Aaron Rodgers admits early 'battle' with Mike McCarthy

Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are back together, but not everything has picked up where it left off. After Steelers OTAs, Rodgers was asked how McCarthy’s offense has evolved since the two last worked together in 2018. The foundation is familiar, but there is still plenty to sort through.

Rodgers described McCarthy’s system as another step in the evolution of the West Coast offense, tracing it from Bill Walsh to Paul Hackett to McCarthy’s version. Now, he said, the offense has incorporated more modern NFL concepts, including schematic wrinkles from around the league and motion elements often seen from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Still, Rodgers said the core of the system remains tied to one aspect.

“It’s all about the quarterback’s timing,” Rodgers said, noting that receivers have to understand the exact depth, spacing, and rhythm of each route concept. That part should be comfortable for Rodgers, who spent 13 seasons playing in McCarthy’s system in Green Bay. But after four years apart, including Rodgers’ stop with the New York Jets, there is an adjustment period in Pittsburgh.

Rodgers admitted McCarthy changed some things during his time with Dak Prescott in Dallas. That has created a bit of a tug-of-war, especially when it comes to language. “I’ll battle on a couple things that I’ll be stubborn about, terminology-wise,” Rodgers said.