#12​ ​Aaron​ ​Rodgers​ ​​6’2”​ ​223​ ​13th​ ​Year,​ ​California

Overview

Aaron​ ​Rodgers​ ​is​ ​viewed​ ​by​ ​many​ ​as​ ​the​ ​best​ ​quarterback​ ​in​ ​the​ ​league.​ ​We​ ​believe​ ​he​ ​is​ ​the most​ ​physically​ ​gifted​ ​passer​ ​in​ ​the​ ​game​ ​today​ ​and​ ​possibly​ ​of​ ​all​ ​time.​ ​The​ ​transformation​ ​that Rodgers​ ​has​ ​gone​ ​under​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​his​ ​career​ ​has​ ​been​ ​astonishing.​ ​He​ ​came into​ ​the​ ​league​ ​as​ ​a​ ​tightly​ ​wound​ ​up​ ​somewhat​ ​antsy​ ​Jeff​ ​Tedford​ ​protege​ ​as​ ​he​ ​looked​ ​overly mechanical​ ​and​ ​robotic​ ​early​ ​on​ ​(2005-2007)​ ​It​ ​was​ ​not​ ​until​ ​he​ ​took​ ​the​ ​reigns​ ​full​ ​time​ ​in​ ​2008 that​ ​his​ ​true​ ​talent​ ​began​ ​to​ ​show.​ ​From​ ​the​ ​outset​ ​Rodgers​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​throw​ ​with​ ​effortless​ ​ease was​ ​second​ ​to​ ​none​ ​and​ ​his​ ​arm​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​strongest​ ​if​ ​not​ ​the​ ​strongest​ ​arm in​ ​the​ ​game.​ ​For​ ​his​ ​career,​ ​Aaron​ ​has​ ​thrown​ ​for​ ​over​ ​36,000​ ​yards​ ​with​ ​297​ ​touchdowns​ ​to just​ ​72​ ​interceptions​ ​while​ ​also​ ​rushing​ ​for​ ​25​ ​touchdowns.

Analysis

Rodgers​ ​is​ ​arguably​ ​the​ ​best​ ​second​ ​reaction​ ​quarterback​ ​of​ ​all​ ​time​ ​-​ ​meaning​ ​he​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to extend​ ​plays​ ​at​ ​a​ ​Hall​ ​of​ ​Fame​ ​type​ ​level​ ​after​ ​he​ ​is​ ​forced​ ​to​ ​react​ ​off​ ​the​ ​initial​ ​stages​ ​of​ ​a given​ ​play.​ ​Rodgers​ ​executes​ ​this​ ​in​ ​a​ ​highly​ ​intuitive​ ​fashion​ ​and​ ​does​ ​it​ ​at​ ​a​ ​considerably higher​ ​rate​ ​than​ ​every​ ​other​ ​quarterback​ ​in​ ​the​ ​league.​ ​His​ ​success​ ​rate​ ​is​ ​very​ ​high​ ​as​ ​well which​ ​has​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​weekly​ ​off-script​ ​highlight​ ​reels​ ​for​ ​Rodgers.​ ​​ ​Rodgers​ ​has​ ​a​ ​rare​ ​ability​ ​to play​ ​the​ ​position​ ​with​ ​a​ ​risk​ ​taking​ ​style​ ​while​ ​still​ ​bringing​ ​judicious​ ​decision​ ​making​ ​to​ ​the​ ​field. He​ ​will​ ​at​ ​times​ ​bypass​ ​throws​ ​that​ ​are​ ​open​ ​early​ ​in​ ​the​ ​down​ ​within​ ​the​ ​timing​ ​and​ ​structure​ ​of a​ ​play​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​create​ ​and​ ​play​ ​the​ ​game​ ​from​ ​the​ ​aforementioned​ ​second​ ​reaction standpoint.​ ​This​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​cause​ ​of​ ​frustration​ ​locally​ ​in​ ​Green​ ​Bay​ ​and​ ​around​ ​the​ ​league​ ​due because​ ​there​ ​are​ ​numerous​ ​instances​ ​when​ ​Rodgers​ ​solely​ ​relies​ ​on​ ​pocket​ ​precision​ ​and beating​ ​the​ ​opposition​ ​before​ ​the​ ​snap.​ ​It​ ​almost​ ​seems​ ​as​ ​if​ ​Rodgers​ ​is​ ​literally​ ​at​ ​times​ ​playing mind​ ​games​ ​with​ ​the​ ​defense​ ​just​ ​to​ ​see​ ​what​ ​he​ ​can​ ​get​ ​away​ ​with​ ​which​ ​has​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fair amount​ ​of​ ​unnecessary​ ​hits​ ​over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past​ ​few​ ​years.​ ​Some​ ​of​ ​Rodgers​ ​best games​ ​from​ ​2016​ ​​(Lions,​ ​Bears,​ ​Vikings​)​ ​all​ ​at​ ​home​ ​by​ ​the​ ​way​ ​were​ ​due​ ​to​ ​Rodgers​ ​playing​ ​at a​ ​PHD​ ​level​ ​from​ ​the​ ​pocket.​ ​Rodgers​ ​has​ ​a​ ​Dan​ ​Marino​ ​type​ ​release​ ​which​ ​is​ ​regarded​ ​as hands​ ​down​ ​the​ ​quickest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​natural​ ​in​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​league.

2017​ ​Projection

Rodgers​ ​is​ ​going​ ​to​ ​have​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​healthy​ ​for​ ​the​ ​duration​ ​of​ ​2017​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Packers​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a chance​ ​to​ ​make​ ​it​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​postseason.​ ​Rodgers​ ​has​ ​shouldered​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​over​ ​the​ ​years and​ ​2017​ ​would​ ​be​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​time​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Packers​ ​to​ ​return​ ​the​ ​favor​ ​and​ ​support​ ​Rodgers​ ​in ways​ ​not​ ​yet​ ​seen.​ ​Perhaps​ ​the​ ​defense​ ​can​ ​make​ ​strides​ ​and​ ​allow​ ​the​ ​team​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​a​ ​position to​ ​secure​ ​home​ ​field​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​playoffs.