Rodgers: Packers' offense 'underachieving' but reminds fans to 'R-E-L-A-X'
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Considering where the Green Bay Packers have ranked among NFL offenses in recent seasons, Aaron Rodgers may have used the perfect word to describe their group so far this year: underachieving.
Since winning Super Bowl XLV, the Packers have ranked third in total yards in two of the three seasons and been no lower than eighth (and as high as first) in points scored. Through three games in 2014, Green Bay is 28th in yards and 27th in points.
While Rodgers reminded Packers fans once again Wednesday to "R-E-L-A-X," even the star quarterback gets why it's not easy for some to do right now.
"There's high expectations here for us every year, but we've underachieved on offense, so you understand it," Rodgers said. "But I think it's just a reminder that it's a long season and all of our goals are in front of us and within reach. We just have to play better."
Rodgers already has two games this season with fewer than 200 yards passing, both of which resulted in losses. That only happened twice in the three seasons that followed Green Bay's Super Bowl victory, and both of those previous games (both in 2012) were still Packers wins.
The no-huddle offense that has often been good to Rodgers has not worked well. By design, it doesn't allow for changing formations, instead sticking with one set of players for the entirety of the drive. For Green Bay this season, it's mostly been using three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back.
The explanation from Rodgers as to why the Packers would continue to use no-huddle despite lackluster results is that "we get the best players on the field, and that's usually in our three-receiver set."
Head coach Mike McCarthy, who's in charge of offensive play-calling, doesn't believe it's the no-huddle style that's been the issue. He's been happy with the mechanics of play entry and with what's been happening at the line of scrimmage, adding that it's "graded out high" when self-scouting after each game.
"Our biggest thing right now is production," McCarthy said. "Our offense really isn't where we would like it to be."
McCarthy was upset with everything from the "disappointing" running game to the team's need to "catch the football better." It's all part of his belief that the issues are related to execution and production, not offensive style or play-calling.
With the Packers scoring seven points in a road loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 3, the offense only ran 54 plays. That's far from McCarthy's goal of running around 75 plays each game.
When McCarthy first arrived in Green Bay in 2006, he used a variety of personnel groups rather than the no-huddle that's so prevalent now. Though he wouldn't divulge any details, McCarthy responded with "absolutely" and "obviously" when asked if he's had a philosophical change to his approach since his early days with the Packers.
"I think you can also make the argument: what is your best personnel?" McCarthy said. "How much more do you want to take your third receiver off the field and bring a second tight end? Or are you just going to play with one back? Or bring a fullback on? Those are things that are all part of the conversation and really, as your roster develops, where we are in our program, particularly with our quarterback, this is clearly the way we're structured as the best utilization of our players."
In recent years, having playmakers like Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jermichael Finley made it easier for Rodgers to spread the ball around and find success. This season, Jordy Nelson is responsible for more than 50 percent of Green Bay's receiving yards.
However, Rodgers wouldn't pin the offensive struggles on his receivers.
"We've all got improving to do," Rodgers said. "In a lot of areas."
McCarthy felt similarly.
"I never said we had a problem with anybody getting open," McCarthy said.
But, the numbers tell a slightly different story. The progression from Jarrett Boykin hasn't been there, with the former undrafted receiver struggling with the move up to No. 3 on the depth chart. Boykin has as many catches (two) as he does drops. Second-round pick Davante Adams seems destined to eventually surpass Boykin permanently, but McCarthy has hesitated to do so yet. Three games into his rookie season, Adams has seven catches for 61 yards.
"Boykin and Davante, I feel very confident where they are today, but excited about where they're going," McCarthy said.
With a Week 4 matchup approaching in Chicago, it's a chance for the Packers to repeat what they've done the past two seasons: get on a winning streak after a 1-2 record to begin the year. But if Green Bay is still unable to run the ball effectively against a 26th-ranked Bears rush defense or to get someone other than Nelson the ball through the air, not even a plea from Rodgers may be enough to get Packers fans to R-E-L-A-X.
"We usually kind of find our stride around this time," Rodgers said. "We can't rely on that every year because that just makes it tough. But for whatever reason, that's kind of been the way our season has gone."
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