“He’s just a system quarterback”. None more hurtful words can be uttered about that position on a football team. It’s most commonly used to describe a successful college quarterback who can’t make the transition to the NFL. The list of such players is long and storied, with some of the more notable ones being Andre Ware, Gino Torretta, David Klingler and more recently, Colt Brennan, Tim Tebow and Aaron Rodgers.
Wait a minute, Aaron Rodgers?? Yes, after this past Sunday’s record setting performance by back-up Matt Flynn, some people are actually beginning to question whether success at the quarterback position in Green Bay is based on individual talent or the offensive system. And this is not the first time this question has been raised about Aaron Rodgers.
After a very successful career with the University of California Golden Bears, Aaron was drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2005. Prior to the draft, many had projected him to be the number one pick overall, but when he fell as far as he did, the questions began. And one of them was whether or not he was a product of the “system” at Cal State. Afterall, his head coach was Jeff Tedford, who was gaining a reputation for producing great college quarterbacks, Akili Smith, David Carr and Joey Harrington, to name a few, that didn’t seem to be able to make the transition to the pros. And Aaron Rodgers appeared to be next in line.
He carried the ball too high, his mechanics were all wrong, etc. In fact, I recall some outraged fans who actually compared him to Rich Campbell, a former Packers first round pick at quarterback who went on to have a rather unspectacular NFL career. Of course, quite the opposite has occurred for Mr. Rodgers, World Champion and Superbowl MVP. And just as Matt Hasselback and Mark Brunnel did behind Brett Favre, under the tuteledge of QB guru Mike Holmgren, so has Matt Flynn behind Rodgers with Mike McCarthy, another noted teacher of quarterbacks, at the helm.
And by the way, where was the “system quarterback” chorous when Matt Cassel stepped in and took over for Tom Brady in the middle of the first game of the season, and led the New England Patriots to an 11-5 record?
So, for all of you naysayers, you can keep your “system” and I’ll keep one, possibly TWO, of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Badger State Sports 