Aaron Rodgers Comments on Packers Offense, Criticism, More

Two years ago, Aaron Rodgers gave the Green Bay Packers a mantra when he told reporters to relax about their struggles. On Wednesday, he was at it again.

Only this time it was a little more defensive. The former NFL MVP called the line of questioning about the Packers' offensive struggles "predictable" before discussing the difference between internal and external expectations, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com: 

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No offense, but you guys are predictable. We knew when we came in here, and I knew I had this on Wednesday, I knew what the line of questioning was going to be. You guys got a job to do. You scrutinize, you analyze and you make opinions based on how you feel a team is progressing or not progressing or playing. And we appreciate that. But inside, we don't think the same way that you guys think. We don't approach our job and scrutinize the same way. Now we're very honest about our performance and about the way we're playing and about what we've got to do, but we don't worry about the outside opinions.

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The Packers are days removed from a 17-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and rank 31st in passing offense. Rodgers has thrown for just 412 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a career-low 5.89 yards per attempt (min. two starts). 

If this were a two-game blip, it wouldn't be much cause for concern. The Packers have split two one-score games and remain a likely NFC playoff contender.

But these struggles date back to 2015, when Rodgers lost nearly two yards per completion (6.68 from 8.43) and set a full-season worst (for him) in quarterback rating. Over the last eight games of last season, Rodgers' numbers essentially mirrored the ones he's putting up in 2016 despite the return of Jordy Nelson.

Despite the mounting evidence of something being amiss, Rodgers remained defensive:

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We've set a standard for so long—myself, our team—of playing at such a high level that when we have a couple of disappointing performances, we know what's coming. Now we would love to get back out there and dominate and have this thing turn around, but we know if we go on a run and we lose a game and play poorly, it's going to be right back in the same position. This is part of the game that we're prepared for. This is the game within the game, just talking to you guys and giving you guys something you guys can use. We appreciate what you do, but we're not ultimately judged or worried about your opinions of us and your scrutiny of us.

"

Football Outsiders ranks the Packers offense 25th in football. It was 11th last season after being the league's best in 2014. Rodgers attributed some of those struggles to adjustments that are messing with the offense's timing:

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The West Coast offense is all about timing and if your timing is even just a little bit off, you're going to be miles off at times with your connection points. We've been working on that throughout training camp and the regular season, but it's a little different when it's live out there and things are a little bit off based on coverage or protection or anything else that could mix up the timing in our offense.

"

Film shows the Packers receivers simply aren't getting open. Rodgers is spending too much time scrambling around in the pocket and waiting for an opening that rarely comes; when it does, it's typically an underneath route for minimal gain. The Packers have not completed a 40-yard pass in their last six regular-season games dating back to last season.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.