Sherman set to play chess against Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has had moderate success against Richard Shermanpatrolled defenses.
Mostly because the Green Bay quarterback has consistently been smart enough to avoid the shutdown corner’s side of the field.
“I always think you have to be smart about what routes you want to throw on (Sherman), and understand that he’s one of the headiest players to ever play that position,” Rodgers told reporters this week.
That’s generally been Rodgers’ approach in eight career games against Sherman, and the same should be expected Sunday when they meet again in the NFC Championship Game in Santa Clara.
Rodgers has gone 53 against Sherman’s teams (201117 in Seattle and 201819 with the 49ers) and has put up good numbers: 184 of 283 (65%) for 1,925 yards and 11 touchdowns to four interceptions.
But Rodgers has rarely chal
lenged Sherman, having attempted just 19 passes into his coverage. Those passes have resulted in 12 completions for 129 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, according to Pro Football Focus.
“He throws an incredible football,” Sherman said of Rodgers. “He has a quick release. He’s very accurate. He throws a great deep ball. He’s mobile. He’s great at creating. He’s great at diagnosing defenses. He has all of the tools that you look for in an elite quarterback, and he’s done it for a number of years.”
The 49ers usually play cover3, a scheme in which three defensive backs cover the field’s deep thirds and four defenders cover the underneath zones. In Week 12 against Green Bay, however, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh showcased more mantoman coverage in a focus to stop the run.
Rodgers was sacked five times and threw for just 104 yards, the lowest total in NFL history for a quarterback with at least 20 completions. His 3.15 yardsperattempt average was the lowest of any start in his career.
Sherman characterized his matchups with Rodgers as “intense” and “very competitive,” saying: “It’s always a chess match with him.”
Rodgers started playing the chess match early this week. He knows better than to provide bulletinboard material for Sherman, who plays his best when revved up by a slight — real or manufactured.
In a Tuesday interview on ESPN’s “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Rodgers was asked if was ducking Sherman.
“No, I’m definitely going to shake his hand pregame,” Rodgers joked. “Show him the respect, mutual respect. It’s going to be all love and respect.”
On Oct. 7, Sherman ripped Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield for not shaking his hand before a 313 49ers onslaught. On Oct. 27, Sherman got worked up for a 5113 shellacking of Carolina because Dante Pettis said that Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen planned to “go at” Sherman’s side.
Even though the two snubs were likely fabricated, Sherman had an interception in both games as part of an AllPro season.
Sherman has allowed 236 passing yards all season and has not yielded a reception of more than 25 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Opposing quarterbacks recorded a 38.8 passer rating against Sherman — 0.8 points worse than simply throwing the ball into the ground.
“People have said a lot about whether he’s fell off or whatever. I don’t see that,” said Green Bay receiver Davante Adams, who had eight catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s divisionalround victory over Seattle. “I see that he’s still the same guy, still making plays and a respectable corner. But the way I attack, it is just like every other guy. I don’t try to change anything, just because you got a little bit more talent than the next guy.”
Sherman’s news conference Thursday was pretty innocuous until he got annoyed when asked about the possibility of leaving his usual post on the defense’s left side to follow around Adams.
“It just so happens that we have the No. 1 pass defense in the league. Whoa. Oh my god. It’s crazy that you’re not following anybody, but somehow you have the No. 1 pass defense in the league,” Sherman said. “It’s almost like our strategy works. It’s almost like you’re an idiot for doing it any other way. It’s almost like you’re dumb, if you do it another way.”
Let the chess match continue.