best-case scenario: If there were a ranking of the NFL's backup quarterbacks, Harrell escapes the basement. He's still not the caliber of a Matt Flynn, who backed up Rodgers for four seasons in Green Bay, but at least Harrell isn't a liability. He uses the preseason to the best of his advantage, leading the Packers on several touchdown drives and relying upon his accuracy to get the job done. While Harrell plays only sparingly in the regular season, he does a solid job and has the trust and respect of his teammates. There's no more egregious fumbles returned for touchdowns.

Worst-case scenario: Unfortunately for Harrell, he loses out on the No. 2 job in Green Bay. His arm strength just isn't up to par for NFL standards and when he throws multiple interceptions in the exhibition season, his fate is sealed. He's no longer eligible for the practice squad, so the Packers have to part ways with Harrell. There's no other team willing to offer him a spot on their 53-man roster, so Harrell starts life as an NFL journeyman, finding another job only when injuries necessitate it.

B.J. Coleman

Best-case scenario: Thanks to his outstanding measurables and pure arm strength, Coleman wins the backup quarterback gig. He's made major strides since his rookie year, and it shows in the preseason. When the Packers give him a nice long audition, he proves himself by making plays with his arm and with his legs by completing passes on the run. There's a higher ceiling for Coleman as opposed to Harrell and the potential to become the next Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks or Flynn who goes onto bigger and better things in his post-Packers career.

Worst-case scenario: Coleman just can't supplant Harrell for the clipholder job in Green Bay. He looks the part in shells and in practice when he can't get hit, but during a game environment, Coleman crumbles under the pressure. He throws more interceptions than touchdowns in the preseason, which doesn't cut it in Mike McCarthy's offense. There's a possibility the Packers carry Coleman as a third quarterback on their 53-man roster, but if not, he's asked to stay on the practice squad for one more season.

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

0 points
 

Comments (13)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
JakeK's picture

July 29, 2013 at 02:16 pm

Would rather see Rodgers numbers go down than up.... If his numbers go up then it means the running game is stalled, GB is playing too much from behind and/or the defense is lacking.

I'd like to see his numbers at about here. ... 28 TD./11 Int./101.2 Rating ... 65.7% for 3922 yards.... Not his best numbers but it depends on how you look at it.

0 points
0
0
Charlie M's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:07 pm

Why would you want his ints to go up and his completion % to go down, Packers fan?

0 points
0
0
Mr Smith's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:24 pm

LOL. No kidding. "I want our QB to give the ball away more often." WTF?

0 points
0
0
BradHTX's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:11 pm

I don't disagree with your premise, Jake, about Rodgers' stats vs the run game. But I think I'd like to see him a little higher, like Favre in the early 2000s with Ahman Green in his prime -- around 3,900 yards with 32-35 TDs. Minus the boneheaded INTs, of course!

You know, I really miss the "U71 heavy package" from that era... Assuming Barclay doesn't win a starting gig, wish they'd try putting him in as a tight end like they used to with Kevin Berry.

0 points
0
0
JakeK's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:29 pm

Agree completely... 30+ TD passes for the next several years would be ideal.

0 points
0
0
JakeK's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:22 pm

Come on guys ... check out his stats for the 2010 season. You know, the SB season.... Where do you think I pulled those numbers from? .. Regardless of how good Rodgers was and is, it's still about winning SBs.... Rodgers would be the 1st to say this and probably has on more than one occasion.

0 points
0
0
Mr Smith's picture

July 29, 2013 at 04:26 pm

Yup, and throwing more INT's and completing less passes will certainly help the team get there! Oh, wait...

0 points
0
0
Point Packer's picture

July 30, 2013 at 11:59 am

Life is better if you don't read this guy's posts.

0 points
0
0
Cuphound's picture

July 29, 2013 at 11:06 pm

I know that this is "what would happen if a player fell flat on his face (without assuming they suffer a season-ending injury)," but Brian, I can't do more than lightly skim your worst case scenario for Aaron Rodgers. In contrast, with 51 sacks last year, I wake up at nights in a cold sweat, having dreamed the horrors that would ensue if Rodgers were out for the season.

Given our coaching staff's tendency to view the offensive line as a set of "mix and match replaceable parts," I just don't see those nightmares fading. I'm hoping your best and worst scenarios for the O-Line will look like your best and worst for Rodgers. I'm not holding my breath, though.

0 points
0
0
UP-Packer's picture

July 30, 2013 at 12:51 pm

I fear the same. The problem becomes even more when you realize that AR is now pushing 30. He's been hit alot. That takes a toll on the body. Can't believe he's as fast as he once was. Makes him even more likely to get hit.

0 points
0
0
The TKstinator's picture

July 30, 2013 at 06:59 am

I think most of us are HOPING for a better run game and better pass pro. But how much improvement can we realistically expect?

I for one am HOPING for "a lot" but am willing to settle for "some".

And like some of the previous posts, it's really about winning.
I wouldn't trade a 1,500 yard rusher and 22 sacks allowed for an 8-8 season and no post season.

0 points
0
0
UP-Packer's picture

July 30, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Obviously, some fans can see the bigger picture and some can't. There's no way that good stats come before wins. Some fans need to get over their man-crushes and realize that the most important part of AR's game are the victories. An 8-8 record without the playoffs is a lost season even if AR throws for 40+ & 5000.

0 points
0
0
The TKstinator's picture

July 30, 2013 at 05:13 pm

Same page, brother.

This is best read using your Hulk Hogan voice.

Or not.

0 points
0
0