PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Aaron Rodgers discussed a number of subjects on Wednesday aside from his confidence in Broderick Jones and connection with DK Metcalf. It was also about Calvin Austin, plus close to passing Brett Favre on the all-time touchdown list, what he saw from Steelers fans and Arthur Smith.
Sacks
Rodgers put some of the four sacks, or at least partial blame on those sacks, on himself. He said he wasn’t moving and ran into at least one or two of them.
“I got to do a better job of using my legs,” Rodgers said. “You know, I might be old, but I still feel like I can move around pretty good, and I wasn't moving the way I usually like to move.”
The 41-year-old said his back was a little tight. Over the last few days he’s back in the routine of the cold tub and the hot tub. He also said in moving to a new city he’s finding the people he can trust that can work with his body.
More Calvin
While connecting with DK Metcalf for four receptions for 83 yards, he also had four passes to Calvin Austin for 70 yards including a touchdown, but believes there is additional yardage there.
“I've got to get him more opportunities,” Rodgers said. “I had a chance probably to throw it to him down the middle on third and 10 with about six minutes left in the game and just got to trust it and let it go. Got to get him involved more, got to give more targets for DK. I thought we got a lot of great production out of our new guys. I think you look at some of the guys we brought in, they all played really physically tough. DK, Jonnu, and Jaylen especially. But I've just got get those guys more opportunities."
Fan-tastic
Rodgers played in Pittsburgh a decade-and-a-half ago and said he remembered Steelers fans. He obviously saw them at training camp. He said it’s becoming a talking point in Green Bay as a few fans are selling tickets. The hope is that doesn’t happen here.
What did really impress him as a first-time Steeler.
“I would say the thing I can say that I do know about Steelers fans is, in the fourth quarter, in crunch time, when they had the ball at MetLife, it was loud, and that was our fans,” Rodgers said. “So you know what kind of organization it is, usually organizations like this and Green Bay. Their fan bases travel really well and that was really impressive to see.”
Favre in sight
With four touchdowns against the Jets, Rodgers is one from Brett Favre’s 508 for fourth place on the all-time NFL list.
“I mean, it's just a longevity achievement,” Rodgers said. “A lot of the guys are a part of that. I mean some touchdowns you make exceptional plays. Some, the scheme is so good, like the one to Jaylen in the game. All you got to do is not screw it up. And then sometimes you throw a short one to a guy, and he goes 60. And it goes in the column of the same.”
“There's been a lot of guys involved in that, including the guys blocking, the guys calling the plays. Every now and then I made some special throws that led to touchdowns. But I've been playing a long time. And it's a longevity thing that I'm proud of, but it’s not a big deal.”
New coordinator
There obviously was a rhythm between Rodgers and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith Sunday in their first time working in a stadium together.
“I thought he called it a really good game,” Rodgers said. “Like I said, you know, sometimes you make great throws for touchdowns. Sometimes you just got to not screw it up. And we had a couple that were, you know, just don't screw it up. The scheme was so good and the execution was great. But I thought we got to do a good rhythm.”
“The best part is that we spend a lot of time together, a lot of time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And then Friday, I get a little break from them usually in the afternoon.”
Rodgers said they spend a lot of time talking about the game and what each like. He called it a good relationship.