1 Big Question for Each Green Bay Packers Player: Quarterbacks
By Paul Bretl
It’s hard to believe as it feels like the NFL Draft wasn’t that long ago, but Green Bay Packers training camp begins later this month, and not long after that, the preseason will follow.
To help get ready for training camp, I will be previewing the Packers roster by going position by position and player by player, discussing the biggest question facing each member of this team.
Up first, is the Green Bay Packers quarterbacks.
Aaron Rodgers: How will Rodgers perform, and what will this offense look like without Davante Adams?
Based on last year’s numbers, without Davante Adams, there are 169 targets that will have to be accounted for and spread around this season. Of course, no one player is going to absorb all of those targets, but rather the ball is going to have to be spread around more.
While it’s going to take more of a group effort at receiver, at least early on in the season, you can expect Rodgers to rely heavily on the three veteran receivers–Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and Sammy Watkins. As Rodgers told reporters during minicamp, he prefers “production over potential.”
As far as the rookie wide receivers go, they’ll need to continue to learn the offense and build that trust and rapport with Rodgers during practice. When it comes to getting acclimated to playing with Rodgers, there are two offenses to know–the one on paper and the one that actually takes place on the field.
There will be ups and downs along the way for each of these rookies, but in previous years where Rodgers was able to look in a different direction when a young receiver made a mistake, he may not have the luxury of doing so in 2022 — at least not for an extended period of time — with the overall uncertainty at the position. Rodgers doesn’t have an Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, or Donald Driver that he can rely on heavily. For this offense to be at its best, Green Bay will need contributions from Christian Watson, Amari Rodgers, and Romeo Doubs.
Although much of the attention is on the receiver position, don’t forget that the running backs and tight ends play a big role in the passing game as well. Robert Tonyan was very much missed last season but will be returning, while Aaron Jones has finished second on the team in targets each of the last three seasons.
To a degree, the Packers may lean more on the run game in Adams’ absence, but this is still an offense led by Rodgers with Matt LaFleur calling plays–it’s not going to be a 50/50 split by any means. A healthy offensive line will go a long way in helping this offense as well. Last season as they dealt with injuries, which as a result, made the run game not nearly as effective, Rodgers was under more pressure, the tight ends were asked to block more, and play-action didn’t have the same effect–not to mention that there were also fewer shot plays taken.
A 30,000-foot view of what we could see from this 2022 Green Bay Packers offense is more two-back sets, the ball being spread around, quick passes to get the ball to pass-catchers in space with YAC opportunities, and hopefully plenty of pre-snap motion and eye candy taking place behind the line of scrimmage.
It goes without saying, but there is no replacing Adams. Rather, it is going to take a group effort to attempt to replace some of that lost production from the receiving corps, along with the tight ends, running backs, and the offensive line. The Packers also need LaFleur to scheme players open and Rodgers to play like an MVP-caliber player in order to elevate this receiver room.