Packers Lose Again but Dont Count Them Out
Light-green Bay Packers
Don't Count Amari Rodgers Out Yet
Photo Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
With DeVante Parker staying in the AFC Eastward after the Miami Dolphins traded him to the New England Patriots, some other potential wide receiver is off the table for the Green Bay Packers. The much-lamented void left past the departures of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling remains.
Green Bay has notwithstanding to sign or trade for a new pass-catcher since Adams and Valdes-Scantling left town. There'southward however a chance the team could make a move for D.K. Metcalf or Brandin Cooks, but the Packers may expect until the draft to assail the position. With four superlative-sixty selections, the Packers have enough of capital to get a receiver or two in the typhoon. At the annual owners' meeting, CEO Marking White potato alluded to this, maxim, "With the typhoon capital we have at present, I'll just say the draft is going to be very interesting."
But contrary to popular belief, the Packers have some talent at the position. Allen Lazard is still in the mix, and he's a legitimate WR2. Randall Cobb proved Father Time hadn't defenseless him nevertheless. He was shaping up to be a significant function of the criminal offense until a cadre injury sidelined him, and Aaron Rodgers forgot he existed in the divisional circular. And while fans believe Green Bay neglected the position in recent years, the Packers did spend a third-round option on Clemson's Amari Rodgers in 2021. The not-quarterback A. Rodgers had a crude rookie season, simply nosotros tin't count him out in 2022.
Allow's start with the elephant in the room: Rodgers was a full-on liability on special teams. As a returner, Rodgers looked clueless at all-time and like a saboteur at worst. One-time special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton convinced Matt LaFleur to stick with Rodgers as a returner. The patience paid off by the end of the season in the sense that Rodgers would occasionally field a punt return for positive yards.
Still, ignore special-teams Amari Rodgers. With a new coordinator and a commitment to improving that stage, the Packers should find new returners and allow Rodgers develop as a wide receiver, the position the Packers drafted him to play.
While he was awful on special teams, Amari Rodgers is an unknown as a laissez passer-catcher at this point. Rookies are traditionally bad, and Rodgers didn't exactly make a name for himself. He caught four of his eight targets for 45 yards, with a long of 19.
Rodgers had one start in 2021 against the so-undefeated Arizona Cardinals. That was a game with no Davante, MVS, or Lazard. LaFleur turned in 1 of his most brilliant performances coaching the crime that night, but Amari Rodgers couldn't take reward. Fifty-fifty UDFA Juwann Winfree drew more targets from Aaron Rodgers.
Merely in Amari Rodgers' defense force, Aaron Rodgers is notoriously difficult to bond with for new receivers. He needs to build that trust. LaFleur knows this and thinks young receivers like Amari Rodgers will play more pregnant roles over time.
"I've witnessed information technology," LaFleur said. "Information technology's a procedure like everything is. And the more than time that we can go those guys out on the field and put 'em in certain situations to allow them to kind of learn and grow, hopefully, we can be creative in ways we can expedite that process."
Rodgers also likely lost a lot of potential snaps when Aaron Rodgers insisted on bringing Randall Cobb dorsum to Light-green Bay. Pundits compared Rodgers to Cobb in the pre-draft process, and his father even coached Cobb at Kentucky. When the Packers drafted Rodgers, they expected him to fill a Cobb-type slot role. They didn't anticipate bringing the bodily Cobb back, simply Cobb had the chemistry with No. 12, and the Packers were in all-in mode. It made sense to requite the proven vet the snaps, but information technology definitely prepare Amari Rodgers' development back.
One thing that's not in Rodgers' favor is that the laissez passer-catchers who remain are mostly slot guys despite Light-green Bay losing major receivers. Rodgers will however have to compete for a significant role, including against Cobb.
One of the externalities of having the best receiver in the league is that Aaron Rodgers focused on Adams besides much while neglecting to spread around the offense. Adams' absence will exist noted, but it will force LaFleur and his QB to be more creative. Pre-snap motion that was common in 2020 brutal off in 2021, and the Packers scripted fewer gadget plays. These should return in 2022, and Amari Rodgers is an fantabulous option for those roles.
We don't know if Amari Rodgers volition be good or if he'll be some other failure in a long line of wasted third-round picks. But despite a bad showing on special teams as a rookie, we can't write him off equally a wide receiver yet. The Packers drafted him for a reason, and he has a chance to be the standout with a less-crowded wide receiver room. LaFleur'south criminal offence should be able to give him more touches in 2022. The Packers still demand to invest in the position, but don't forget about the histrion drafted in the tiptop 100 still on the roster.
However, they should find a new punt returner.
Source: https://zonecoverage.com/2022/packers/dont-count-amari-rodgers-out-yet/
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