Aaron Rodgers Should Be Excited About 12 Personnel Possibilities

Aaron Rodgers is excited about his tight ends, and he has good reason to be.

Aaron Rodgers will have fun with his tight ends this season.

Aaron Rodgers will have fun with his tight ends this season.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke to the media the other day and revealed some interesting tidbits and some of his thoughts regarding the Packers offseason.

One of the more interesting points Rodgers made, in my opinion, was about the Packers ability to use more 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) next season with the additions of Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. Here’s a piece of what Rodgers had to say about it: 

“The opportunity to put two guys on the line of scrimmage and have an opportunity to run right, run left and then run all of our vertical passing game is going to be something that could definitely change and be more difficult to stop." 

Rodgers makes an interesting point. He also talked about how the two-tight end formation is normally a run-based set. And while it still can and will be for the Packers, when you have Bennett and Kendricks on the edge, it brings the passing element more into play as well.

When Rodgers was talking about the vertical passing game, what he meant was attacking the seam in the middle of the field. That’s something he should be able to do with regularity, throwing to Bennett and Kendricks.

Imagine, if the Packers use their 12 personnel and are able to establish Ty Montgomery on the ground using mostly that formation. Then, the play-action passing game will come into play.

The linebackers and safeties, assigned to cover the tight ends, will be biting on run fakes and it will make generating big plays down the middle of the field much easier. At least that’s the basic idea of it.

The Packers were able to open up some of those passing lanes last season with Jared Cook, but having two tight ends that can threaten the seem will make the vertical passing even more dangerous.

Furthermore, with Richard Rodgers still on the roster, the Packers could even include some three tight end sets, something the Atlanta Falcons did with regularity and with a lot of success last season.

Head coach Mike McCarthy has always been a fan of using tight ends and it’s easy to see why. When you get versatile players at the position that can block, run and catch, it makes it hard for defenses to defend them all.

And from the sounds of it, Rodgers and the Packers plan to unleash their array of tight ends next season. Opening up and attacking the middle of the field, will also make it more difficult for defenses to focus so much attention on the likes of Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb.

McCarthy has been talking about how he loves to use tight ends for years and now, he finally has the personnel to get imaginative. So in terms of predictions for next season, here’s one: Aaron Rodgers is going to throw and complete a lot of passes to tight ends next season. 

 

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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru

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Comments (41)

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TKWorldWide's picture

April 23, 2017 at 10:38 am

Yes, interesting possibilities for sure, but just as important is to solidify that RG spot.
And bring in Richard Rodgers when the defense shows an inability to contend with players who are slow as molasses.

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NickPerry's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:53 pm

"Yes, interesting possibilities for sure, but just as important is to solidify that RG spot."

Yet I read comments and articles that make it sound as though it's going to be a walk in the park. Personally I've never understood the "Easiness" some many felt it take to replace Lang. I suppose Taylor filling in so well for Sitton last year gives people that impression, but if the Packers go into 2017 with Barclay as the starter for example, they have a considerably weaker O-Line than they did last season on the right side. Hopefully Murphy, Patrick, and Spriggs have lived in the weight rooms and make the proverbial 2nd year jump, but the Packers are weaker at RG and they have no proven depth on the roster either.

Edit... Not to say that can't change though.

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mjbrogno's picture

April 23, 2017 at 10:59 am

I totally agree with The TKstinator that the right guard position is most important if you plan on stretching the field. Can't open it up if #12 is running for his life. I will get excited when the O-Line is solid on the right side. Replacing #70 is not going to be easy.

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TKWorldWide's picture

April 23, 2017 at 12:45 pm

Clearly you know your stuff!

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croatpackfan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:35 pm

It is easy as replacing Josh Sitton...
I remember claims less than one year ago, just before season started how Aaron Rodgers will be killed. So, experts, can you explain me why that did not happen?

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:22 pm

Lane Taylor had been around a couple years before they moved him into the lineup. He'd played some snaps and they had some idea what they were getting based on non-preseason game action.

Can't say that about Patrick or Murphy...

Mark my words: the starting RG is not yet on the roster.

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croatpackfan's picture

April 24, 2017 at 05:56 am

But Patrick or Murphy could be better talent than Lane Taylor... We do not know. Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, Campen & Blasko knows how good are Barclay, Patrick and Murphy (my favorite for Lang replacement)...

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slit's picture

April 23, 2017 at 05:42 pm

Because Rodgers is the most elusive QB in the league, and Lane Taylor played pretty well. If it gets to a point where Barclay is starting, even Rodgers can't make that look good. Keep playing with fire, & you're bound to get burned.

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croatpackfan's picture

April 24, 2017 at 05:59 am

We do not know who is, among available players, predicted to be replacement. Maybe coaches do not know. They may prefere Barclay at the moment, but that is why pre season exists. They'll check and decide after preseason games. I satill think Murphy is No 1 to take that job. Ted Thompson picked him for that purpose. He already brought Spriggs as swing tackle on the roster.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

April 23, 2017 at 11:12 am

Yes RG needs to get figured out. Although Rodgers himself said he feels confident in the guys on the roster which is a good sign

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croatpackfan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:37 pm

No, it is not enough. Who is Aaron Rodgers? Some fans here knows better than him...

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NickPerry's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:51 pm

What else would he say Chris? Rodgers will always tell the media he has all the confidence in the world in his guys. He said it about Newhouse who was about as bad as it got, and he said it about Barclay, right up to the game against the Bears when he broke his collarbone.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:25 pm

That's true I guess. I just think he has confidence is his ability to help the offensive line so it doesn't have to be a superstar. Just someone who can hold his own.

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NickPerry's picture

April 24, 2017 at 06:04 am

I know PFF thought the Packers absolutely stole Murphy in the 6th round last season. IMO he could be the guy who could "hold his own" early in the season and just keep getting better with experience.

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WKUPackFan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 11:24 am

Alert! Muckraker McGinn is at it again. Claiming that the Packers coaches were incensed with TT for not breaking the bank to keep Lang.

McGinn will write anything to stir up controversy, always with "unnamed sources". He's not fit to shine TT"s shoes.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 23, 2017 at 12:08 pm

Actually, WKU, I found that article informative and right on the money from what we all know about TT.

Is BMG post-dicting? Yes. Is he right? Yes.

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WKUPackFan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:16 pm

McGinn portays TT as being "cheap" for carrying almost $8 million in cap space from 2016 to 2017. The league average carried cap space is $9.18 million. Apparently TT isn't as cheap as a lot of other teams

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croatpackfan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:43 pm

Yeah, that Ted Thompson. It is mysterious how he is still Packers GM, when he does not know nothing about running successful team. I think Packers should fire Ted Thompson and hire Bob McGinn. He would make the job properly...

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William Dickson's picture

April 23, 2017 at 02:50 pm

Just wow,no really.....WOW. TT should be fired....Brahahahaha. he does not know how to be a successful GM.......brahahaha......No stop your Killin me....No stop....lolololol

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Ed Rodgers's picture

April 23, 2017 at 08:36 pm

Actually I agree with who you're mocking. TT is really bad. Think about the number of #1 picks that busted. Compare that to the brilliant Patriots front office. No comparison!!

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Ed Rodgers's picture

April 23, 2017 at 08:36 pm

Actually I agree with who you're mocking. TT is really bad. Think about the number of #1 picks that busted. Compare that to the brilliant Patriots front office. No comparison!!

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WKUPackFan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:38 pm

In the distant past McGinn was an excellent writer who objectively covered the Packers. In the past 5-6 years he has become vindictive towards AR, MM, TT, and the Packers organization in general. McGinn always tries to portray himself as having more knowledge than the Packers coaches and front office, while always bragging about his relationships with unidentified scouts.

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croatpackfan's picture

April 23, 2017 at 01:45 pm

Thank you WKUPackFan for this notice. I thought I'm so stupid when I was thinking the same about McGinn...

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:26 pm

When the prolonged success of the team gave rise to a significant population of the "win the SB every year or its a failure" crowd that was waiting for the anti-homer, he bit into that with a full maw of shark-like teeth. He's really not much better anymore than your average ESPN click-bait blogger.

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Since'61's picture

April 23, 2017 at 06:15 pm

Dobber - like so many of his media brethren he is about ratings, subscribers, followers etc..., rather than objectivity. Thanks, Since '61

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Tundraboy's picture

April 24, 2017 at 12:30 am

Exactly. That's his job.

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 12:38 pm

"Imagine, if the Packers use their 12 personnel and are able to establish Ty Montgomery on the ground using mostly that formation. Then, the play-action passing game will come into play."

More than anything else, I think 12 personnel will allow the Packers to get Montgomery the ball in space on dump offs and screens--even if the TBA RG isn't a great pass blocker--where I think he excels. When the LB and S are preoccupied with TEs running the seam, it'll leave Monty all by himself or with one guy to beat. I like those odds.

"Furthermore, with Richard Rodgers still on the roster, the Packers could even include some three tight end sets, something the Atlanta Falcons did with regularity and with a lot of success last season."

Yes, but the Falcons have Julio Jones, who is always going to command the attention of a safety, and two productive, home-run-hitting RB who run well and catch well. That helps those three TEs, too.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:41 pm

The two TE set with Bennett and Kendricks figures to be excellent precisely because the TEs can block effectively on running plays or run a route to stretch the seam. RR can't block and can't stretch the seam. I don't see the point in a 3 TE set. We will see if TT drafts a TE in the first 4 rounds or so: if so we can cut RR and save $1.8M. Otherwise, I suppose we have to keep RR around another year for depth. At some point this season the difference between even Kendricks ($1.775M cap hit) and RR ($1.92M) will become apparent: the former is pretty good and the latter is, and always has been, pretty bad.

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 04:12 pm

I seem to remember Joe Buck saying something about Richard Rodgers and his speed splitting the seam against Dallas on his TD in the playoffs. I roll that back in my mind when I need a chuckle.

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Spock's picture

April 24, 2017 at 08:54 am

dobber: I re-watched that game last week. I had the same reaction. :)

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NickPerry's picture

April 23, 2017 at 02:17 pm

Personally I'm really excited about the possibilities of the Packers offense this season. Just look at what happened to the offense when Cook finally returned and was healthy the last 6 games, it was a night and day difference.

There was a piece on NFL.Com a few days ago that talked about this very thing. Even last season the Packers used "12" Personnel about 4 times as many plays (74) than they did in 2015 (19). Richard Rodgers has his good qualities but blocking or speed aren't one of them. With Kendricks and Bennett the Packers can use 2 TE who are both much faster and better blockers than Rodgers. When you start to add in all the other weapons it's hard not to be excited about the possibilities. This is where I LOVE Montgomery in the backfield.

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:28 pm

All you're doing when you use the "12" in conjunction with "2015" is make me think of Justin Perillo and Richard Rodgers on the field at the same time.

Shame on you.

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Tundraboy's picture

April 24, 2017 at 12:33 am

Lol

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ChrisPeterson's picture

April 23, 2017 at 06:20 pm

Yea I am excited too. I think Kendricks is going to be like Cook. I think he is going to play better with Rodgers a la Cook.

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4thand1's picture

April 23, 2017 at 02:25 pm

MM has always claimed to like TE's. Why the hell did it take so long after Findley to get one that could stretch the field? It took Cook in FA to figure it out, WTF? This is what frustrates me most about this team, taking forever to fill a glaring need.

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dobber's picture

April 23, 2017 at 03:32 pm

But from the fall of Finley until the ugly slump year of 2015, the offense was potent without a top-flight TE (with the exception of the 'collarbone games'). Is it a glaring need if you don't really notice he's gone? I think it took 2015 to teach TT a lesson and instill a sense of urgency in terms of roster management. Look at how quickly he replaced Cook. There was no dilly-dallying round on that.

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4thand1's picture

April 23, 2017 at 05:50 pm

They would have been better with a top notch TE, probably put Seattle away and in the SB.

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Spock's picture

April 24, 2017 at 09:02 am

I just remember MM had made up a whole bunch of plays for Finley in 2010 and then had to put them in mothballs when Finley got hurt. I've got to think he's pulled out at least some of those plans from his files. As a former tight end himself he will want to feature his new toys! p.s. does anyone know how I can get a post to not say "edited" the FIRST time I submit it? I'm a terrible typist and have to go back over several words, but I do that before submitting. Thanks to anyone who can fix that for me.

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mjbrogno's picture

April 24, 2017 at 12:41 pm

I just read Rodgers is comfortable with Barclay, Murphy or Patrick replacing Lang, He really likes Barclay, I hope he's not just blowing smoke.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

April 25, 2017 at 01:12 am

I think he's confident one can step up and play decent also I think he feels confident they can find a guy who can play somewhere in the draft, they usually do pretty well in that area.

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davids's picture

April 25, 2017 at 01:10 am

Awesome blog good work keep it up.

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