Jacksonville Jaguars vs Green Bay Packers: Can Aaron Rodgers be slowed down?
By Luke Sims
The Jacksonville Jaguars struggled against passers in 2015, often making it look like any QB could go to the Pro Bowl. Can they slow down perennial Pro Bowler Aaron Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers is on a different level when compared to most other quarterbacks. His peers are Tom Brady and Drew Brees. He has more than adequately filled the shoes of all-time great Brett Favre.
His peers, like Brady, have humbled the Jacksonville Jaguars in recent years. The 51-17 Week 3 beatdown at the hands of the New England Patriots in 2015 is still fresh on many Jags fans’ minds.
But even those who aren’t Rodgers’ peers have made the Jags defense look like a high school squad. Brian Hoyer‘s 293-yard, three TD performance in Week 6 while completing 66 percent of his passes not only humbled the Jaguars but also showed that even some of the lesser QBs weren’t in danger against the Jags.
While there have been many changes this offseason, especially the additions on defense that include Myles Jack, Malik Jackson, Prince Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, and Tashaun Gipson along with new defensive coordinator Todd Wash, there are still many questions lingering. The defense is, as of yet, unproven. Can the new look defense actually be better?
That’s the question for a team that just a year ago was allowing the third-most passing yards in the league. The Jags have certainly spent like it, making sure they used both draft capital and money to land the right people in the right roles.
On the eve of the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Green Bay Packers opener, however, it is mostly all up in the air. The uncertainty is pervasive. As Ryan Wood of USA Today notes, it’s a guessing game at this point for both teams. It isn’t just the usual uncertainty about the first game of the season, though. For the Jaguars, it’s also about whether or not the team can actually take a step forward on defense.
Limiting Rodgers from looking like his usual self is a daunting task. Even on a down year in 2015 he still managed 1.9 touchdowns per game and almost 240 yards per game while completing 60.7 percent of his passes. He is nigh-unstoppable.
If the Jags can manage to slow him down it will show great progress for a defense that has been historically bad over the last three seasons. The Jags need the unit to show growth and show they can at least limit some of the best QBs in the business.
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It all starts on Sunday. While I wouldn’t place money on the Jags D keeping Rodgers in check, there is a slight possibility they can get it done. Keep an eye out to see if they get the job done.