GREEN BAY, Wis. — Wait one day, meet them another day. These were the final two days in the life of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ quest to prepare a new group of receivers for the fast start to the regular season.
A day after Rodgers expressed his frustration with the group, they were instructed to report to the quarterbacks’ meeting room at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, they found all three quarterbacks plus key members of the offensive coaching staff who work directly on the passing game in the room.
Rodgers didn’t call the meeting, but he spoke at length during it, according to several attendees.
“It was just giving us advice,” rookie receiver Samori Toure said. “Basically, letting us know that Green Bay’s receiving corps has always been held to a super high standard. All the legends that have come through here. It’s just for us to hold that standard and grow.”
Toure, a seventh-round pick, went on to have perhaps his best practice of the camp, not only catching a 50-yard pass from Jordan Love in a two-minute drive, but also blocking the game-winning 2-point conversion for the finish it. two days of joint practices with the New Orleans Saints.
“Aaron talked to us about what he likes or what he doesn’t just based on concepts or what he sees,” said rookie receiver Romeo Doubs, who also had a touchdown catch Wednesday.
Tuesday marked the first time Rodgers spoke critically in public about the group trying to help replace All-Pro Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
Rodgers called for more consistency and bemoaned “too many drops, too many bad route decisions, the wrong route,” saying, “We have to improve in that area.”
“He just wants us to see what he sees,” said Doubs, a fourth-round pick. “So that way we can be able to react faster, play faster and just be able to dominate and continue to be who we are.”
Veteran receivers Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard also spoke during the meeting.
“Both Randall and Allen have been playing 12 for quite a while, so some things we do that we can have a mistake, just from experience they’ve been through the same stage,” Doubs said. “Just taking the young guys through these days of dog camp has been a tremendous blessing and a great tip.”
When asked if the players appreciate Rodgers’ approach, Cobb said, “It doesn’t matter if they appreciate it or not. That’s the way we do things around here. It’s either deal with it or get out of the room and we . We’re going to find someone else that’s going to be on board with what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Not only was Rodgers upset with the mistakes in practice, but he also reiterated that the three interceptions Love made in last week’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers were largely the result of passing mistakes: a dropped ball tight end Tyler Davis, a poor route and catch by Doubs and a misroute by second-year receiver Amari Rodgers.
This wasn’t the first time Rodgers and receivers have shared meeting space. Early in camp, Rodgers walked into the waiting room to help explain a concept.
“I’m trying to echo the same message that he is just to get everybody on the same page,” Love said. “But yeah, I think it’s a little bit different coming from Aaron, the way he goes for it. They look at Aaron a little bit differently. Obviously he’s got a lot more experience and a lot more knowledge than I do. But I think we everyone’s looking for the same thing. The receivers know what they need to do and everyone’s on the same page with it.”
