This past season was a tough one for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They went 6-9-1 and finished third overall in the NFC North. Their offense was mediocre and their defense was just terrible.
They averaged 23.5 points per game, which ranked only 14th overall in the league. For an offense led by Rodgers, it was quite underwhelming. Their defense allowed 25.0 points per game, which ranked 25th overall. Needless to say, it was a disappointing season.
They came into the year with hopes that they'd once again win their division. However, that was all squashed halfway through the year.
They lost five out of their last six when they finally fired Mike McCarthy. He had lost his team. Aaron Rodgers would audible out of nearly every play his coach called. It was time for him to move on. The team needed a new coaching regime.
By bringing in Matt LaFleur as head coach, the organization has shown a willingness to change. Rodgers now has a chance to thrive under a more modern offensive system.
The team has a lot of work to do to regain their advantage in the NFC North. Rodgers is under a lot of pressure.
Here are three goals for the quarterback looking ahead to next season.
3. Stay Healthy
Rodgers is 35 years old. He's becoming less mobile. He has to focus on his pocket presence rather than freelancing and scrambling like he once masterfully did.
In 2017, Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone in Week 6. The injury required surgery and Rodgers reportedly had 13 screws and two plates inserted into the collarbone to repair it. He was placed on injured reserve, only playing seven games in the season.
He needs to place an emphasis on staying healthy. That means not putting himself in dangerous positions outside of the pocket. LaFleur should be able to run plays with him where the deception is in the hands of the play call, rather than the wiliness of Rodgers.
2. Learn LaFleur's System
LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans last season. A member of the Sean McVay coaching tree, LaFleur had been under McVay for a year with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 as an offensive coordinator. He has one of the best pedigrees in the entire league.
The offense LaFleur brings to the Packers is a mix of many different ideologies. It's a base West Coast concept combined with a lot of pre-snap movement. It will maximize Rodger's ability to fit balls into tight places. Instead of relying on his feet, he can rely on his arm.
1. Target Jimmy Graham
Graham was once the personal tight end of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Since then, he's bounced around the league, playing for the Seattle Seahawks and now the Green Bay Packers. He hasn't been the same since playing under Sean Payton.
Rodgers needs to find Graham on vertical crossing routes and in the end zone. Last season, he only had 89 targets. In his prime, Graham would get 125+ targets every season. He just needs the opportunity to succeed. Now that Rodgers has a coach he can finally trust, he should start targeting his biggest weapon on offense.
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