What’d They Say: Aaron Rodgers Prepping for ‘Tactician on Defense’ Mike Zimmer

[Viktor]

As is usual when Rodgers prepares to face Minnesota, he spoke highly of specific players he sees twice a season.


“[Danielle] Hunter has obviously progressed over the years and gone from kind of a speed guy to, he has all the moves, he’s a fantastic pass rusher; Everson [Griffen] on the other side has gone from his younger days when he was running down on punt to, obviously the past five or six years, a legitimate outside pass rusher who gets it done every single year,” Rodgers said. “You’ve got studs inside. You’ve got a couple fantastic linebackers; the backend has great experience, they play well together.


“You add all that together with one of the best coaches in the league in Coach Zimmer, who puts together a fantastic plan every week, and he stresses you in a number of different areas,” Rodgers added.


Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur spoke with Twin Cities media members via conference call earlier this week and said he admires what Zimmer has built in Minnesota over the past six seasons.


“They’re definitely a tough football team,” LaFleur said. “You know you better buckle that chin strap up tight when you’re playing the Minnesota Vikings.”


Although Rodgers is plenty familiar with the Vikings defense, one element that has changed since the teams met in Week 2 is the cornerback rotation that Zimmer implemented against the Lions in Week 14 and against the Chargers in Week 15.


If Zimmer takes the same approach during Monday Night Football, Rodgers said the Packers will “be ready for all” of the Vikings corners.


“That’s the beauty of cut-ups these days; they have a cut-up of every guy who’s stepped on the field,” Rodgers said. “We’re on all that stuff, and we’ll be ready for anybody we see outside.”


Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, who generally has been matched up against Xavier Rhodes, also acknowledged the rotation but said he can’t focus too much on which defender he’ll see.


“They’ve had some other guys, more than in past years, rotating in back there [at cornerback],” Adams said. “I’ve noticed, but I think the way we approach things over here is that we worry about what we’re doing, and the route we have is not necessarily predicated on who’s out there. So for us, it doesn’t really make a difference.”