Rodgers on Packers' new offense, coaching staff: 'Life is good'
-- Aaron Rodgers needed to buy in to what Matt LaFleur is preaching in his first year as head coach, and so far, it seems like that's exactly what the Green Bay Packers' quarterback is doing.
In a recent interview with Chris Simms of NBC Sports, Rodgers expressed his excitement with the direction the team is heading in offensively. Both Rodgers and LaFleur have taken the field for the offseason workout program and minicamp already, offering public eye little insight into their dynamic as a working tandem.
"I am excited about it," Rodgers said. "The most important thing with change is to embrace it. Being comfortable with the uncomfortable parts of it. When you've been in a system for so long, you have a way of doing things. The first part is being open to [change].
"That's what I told [LaFleur] day one. I said, 'I wanna be coached.'"
Rodgers, referencing the previous west coast-based offensive system he served in with Mike McCarthy for the last 11 seasons, has never dealt with a head-coaching change as the Packers' starting quarterback. While Rodgers was finishing his rookie season at the time, the closest familiarity he had with the trials and tribulations of being a head coach in the NFL was when Mike Sherman was fired after a 4-12 campaign in 2005, leading way to McCarthy.
It's been Rodgers and McCarthy at the helm of the Packers' operations for the last decade, and while that relationship culminated with a Super Bowl and division title after division title, a call for change was evident last December in the midst of a second consecutive losing season.
"The scheme works," Rodgers said. "The stuff they did against us this year against San Fran was unbelievable. We were watching on the sidelines going, 'That's pretty cool.'"
Like Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams and Kyle Shanahan with the aforementioned 49ers, LaFleur stems from the Mike Shanahan coaching tree. All four of which spent time on the same coaching staff with the Washington Redskins earlier this decade.
LaFleur now gets a chance to work with one of the most talented quarterbacks in league history, overseeing a sizable upgrade from Marcus Mariota when LaFleur was the Tennesee Titans' offensive coordinator in 2018.
He gets to work with former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and a familiar face in Luke Getsy, who served on the Packers' coaching staff under McCarthy for four seasons. Both of which, Rodgers is elated to have aboard.
"It's been fun. It really has been fun. I've got a great room. I've got [LaFleur] in the room, I've got Nathaniel Hackett -- who's a great guy -- and I've got Luke Getsy, who I've known for a long time. Life's good, it's exciting."
Entering his age 36 season, it isn't too late for Rodgers to churn out more greatness in a redesigned offense. The addition of LaFleur is projected to help make that entire process easier.
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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 (24)
Roadrunner23
July 18, 2019 at 06:11 am
If #12 is buying in, so am I
Go Pack
That is all...
bodei1newbie1
July 18, 2019 at 07:47 am
i hope this will bring out the best in rodgers and maybe a playoff
TheBigCheeze
July 18, 2019 at 01:08 pm
playoff??.....playoff???......SUPER BOWL OR BUST, BABY!!!!
RCPackerFan
July 18, 2019 at 08:11 am
"The scheme works," Rodgers said. "The stuff they did against us this year against San Fran was unbelievable. We were watching on the sidelines going, 'That's pretty cool.'"
Lets not forget that in that game it was CJ Beathard as the QB. And they nearly beat GB that day. Mostly due to the offensive scheme that they ran.
Now throw a player of Rodgers caliber into that scheme and watch out.
I truly think that Rodgers is excited for this new offense.
I know I am!
Freezn
July 18, 2019 at 10:09 am
We were almost beat by a second string quarter back running the similar system to Matts system and none of us believe Aron can pick up this offense. I can see we have a lot of confidence in the quarter back we call the best.
ricky
July 18, 2019 at 10:41 am
I don't believe anyone has written that Rodgers is incapable of grasping the system. The question has always been whether he would accept the possible limitations the new system would put on his ability to change plays at the LOS. Apparently, he is showing a willingness to give the new system a chance, at minimum. Especially since he saw what a much less talented QB could do in that system.
Bearmeat
July 18, 2019 at 08:11 am
I have to say once again, the MLF hiring was not an 8-8 move. Either he can't do the job (and no one can say there's enough evidence to be able to tell) and the team will tank, or he can do the job, and the team will be 12-4 and a Super Bowl threat by 2020.
As Rodgers said, the scheme works. But can in work with these men in the building - both coaching and playing?
We don't know yet. And while I would have preferred someone older with more leadership experience, I can't deny that I'm excited to find out.
flackcatcher
July 18, 2019 at 08:20 am
Right, says the QB who had the scheme so customize to his skill set, no other QB on the team could run it. I hope a healthy Aaron Rodgers will run MLF system to success, and not the angry, ugly, ego driven, oft injured player we fans have had to endure the last two seasons.
Bearmeat
July 18, 2019 at 08:22 am
ain't that the truth.
Freezn
July 18, 2019 at 10:14 am
it is time to change things up apposing defenses knew what McCarty was going to run and the defenses took our offenses apart and ran over Aron all season. You need to keep defenses guessing and our offenses never did. I would be angry if I was being planted into the turf all the time. This new offense will help Aron and keep the defenses guessing
Tundraboy
July 18, 2019 at 11:06 pm
Now that is the truth. Calling Rodgers names, only highlights how spoiled some people are. Or forget what things were like before him and Brett.
Freezn
July 18, 2019 at 10:03 am
We sure are hard on coaches as all of arm chair coaches seem to be better than the new coach we have not even seen his offense in one game but are sure in the frame of mind that he will most likely fail. Mike McCarthy did not win the super bowl his first season as head coach and I don't think many other Head Coaches did in their first year either. I believe the talent on this team will carry us quite well to a playoff birth. This team has a lot of Talent and we have the best QB in the game who is hungry.
murf7777
July 18, 2019 at 09:27 pm
Thumbs up bear.....I might add that they have a chance at the grand prize this year. Let’s face it Arod hasn’t been At his best the last couple of years, but what if Mlf helps get that out of him I’m not writing off the chance this year.
murf7777
July 18, 2019 at 08:13 am
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to Wilde and Tausch hour long pod cast with Arod check it out. Interesting insight from Aaron about relationship with Mac and Mfl and much more.
BoCallahan
July 18, 2019 at 08:14 am
And all the CHTV writers said, “Thank you Aaron for giving us something to write about!” The good thing about this offseason is that there has been so little to write about. No bomb threats, no drug busts, or no blunders caught on video. I too am grateful for the quiet offseason.
PatrickGB
July 18, 2019 at 10:51 am
After many off-seasons optimism only to be disappointed . I have held back on my excitement a bit. Yet this season seems truly different. It will be a boom or bust. But I am expecting more of a boom.
Mark Gaedtke
July 18, 2019 at 01:19 pm
Although I am excited as anybody, I'm trying to be patient. I don't know if it's reasonable to expect the offense to come out 100% right out of the chute. I suspect it will take time for them to hit their stride. In the meantime, hopefully the defense can keep us in games.
Rick1
July 18, 2019 at 01:32 pm
This training camp with a new offense is going to fun to watch. The players they are getting are football players. I think Gutekunst is not going to get as many project players and hope they develop. The size and speed and the physicality is changing before our eyes. Gutekunst is building a big, fast, tough football team. MM’s teams were more of a finesse team.
Lare
July 18, 2019 at 03:08 pm
TT's players seemed to spend an awful lot of time on IR. Hopefully, Gutekunsts players can stay healthy.
showmefan
July 18, 2019 at 04:45 pm
I sure hope that Rodgers is sincere that he is willing to be coached. Say what you want about year 2 of a D that looks good on paper but the Pack will only go as far as 12 takes them. Show me
Lare
July 18, 2019 at 05:23 pm
I think Rodgers is willing to be coached by coaches that are willing to coach, not spending all their time getting massages in their office.
murf7777
July 18, 2019 at 09:30 pm
Show, I can go with that but D still wins championships!
showmefan
July 18, 2019 at 05:38 pm
I sure hope that Rodgers is sincere that he is willing to be coached. Say what you want about year 2 of a D that looks good on paper but the Pack will only go as far as 12 takes them. Show me
Starr57
July 24, 2019 at 12:33 am
We can only hope this new regime that has been put together the past 2 years can be as successful as the former.
Lots of young talent surrounded by proven vets.
A good combination.
2019 is going to be a good year!