Assuming Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, there are a number of things you needn’t worry about with the Green Bay Packers’ first-year starter at quarterback:

His arm strength and accuracy. His ability to throw on the run. His understanding of the offense. His confidence level. His leadership abilities.
However, based on Rodgers’ performance during the Packers’ first two exhibition games, there is one thing you should start worrying about:

His pocket presence.

For an NFL quarterback, the pocket is the eye of the hurricane. So far, Rodgers has looked like a guy who forgot to check the Weather Channel until it was too late.

True, he has gotten little help from his teammates. Rodgers’ receivers have dropped so many passes it looks like they’re staging a silent protest over the forced departure of Packers icon Brett Favre. Rodgers’ line has been a sieve as coaches have played checkers at the three inside positions, jumping players from one spot to another trying to find the right combination.

Still, in about three quarters of game action, Rodgers has been sacked an incredible six times. Maybe it will all change in tonight’s exhibition game against the Denver Broncos, but so far Rodgers has looked about as uncomfortable in the pocket as his bosses did when they explained why they traded Favre to the New York Jets.

Pocket presence is difficult to define, but all good quarterbacks have it.

They know when to get rid of the ball. They sense where pressure is coming from, even if it’s behind them. They have a knack for sidestepping pass-rushers or spinning away from would-be sackers. They have an awareness of where the other 23 players on the field are at all times.

At times during his three seasons as Favre’s apprentice and again this month, Rodgers has been overwhelmed by the rush. He doesn’t look skittish as much as he looks unaware of his surroundings.

After he was sacked four times on 20 dropbacks against San Francisco last week, Rodgers’ explanation was that he’s holding the ball too long instead of dumping off the ball to a checkdown receiver.

“I’m to blame, because I made too many (mental mistakes),” he said. “I just need to be quicker to the checkdown. That’s all I’m focused on — trust my feet, quick to the checkdown.”

While admitting that Rodgers has held the ball too long on occasion, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said all quarterbacks struggle when under heavy pressure. He cautioned against overreacting after one poor game, noting that Rodgers played well in the exhibition opener.

“He’s very good fundamentally; he’s an accurate thrower,” Clements said. “He just has to understand, and I think he does, that any completion is good. It doesn’t have to be 20 yards down the field. It can be 3 yards down the field.”

It’s entirely possible that Rodgers is uncomfortable in the pocket because he hasn’t spent much time there lately. Rodgers hasn’t seen consistent snaps in live action since he was at California in 2004, an indication that he might have a learning — or re-learning — curve on pocket presence.

At least that’s what the Packers have to be hoping at this point.

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