Green Bay Packers want QB Aaron Rodgers to avoid sacks, injury

Published September 14, 2015

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) talks to head coach Mike McCarthy on the sideline in the second half.

Believe it or not, there's an aspect of Aaron Rodgers' game that needs improvement.

As it turns out, the NFL's Most Valuable Player is only valuable when he's on the field and healthy. That's why the Green Bay Packers are asking him to take fewer sacks in 2015.

Last season, Rodgers was to blame for 11 of the 33 sacks he weathered, according to Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel. Since taking over as the starter in 2008, he has been responsible for 76.5 sacks (10.9 per season).

As a result, Rodgers has suffered several sidelining injuries throughout his career. Cutting down on sacks will help him stay healthier, especially now that he's reached his 30s.

"That's got to come down," Packers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said about Rodgers' sack numbers, via the Journal Sentinel. "That's a P.O.E for us this year. Point of emphasis."

But Rodgers' escapability and ability to improvise are part of what makes him such a great quarterback. He's reluctant to give up on broken plays, even though he risks injury every time he extends them looking for a score.

"You've got to be careful not to ask him to do less than what he does," Van Pelt told the Journal Sentinel. "At the same time, he's got to do it smart. There's always that slippery slope.

"There were a couple adjustments to our thought process moving into the off-season. After the season, we tried to be a little smarter in certain situations."

Moving forward, the Packers will try to balance Rodgers' improvisation and safety. If the offense is slightly less dynamic as a result, it'll be a fair tradeoff to keep the All-Pro quarterback healthy and on the field for all 16 games.

(h/t Journal Sentinel)

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/green-bay-packers-want-qb-aaron-rodgers-to-avoid-sacks-injury