Todd Haley flags troubling Aaron Rodgers trend for Steelers
Aaron Rodgers still brings star power, but his pressure stats show why the Steelers may need more than another weapon.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can talk themselves into the Aaron Rodgers upside. The experience is real, the release is still quick, and the name still carries expectations. But the analytics Bruce Murray pointed to on SiriusXM’s “ The Blitz ” show why this conversation is not as simple as adding another wide receiver, changing up the coaching staff, and hoping the offense fixes itself.
Murray focused on Rodgers’ performance under pressure last season, and the percentages were tough to ignore. When pressured, Rodgers had a 19% success rate, which Murray said was the worst single-season mark of his career. Rodgers has long been viewed as the quarterback who could diagnose a defense before the snap, speed up the answer, and punish pressure with one throw.
Last season, though, the results told a different story. Murray also noted Rodgers had a 42% off-target rate when pressured. He put that number in perspective by noting it ranked as the fifth-worst mark among quarterbacks who started games over the last five years.
That does not mean Rodgers suddenly lacks talent. The problem is what happens when the play breaks down and he has to create outside structure. Todd Haley, the former Steelers offensive coordinator, saw the same issue on film.