NFL analyst claims Aaron Rodgers’ Packers will implode with another loss amid dysfunction in Green Bay
Will quarterback Aaron Rodgers be able to turn things around with the Green Bay Packers offense? The Packers are currently 3-3 through the first six weeks of the season after back-to-back losses to the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Now as the Packers gear up to play the Washington Commanders, there's one former NFL player who doesn't know if things will turn around anytime soon. On ESPN's "Get Up" this morning, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark said that there may be an implosion in the team's future.
Clark said that there seems to be a division of opinion between Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur. He also stated that, after the additions that were made to the Packers defense this past offseason, the defense still isn't playing up to the standards that they should be.
"Well, I think this team starts to implode. We, right now, we see coach and quarterback saying different things about what they need to do with the offense, you understand.
"You put all of this work into the defense, all of these draft picks, spent all of this money in free agency. And now that defense isn't playing the way that you expected them to win coming into this season."
Clark also said that this is the first time in Matt LaFleur's tenure with the Packers that he isn't on pace for 13 wins. This is also not the type of season that Aaron Rodgers is accustomed to.
He also said that playing the Washington Commanders may actually not be as easy as some would think. Especially since Taylor Heinicke will be getting the start since Carson Wentz is injured. Clark said that Heinicke is going to run with the opportunity to get a start, but that it could be a bad thing for the Packers.
"And this is the first season that Matt LaFleur isn't on pace to win 13 games since he's been the head coach. And there's always been questions about what does Matt LaFleur truly do that Aaron Rodgers doesn't get him to that point to be able to do.
"And so now with this team playing the Commanders, and I'm gonna tell you this, what's sneaky to me is that Carson Wentz isn't playing. And I know you would probably agree with this.
Sometimes things get better when Carson Wentz is no longer your quarterback, and now you're putting in a guy, Taylor Heinicke, who's always been about energy, who's always been about trying to do his best, the chip on his shoulder, trying to prove people wrong, and to get an opportunity to be inserted into the lineup this week against the Green Bay Packers could actually be a bad thing for them."
It’s pretty clear #Packers QB Aaron Rodgers thinks the team’s offense can be improved by returning to basic west coast system concepts. Matt LaFleur should hand him the scheme and see what he can do with it. Sink or swim, it will be a clarifying move at QB.sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-…
Ryan Clark then stated that whether the Green Bay Packers win or not is if they really want to win in the first place. He then concluded by sayin that, if the Packers can't pull off a victory, then there are going to be some major issues in Green Bay, and it may only get worse.
"If the Green Bay Packers lose and all they talk about Aaron Rodgers, four fingers of scotch. It's going to be the whole bottle and it's going to be one of those reserved bottles that you got to pull off top of the shelf that when you're at TGI Fridays, the lady gets a ladder to make sure she can get it because it's only one bottle because it's too expensive to have a light.
"When you watch this game, pay attention to energy. Pay attention to how bad the Green Bay Packers want to win, because if they don't win it, it's going to be a huge problem at Lambeau."
Does QB Aaron Rodgers want to take control of the Packers offense?
Aaron Rodgers said last week that the team's biggest issue on offense is that it needs to be simplified. He said that, for the offense, it's a much more complex scheme than what their key offensive players can make happen.
Aaron Rodgers with a lot of praise for the Jets https://t.co/MVUcKd5eg4
"I just think that based on how we’ve played the last two weeks, I think it’s going to be in our best interests to simplify things for everybody — for the line, for the backs, for the receivers, especially with Randall Cobb’s injury."
Coach Matt LaFleur, who runs the west coast scheme offense that Rodgers has raved about, is the current play caller. Could LaFleur hand over more of the play-calling duties to his quarterback? Veteran quarterbacks are, sometimes, allowed to call 'audibles' if they decide to mix things up a bit.
Aaron Rodgers is very vocal about his feelings toward most things, especially his team. He has also been vocal over the last few years about wanting more control in decision-making. If Green Bay loses their third straight game this weekend on the road against the Washington Commanders, changes will need to be made. Giving the offensive reigns to Aaron Rodgers may just be that.