Aaron Rodgers’ 10 Total Turnovers in 2014

Fumbles

1-10-GB 10 (Q3, 4:53) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at GB 3 for -7 yards (72-M.Bennett). FUMBLES (72-M.Bennett) (72-M.Bennett), recovered by GB-78-D.Sherrod at GB 0. 78-D.Sherrod tackled in End Zone, SAFETY (99-T.McDaniel). PENALTY on GB-69-D.Bakhtiari, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 10 yards, enforced between downs.

On this play, Michael Bennett destroyed Derrick Sherrod, who subsequently was benched and cut later in the season. Rodgers did a good job of recognizing this and trying to get away from the pressure, but he was unable to escape Bennett. On this play, it’s not like Rodgers has begun his throwing motion, so he really should be taking better care of the football. He got kind of reckless with it here and the play ended up with the Seahawks scoring two points.

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1-10-GB 18 (Q1, 14:54) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at GB 16, RECOVERED by NYJ-91-S.Richardson at GB 16. 91-S.Richardson to GB 16 for no gain (12-A.Rodgers).

Rookie center Corey Linsley played very well for the Pack in 2014, but he and Rodgers had some issues with the snaps in this game, with three aborted snaps. On a play under center like this, it could be either the center or QBs’ fault, but it’s not really possible to tell. My guess is it’s Linsley’s fault because of his lack of experience. Rodgers needs to be able to fall on the football and retain possession though.

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1-10-NYJ 42 (Q2, 3:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at NYJ 47, and recovers at NYJ 47. 12-A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 89-R.Rodgers.

The snap on this play is a bit low and Rodgers has trouble handling it. He does get possession, but the timing of the play is then all messed up, and Rodgers’ throw to Richard Rodgers is off target.

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2-10-NYJ 10 (Q3, 6:23) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers Aborted. 63-C.Linsley FUMBLES at NYJ 15, recovered by GB-12-A.Rodgers at NYJ 15. 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 17-D.Adams to NYJ 1 for 9 yards (30-D.Walls).

Once again a poor snap causes this. The scorer even attributed the fumble to Linsley, but I just included it to be comprehensive. Rodgers definitely makes the best out of an adverse situation on this play.

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3-9-MIA 47 (Q4, 1:44) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at MIA 48 for -1 yards (sack split by 50-O.Vernon and 91-C.Wake). FUMBLES (50-O.Vernon), recovered by GB-70-T.Lang at MIA 48. 70-T.Lang to MIA 48 for no gain (58-C.McCain).

One of the most impressive parts of Rodgers’ game (well, really every part of his game is impressive) is his ability to avoid pressure and extend plays outside of the pocket. On this play, that ability and instinct gets him in trouble, as the defenders end up getting to him and knocking the ball out of his hands. Fortunately for Rodgers, the Packers recovered, and he converted the subsequent 4th down and actually led the Packers on a game winning scoring drive after this play.

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1-10-GB 49 (Q1, 6:59) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at GB 44, and recovers at GB 35. 12-A.Rodgers to GB 35 for no gain (98-C.Barwin).

The snap was a bit higher than Rodgers expected here. Something I noticed when watching Rodgers is that when he takes snaps in shotgun, he keeps his hands by his side until the last possible second. Many other QBs hold their hands up in a position to catch the ball, so this might make it more difficult for Rodgers to adjust to high snaps. He probably should have caught this one, although it certainly wasn’t the best snap ever made. Fortunately for him he’s able to fall on the ball and prevent a turnover.

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2-5-GB 25 (Q2, 7:08) (No Huddle) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at GB 19 for -6 yards (75-V.Curry). FUMBLES (75-V.Curry), recovered by GB-89-R.Rodgers at GB 17. 89-R.Rodgers to GB 23 for 6 yards (95-M.Kendricks).

I think this is kind of similar to the first fumble where he has the ball pulled down but he doesn’t take adequate care of it. Really, Rodgers should not be fumbling on this play. If there’s one thing he appears to need to work on, it’s protecting the football better when he brings it down.

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2-15-GB 47 (Q3, 3:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at GB 41 for -6 yards (91-J.Collins). FUMBLES (91-J.Collins), and recovers at GB 41. 12-A.Rodgers to GB 41 for no gain (54-D.Hightower).

Same thing as before. Rodgers is at his most dangerous when he’s extending the play, but if he’s turning around and running backwards like this he really needs to tuck the ball away, or at least not just hold it at his side. He wasn’t going to end up throwing any time soon here. He’s once again fortunate this wasn’t a turnover.

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2-7-ATL 7 (Q1, :27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers left end to ATL 2 for 5 yards (20-D.Lowery). FUMBLES (20-D.Lowery), and recovers at ATL 2. 12-A.Rodgers to ATL 2 for no gain (20-D.Lowery). PENALTY on ATL-99-T.Jackson, Unnecessary Roughness, 1 yard, enforced at ATL 2.

Another example of Rodgers being careless with the football. I mean, come on. I know he’s not a RB or something but one of the basic principles of running is that you should keep the ball in your arm that’s away from the defenders or towards the sideline. He keeps it in his right arm, which is neither.

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1-10-GB 10 (Q4, 1:58) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at GB 3 for -7 yards (94-M.Williams). FUMBLES (94-M.Williams), recovered by GB-27-E.Lacy at GB -1. 27-E.Lacy tackled in End Zone, SAFETY.

This fumble is not Rodgers’ fault; it’s entirely the RT’s. Rodgers is beginning his throwing motion but the RT gets beaten and Mario Williams is able to swat the ball out of Aaron’s hand. In case you’re wondering why the play was blown dead and a safety awarded even though Eddie Lacy (who picked up the football) was never tackled, it’s because inside of two minutes left in the 4th Quarter, an offensive player cannot advance a fumble that they recovered unless they were the one that committed the fumble (this is also known as the Holy Roller rule).

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2-10-TB 36 (Q1, 9:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at TB 44 for -8 yards (90-M.Johnson). FUMBLES (90-M.Johnson), RECOVERED by TB-98-C.McDonald at TB 44. 98-C.McDonald to TB 45 for 1 yard.

This is yet another example of Rodgers simply not taking care of the ball when it’s down around his waist. This appears to be the one thing he really doesn’t do well.

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3-7-DAL 27 (Q2, 11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 32, and recovers at DAL 32. 12-A.Rodgers sacked at DAL 34 for -7 yards (92-J.Mincey). FUMBLES (92-J.Mincey) (92-J.Mincey), RECOVERED by DAL-92-J.Mincey at DAL 36. 92-J.Mincey to DAL 36 for no gain (12-A.Rodgers).

This play actually features two fumbles by Rodgers. The first is a low snap and is actually Linsley’s fault. And, despite the fact that the Cowboys only rushed three, the Packers OL does a really poor job of blocking. Mincey comes free and gets a sack on Rodgers, knocking the ball out in the process (once again, Rodgers was holding the ball low and not taking care of it).

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I’m a Vikings fan, so I get to watch my team get picked apart by Rodgers every year. I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that he only threw 7 interceptions in 18 games in 2014, and, on top of that, I only fully fault him for 3 of those. He just does not make mistakes, and seems to always be on the same page as his receivers. I realize that interceptions aren’t the only bad throws a QB can make, but the fact that he has so few of them and even fewer of them are truly his fault is just incredible. I would have liked to come out of this with some part of Rodgers’ throwing that needs work, but I don’t have anything (be exactly on target with your throws all the time seems a bit unreasonable).

I do have something to criticize, at least, and that’s his ball security when moving around in the pocket. Other QBs I’ve studied so far don’t have the same problem Rodgers does with getting strip-sacked while holding the ball around their waists. I understand that Rodgers is great at extending the play, but there are definitely times where you need to keep it safe and not hold the ball with just one hand, especially when you are holding it that low. Better continuity on the snap would be nice, but I expect that’s more Linsley’s fault that Rodgers’.