Reason #1 For Optimism In 2021: Aaron Rodgers

Yes, the 2020 season ended in disappointing fashion.

If just one play or one call or one playcall would have been different, the Packers could have been in the Super Bowl. Based on the disarray the Chiefs were in from injuries and off-the-field issues, the Packers may very well have won.

But it didn’t happen.

There’s looming salary cap issues in 2021 and some key players surely won’t be back, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic for the 2021 season and we’ll be counting them throughout the offseason.

Today, we look at Reason #1: Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers is good, we know that.

He’s always been the smartest guy on the field and he’s had physical gifts that maybe only a handful of other QBs have had in the history of the game.

But over the years, injuries seem to have robbed him of some of his physical talents and a steady decline of his offensive system capped his productivity.

In 2019, Matt LaFleur brought in a new offense. Expectations were high, but production was less than we hoped for. Sure, he looked a little more efficient, sure they won 13 games and advanced to the NFFCCG, but it didn’t feel anything like the amazing Aaron Rodgers seasons we’d seen in the past.

Then 2020 hit.

Right out of the gate, Rodgers was on fire. He said that he noticed something in his game and later revealed it was some lower body work he needed to improve. Given his significant shoulder and knee injuries from the previous years, it was no shocker that his mechanics had suffered.

What was a shocker was that, even at his age, he was able to correct it and have an absolutely astounding 2020 season.

Sure, there’s gaudy stats like a franchise-record 48 TDs and an absolutely ridiculous TD-Int ratio, but those don’t tell the full story.

The fully story is in how amazing he looked on the field. He was slinging the ball with ease, dropping dimes into the tightest of windows and making a couple throws every game that made people post clips with “If Mahomes would have done this” and “Brady would never.”

He has a career renaissance like no other.

Yes, he’s a year older, but his body is still in peak condition and his mind is sharper than ever.

It’s not possible for one player, even at QB, to win all buy himself, but it is still the most important position in the game.

Rodgers is re-energized and re-calibrated and there’s no reason to believe his 2021 season won’t be another stellar outing.

With a top-level QB, 2021 should be another exciting season.

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We’ll be updating our list of Reasons For Optimism In 2021 throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back.

Also, follow our ongoing draft and free agency at Draft Central 2021.

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Want more insight into how winning teams build through the draft (and how losing teams fail)? We’ve got you covered!

Start shallow, then get deep into understanding draft strategy with our draft book (rated a #1 New Release): A Fan’s Guide To Understanding The NFL Draft: Strategies, Tactics, And Case Studies For Building A Professional Football Team

Then jump into free agency with another #1 New Release: A Fan’s Guide To NFL Free Agency Hits and Misses to better understand this critical part of the NFL offseason and see where teams have found (or missed) success in this critical component of team-building.

Both are available in ebook and paperback – and free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!

If you don’t have Kindle Unlimited, you can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited here!

Don’t just watch the draft – understand it and learn why GMs make the moves they do.

 

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Check out Packers Draft Central 2021 for all our 2021 NFL Draft coverage!

 

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