Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams hoping to connect more in 'clutch situations'
-- Davante Adams saw a team-high nine targets Sunday night against the New England Patriots -- and it still wasn't enough.
While the Green Bay Packers trailed for most of the game, the connection between their top receiver and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was mostly sporadic, unable to establish much of a rhythm.
Adams caught six of those nine targets, tallying 40 yards and a touchdown: His fourth touchdown in the last four games and his seventh of the season.
But Rodgers still wants to find ways to get Adams even more involved in "clutch situations," as he pointed out during his post-game presser following the 31-17 loss in Foxborough.
"We had a couple good drives there," Rodgers said of the few instances Sunday night in which things seemed to go right. "But, I need to keep feeding Davante in those clutch situations. That’s where I’m most disappointed in myself about, having him a couple times."
Rodgers evidently feels one step towards helping the offense break out is getting the ball in Adams' hands, whichever way that may be. His 40 yards against the Patriots -- while being matched up almost exclusively against Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore -- was a season-low for Adams.
"The one time I threw it to EQ because he’s coming open right now a little quicker than I thought he would, maybe hold onto that and hit Davante down the field. He’s a tough cover and I have to keep finding ways to get him the football."
Rodgers' comments are reminiscent of his previous sentiments earlier this season after the Packers shutout the Buffalo Bills.
Despite a then-season-high 14 targets, Rodgers felt the Packers needed to create an emphasis around Adams being the primary focal point on a number of plays. He then went on to have over 130 receiving yards in three consecutive games.
If turning Adams into a first-class priority on offense is a stepping stone towards curing the Packers' ailing offense, then they would be smart to do so in a hurry. Sitting at 3-4-1 with road trips to Seattle and Minnesota on their schedule still sets the Packers up for a less-than-ideal stretch of games.
If not for Adams, Rodgers also has the option of fifth-round rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling at his disposal. After a drop in the first half, Rodgers allegedly told the rookei that he was going to come back his way in the second half.
It took less than a minute into the third quarter for Rodgers to find Valdes-Scantling deep for a 51-yard reception.
There are playmakers across the board in the Packers' offensive arsenal, deeming the struggles they're currently undergoing almost inexcusable. But if conjoining Adams' quick burst off of the line with Valdes-Scantling's vertical speed will help open up a new dimension of what they're able to accomplish, there's no reason why it shouldn't have been done already.
At this point, they're running out of time.
"We need that game next week," Adams said after the loss, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi. "We need that. We're running out of games to keep saying we need that game but we definitely need it."
The Packers are back at Lambeau Field next week to host the Miami Dolphins.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (30)
PAPackerbacker
November 05, 2018 at 05:12 am
Seems like Rodgers is depending way to much on connecting with Adams. What ever happened to spreading the wealth? Take what the defense gives you and move the sticks.
TKWorldWide
November 05, 2018 at 06:39 am
The part where he talked about holding the ball a little longer and hitting Davante further downfield concerns me. Isn’t that exactly what many have pointed out as being one of the PROBLEMS?
stockholder
November 05, 2018 at 03:21 pm
Your best post!
TKWorldWide
November 06, 2018 at 07:04 pm
Who, me?
NickPerry
November 05, 2018 at 05:42 am
Rodgers to Adams would help but IMO it's far from the biggest problem for the 2018 Packers. The Packers are just plain limited at WR. From 2011 when the took Cobb who seems to age 3 years for each NFL season, through the 2017 draft, the Packers let the "WR Well" dry the hell up. With the exception of Adams in 2014 Thompson did a horrible job of stacking the position for the highest paid QB on the planet. Not to mention the TE position. MVS is going to be a star, I really believe that. But the Packers still need another WR and a good damn TE.
Kevin King is made of paper mache. He may be a fine talent but who the hell knows since he's hurt every 2nd or 3rd game he plays.
If the Packers record against "Good" teams this season isn't enough, just watch a Saints or Rams game and watch what a 2018 offense SHOULD look like.
I may be wrong but did Aaron Jones ever see the field after the fumble? Okay so he fumbled which was obviously a huge play. BUT Williams isn't Jnes, not even close and I just thought it was a poor time to hold Jones accountable. I mean if that's the case who holds McCarthy accountable for his play calling and game planning?
The season isn't over but do you REALLY want to watch this team in the playoffs and sacrifice draft spots? All that would do is prolong the agony. If Murphy is REALLY the one hiring the HC then he needs to start his homework NOW an not waste any time.
jeremyjjbrown
November 05, 2018 at 06:29 am
All good teams have to do is wait for the undisaplined Packers to F up the game. The Packers finally ditched two guys last week for messing up the game. The Patroits see that crap and know the Packers are undisaplined and are unlikely to put together four quarters of football. And of course Whitehead slaps a guy, Tonyan roughs the punter and Jones fumbles in the 4th quarter.
Look at how Josh Gordan has been in Foxborrow. He's like a model citizen there. If he was in GB he'd be fumbling the football, get flagged for USLC and running his mouth of in the locker room.
stockholder
November 05, 2018 at 07:35 am
I would have added king has been having a leg problem like many of the Wrs. I would hate for the packers to let him go and watch him turn into another Casey Hayward. I remember Shields had problems too. Give the kid time.
NickPerry
November 06, 2018 at 05:41 am
Good point...I've long maintained the trainers on the Packers HAVE to be pretty bad considering the number of soft tissue injuries. Again I'm no trained medical person but jezz, common man.
alinger84
November 05, 2018 at 05:43 am
They don't just need a win next week. They need convincing 60 minutes of football. They finally need to explode! They need to win by a margin of at least 3 or 4 touchdowns! Am I confident? No! In the end it will be a 17-9 or some s**t like that...
TKWorldWide
November 05, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Would you take TWO wins?
NickPerry
November 05, 2018 at 06:17 am
Off Topic (sort of)...
On "Golic & Wingo" AND several other shows for that matter lately I've heard a lot of the same chatter. But the chatter I want to mention most is this feeling actually starting to be voiced.
"The Packers are Squandering the career of Aaron Rodgers".
Now the media is actually coming out and saying this. The Packers have pissed away the last 4 years especially on a once in a generation talent. Week after week I have to listen to Mush Mouthed Mike spew out BS after yet another loss to a team with a winning record. I'M TIRED OF IT!!!!
The Packers are an undisciplined team plain and simple. They continue to keep a trainwreck of a ST coach in Ron Zook. I never understood the hire when they still had trainwreck Slocum in place yet McCarthy found the ONE GUY who is probably WORSE than Slocum. McCarthy and his band of wanna be offensive coaches have to go. Sooner than later would be best.
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 07:02 am
The media and whoever can say what they want, but Rodgers is his own worst enemy right now.
He has not been sharp this year. He has made bad decisions as well.
Rodgers chooses way to many times to hold the ball, not throwing it to the open WR, and tries to go deep to much. Rodgers has missed open receivers a lot this year.
This isn't just a this year problem either.
All i can say for all the people who want to get rid of McCarthy. Be careful what you wish for. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Simply firing McCarthy doesn't mean we are in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles fired Andy Reid to get Chip Kelly. Bears fired Lovie Smith to hire Marc Trestman. Just a couple of examples.
Everyone complained about Thompson and the lack of talent he brought in. Now we have a GM that is starting to restock the team with talent.
stockholder
November 05, 2018 at 07:40 am
Perfectly said. I just look at the right side of the line and just shake my head. The age and the injuries are catching up.
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 08:01 am
IMO, we have a talent problem more then anything.
Seeing a guy like MVS showing up has really showed us that the last few years our WR pool has been less then stellar.
Gutekunst I think will add a lot more talent to our team.
This first draft has already given us Alexander and MVS who both are having huge impacts.
jeremyjjbrown
November 05, 2018 at 08:36 am
"Be careful what you wish for."
I wish for a HC who manages the team on gameday and a OC who gets the playcalls in. MM is not doing either particularly well.
splitpea1
November 05, 2018 at 11:22 am
The coaching staff must not take the specials teams seriously enough if there's been a problem for this many years. The continued reckless and undisciplined play of this unit is one of the most aggravating aspects of this team. Now that was obviously an unfair call on Tonyan last night, but if there was any time for a token rush, this was it. If it's fourth and 21, you should get the ball back every single time and not find some unthinkable way to screw it up.
Bearmeat
November 05, 2018 at 06:21 am
Aaron Rodgers had his own house to clean last night NP. He was far from great.
Adams got his clock cleaned by Gilmore in the 2nd half too. He was not a WR1 last night.
NickPerry
November 05, 2018 at 06:54 am
I agree 100% on your thoughts about AR. BUT the Packers scheme USED TO WORK because they just had more WR's than any other team could cover. Give Rodgers 3 or 4 seconds and Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, or Finley would work themselves open. Now the Packers have Adams and a exciting rookie MVS. That's it though BM..End of list.
BTW...Has anyone else noticed on just about any deep throw Rodgers has this kinda strange throwing motion where he's sort of falling back as he launches it? Almost like the motion he used on the 2nd pass to Jeff Janis in Arizona in the 2015 playoffs but not quite as extreme.
I'm so bummed out I waited 9 months for this crap and DEEP DOWN I know I won't have serious hope for this team until September 2019 OR January when McCarthy is fired.
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 07:08 am
In one sentence you are basically saying they don't have enough talent. The next its talking about Rodgers having a weird throwing motion, and in the next sentence McCarthy has to be fired.
So is it we don't have enough talent?
Is it that Rodgers hasn't played well enough?
Is it that McCarthy is at fault for everything?
fastmoving
November 05, 2018 at 10:23 am
I would say the list is longer today.and evenbetter as back than.
Driver was not young anymore, Jones not fast and Finley had a lot of drops.
Adams is shifty like hell, Brown and MVS are tall an fast, Coob and Allison are dependable and JG a big target. we have even Kumerow and Moore...………
for me its not the weapons (look at Bradys guys besides Gronk). they are there butAR has to use them
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 07:03 am
That has been Rodgers this year.
He is off. That 3rd down play that he tries to run for a first down, when if he simply hands the ball off Williams probably gets the first down.
Rodgers is pressing to much. He simply needs to take the plays the defense gives them.
stockholder
November 05, 2018 at 07:43 am
To Many under thrown balls!
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 08:20 am
His throws are off, and he isn't throwing to open Receivers.
Just bad decision making.
He will make 1-2 good-great plays then make a bad decision.
flackcatcher
November 05, 2018 at 08:47 am
RC, you I and a bunch of other commenters have been saying this since the beginning of the season. Not is only Rodgers playing hurt. What is worse is he is not playing within the scheme. He is so use to making plays with his talent and legs, he now is throwing the scheme away and is hurting his team. The offense works, the problem is Rodgers does not trust it. I don't know what McCarthy does about that.
Hematite
November 05, 2018 at 06:29 am
We're half way through the season with a losing record.
Cut McCarthy loose TODAY and start putting the Green Bay Packers back together.
RCPackerFan
November 05, 2018 at 07:05 am
So McCarthy is the dark cloud on the team?
He is the reason we lost to 2 of the best teams in the league on the road in back to back weeks?
I'm assuming that it was all Rodgers that had us leading in the Rams game and tied in the Patriots game?
John Galt
November 05, 2018 at 06:59 am
I predicted Patriots by 10 yesterday - easy call. This team will have a losing record - 2 years in a row.
Pierre
November 05, 2018 at 07:18 am
Rodgers just can’t pick out a receiver and throw to him in stride real quick on a consistent basis. He still holds the ball too long and throws it away too often out of bounds for being considered an “elite QB”. That’s all just a past reputation now that fans still think of him. He could not even move the offense for TDs against a pedestrian Patriot’s Defense! That’s revealing and pathetic for the money they are shelling out to him. (+FOR FIVE MORE YEARS!!!)
He’s just not a great QB anymore by any measure but in the minds of ardent fans. He barely completes 50% of his passes anymore in games which is not gonna cut it in today’s NFL. Bree’s is completing passes at a 72% and they win scoring 35-45 points a week. Most will continue to say the same tired excuses of receivers, OLine, MM playcalling, and defense for the Packers not being able to win at a high level anymore without looking at Rodgers being the real reason. Someone noted Rodgers record is 38-41 on the road!! Did you know that. He’s becoming Eli Manning 2 before our eyes! Time to realize that others are not “wasting” a SB window of opportunity with Rodgers at QB in Green Bay but that he is just inaccurate passing from the pocket quickly and unable to play a FULL GAME at a STELLAR LEVEL as an NFL QB!
It’s called the eye test and you see it every week now from Rodgers as he leads this Packers offense with glimpses of brilliance but mediocrity overall in games. That’s why they never blowout any teams anymore and are not a bonifide SB contender, nor will they be with Rodgers as their QB. Not looking good for the Packers the next five years as they will just be middle tier NFL team...but that’s the real reason they will perform like they are no matter what else gets changed...it’s the play of their QB. It needs to improve to 65-70% completion level again if he still has it in him or this team will not be top tier at all anymore.
stockholder
November 05, 2018 at 07:55 am
I didn't like the fact the defense comes out and can't stop an opening TD again. I know CB set up our draft last year. But I still don't like the play form the DL. I think it's time to end the 3-4-4 type players. The draft is full of DEs this year. Draft 2 and dump Perry. I thought the packers needed a faster ILB last year. Still do. Until these changes are made the packers will continue to have problems.
TommyG
November 05, 2018 at 09:12 am
He said it himself. He’s going to hold the ball even longer, ignore the open man, and try to hit the big play more often. This is a disaster.