Aaron Rodgers has been one of the best players for the Pittsburgh Steelers to start this season. While he hasn’t been perfect, he’s given them solid quarterback play, which they’ve been desperately trying to find for years. In each of their wins, Rodgers has made big plays in key moments. At 41 years old, he looks like he’s got plenty of gas left in the tank. However, Pro Football Focus has continued to rank Rodgers as one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. Former NFL head coach Eric Mangini doesn’t agree with that, though.
“That grade for Aaron [Rodgers] is not accurate,” Mangini said recently on FS1’s The Herd. “When you look at his stats, his completion percentage is the best it’s been since his last MVP year. His quarterback rating is the best it’s been since that point. I know it’s early in the season, but he’s doing a lot of good things.
“The best thing he’s doing, for me, is he’s not making it about himself. Aaron Rodgers is not on the marquee. He’s happy with being a Steelers, and he’s fitting into that culture… I’ve been impressed, not just with the way Aaron’s played, but with the way that Aaron hasn’t made it about Aaron.”
Has Rodgers turned back the clock to return to his MVP form? No, but he’s been an important part of the Steelers’ winning formula. They haven’t asked him to do too much. Instead, Rodgers has gotten the ball out of his hands quickly, distributing it to his playmakers.
He’s been efficient in that role. Week 4 was a great example of that. Rodgers completed 18 of his 22 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown. He helped the Steelers have an efficient day on offense, leading to a win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Also, Mangini is correct that Rodgers’ attitude has given the Steelers a boost, too. For years, they’ve lacked leadership on offense. Rodgers is a controversial figure, so there were questions about how he’d fit into the Steelers’ locker room. However, so far, things have been great. Rodgers’ teammates have had nothing but good things to say about him.
We’ll see if that continues throughout the season. There are plenty of games left. PFF hasn’t been impressed with Rodgers, but the Steelers are winning games, and that’s likely all they care about. As long as he protects the football and steps up when they need him to, the Steelers shouldn’t have any issues with Rodgers.
