Criticisms of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have been prevalent during the 2022 season. People from outside of the organization have offered some scathing opinions of the team as they have struggled mightily this season.
Green Bay came into the 2022 campaign with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. They had lost major weapons offensively with wide receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling moving on, but they were able to convince Aaron Rodgers to come back for at least one more season. In addition, they had what many expected to be an elite defense among the best in the NFL.
None of that has gone according to plan. Offensive line woes have really set the Packers back as they cannot open up holes in the run game or protect Rodgers enough. But, the real issue is the lack of pass-catching talent.
Not having Adams has caused the Packers’ offense to deteriorate as they cannot consistently move the ball down the field. Wide receivers are constantly running the wrong route or dropping passes, which has led to Rodgers calling out the team’s execution multiple times in press conferences.
While he has been vocal about his lack of help, Rodgers hasn’t played up to his normal level either. We have seen quarterbacks elevate the players around them in the past, but that hasn’t occurred this season in Green Bay.
Given his stature and resume, some people aren’t giving Rodgers a pass for his performance this season. One of those people is Stephen A. Smith. Smith ripped into Rodgers earlier this week during an episode of First Take on ESPN.
“As a talent, he is the greatest quarterback I have ever seen, period. But he has looked like absolute trash, for the most part, this season.”
Smith certainly didn’t mince his words when talking about the struggles of the Packers and a lot of what he said is accurate. Green Bay has failed Rodgers when it comes to the coaching staff adjusting or the front office adding talent to the roster.
But, at the same time, Rodgers has not looked like his regular self, either. It is hard to believe at times watching him in 2022 that this is the back-to-back MVP of the league under center for the Packers.
