The 0:58 mark on this video is a perfect example of Rodgers hesitancy in the pocket. It’s been noted extensively, but I found this particular play interesting for two reasons.
- It’s a perfect illustration of Rodgers thinking too much. He looks at James Jones to his right as his first read. Then, you can almost see him think “Oh wait, coach told me I was telegraphing last week” and he pulls off Jones and looks to his left. When he comes back to Jones, he’s open, but Rodgers has…
- Drifted in the pocket. Again and again Saturday night, Rodgers jumped in the pocket unnecessarily. Several times, as in the one in focus here, he simply drifts himself out of a play.
Now, it can of course be noted that the interior of his line did him no favors, but Rodgers needs to be able, especially when the offense comes out in its Big Five formation as it does in the play in question, to feel when the time is right to escape the pocket. Here again, I think it’s pretty obvious Rodgers is being too precious with the criticism early in camp that he was bailing on plays too early. Perhaps, if the protection has been much like it was on Saturday, we have a clue as to why that was happening.
