‘D’ aims to stop Rodgers
To win, Eagles must limit Packers QB
PHILADELPHIA — The words “Aaron Rodgers” and “plaster” go together for the Philadelphia Eagles, not to mention everyone else in the NFL.
Rodgers is the gifted Green Bay Packers quarterback who often turns passing windows of two to three seconds into seven or eight or more with his ability to backpedal, sidestep or simply sprint out of collapsing pockets. He’ll even fire off his back foot, if necessary, to a target that might need that long to pop open.
Plaster is the term used to describe how the Eagles’ defensive backs and linebackers have to stay with their coverage targets for however long Rodgers buys to give himself a chance for a completion. It’s never a pleasant assignment, especially with your back turned and eyes off the quarterback, not knowing when the play will end or which way a receiver may turn to get open.
Heck, the Eagles’ depleted secondary — cornerbacks Jalen Mills (foot), Cre’Von LeBlanc (foot) and Ronald Darby (hamstring) are not available — has had a tough-enough time plastering for two or three seconds through the first three games, and those shortcomings have been a major factor in their 1-2 start.
Now they face the prospect of being charged with something that even the most gifted defenders of all time fail to deliver more often than not: covering while Rodgers buys so much extra time that it often isn’t even fair.
On top of all that, just when you think you might have found a way to stop him, he hits you with a hard count that can force an offside penalty, often resetting the whole matrix.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s nervous smile on Tuesday said it all.
“I think you’ve just got to keep coming because I think he does get rid of the ball quick sometimes,” Schwartz said. “Other times he holds that sucker for a long time and scrambles around,
“He has an arm that can challenge anywhere on the field, he is mobile, he can get rid of the ball quick, he’s a smart guy that’s been around, he can make a play with his legs. None of those things have changed.” —Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
and we saw that from [Lions QB Matthew] Stafford [last Sunday in a 27-24 loss]. The ball was either coming out real quick or the guys were covered, and he was trying to buy time and trying to make plays down the field. You’re talking about two similar guys as far as arm strength that they can challenge everywhere on the field. It puts an emphasis on plastering your coverage, and it puts an emphasis on guys being tenacious in pass rush.”
An intensified pass rush that can at least move Rodgers off his spot is the most obvious solution.
Problem is, the Eagles haven’t done a very good job of generating pressure through the first three weeks, and the blitzes Schwartz has called to try forcing the issue are mostly either too slow to develop or are picked up by opponents who see them coming, leaving their receivers with numbers advantages down the field.
So feel free to add the term “Catch-22” to “Aaron Rodgers” and “plaster.” Because that’s the situation opponents face when the Packers’ offense operates at peak efficiency.
Cornerback Avonte Maddox looked exhausted just describing the expected conundrum.
“He definitely can extend plays,” Maddox said. “That makes it hard when you have a quarterback that can extend plays. We’ve got to contain him the best we can and just play good coverage.”
If there’s any hope for the Eagles, it’s that the Packers offense hasn’t completely clicked yet. It’s been their defense that has carried them to their 3-0 start, though their point total has increased from 10 in Week 1 to 21 in Week 2 to 27 in Week 3.
And they’ve done all this despite not having much of a running game, averaging just 3.4 yards per rush.
But when you have Rodgers, anything is possible.
“I think you’re talking about a guy that has tremendous confidence,” Schwartz said. “He has an arm that can challenge anywhere on the field, he is mobile, he can get rid of the ball quick, he’s a smart guy that’s been around, he can make a play with his legs. None of those things have changed.”