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Film Room: Can Richard Rodgers replace Jermichael Finley in the Packers offense?

Benny Sieu / USA TODAY Sports

Ever since Jermichael Finley left on a stretcher after a shoulder-to-head collision in Week 7, the Green Bay Packers have been searching for his replacement. 

The hit left both Finley and the Packers wondering about their futures. Finley wondered about his career. The Packers wondered about his position. Who would replace him? Was the replacement on the roster? And would he be nearly as good?

Fourth-year tight end Andrew Quarless finished out the season in the starting lineup and played approximately 57 snaps per game. Although talented, he wasn’t the same matchup problem. 

Quarless was an average blocker and not nearly as physical nor versatile of a pass catcher. He didn’t wrestle the ball away from defensive backs like his predecessor. He wasn’t a reliable target. The other options, Ryan Taylor and Brandon Bostick, both young and talented, weren’t much better. Too green.

After the season, Finley’s contract expired in March and the Packers didn’t re-sign him following spinal fusion surgery. They had other plans with the 2014 NFL Draft coming two months later.

They needed to add another tight end. A big body who could catch and block. One that could hit the seam and come up with a big play. That could split out at the “F” position like Finley did more than 20 percent of his snaps and dominate defensive backs or outrun linebackers.

In the third round, they found their man: Richard Rodgers, out of California. He was 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds, an inch shy of Finley and the same weight. He also had some of the same versatility.

Rodgers bounced between the “Y” and “F” positions at Cal, but spent most of his time at the latter.

At the “F,” he was essentially a wide receiver. Split between the offensive line and sideline, Rodgers ran crossing, flat, slant and in and out routes, among others. He was smooth setting up linebackers and quick cutting, helping him average more than 15 yards per reception in 2013.

Since being drafted, Rodgers has impressed in competing in the tight end shuffle. He’s battling Quarless, Bostick and Taylor for the starting job and may even have a leg-up on them after strong practices, where he’s impressed teammates with his route running.

“Some guys,” backup quarterback Matt Flynn told Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, "when they're running routes, they take a break and you never know if they're going to come out high, come out flat. With Richard, you can always tell in his body language if he's bending across the linebacker, if he's going to come out and break flat, and that's something as quarterbacks. It makes it easier for us."

The key to staying on the field, however, will be Rodgers’ blocking. When he was the “Y” at Cal, he primarily cut blocked and combination blocked. They weren’t his strong suit, but he showed potential and willingness.

In the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, Rodgers played 13 total snaps and run blocked on eight of them, according to Pro Football Focus. He showed more upside, particularly in getting to the second level and sealing defenders.

On his fourth run block, Rodgers aligned at the Y to the quarterback’s right as part of a two tight end set and stepped laterally to check on Quarless blocking the outside linebacker. With Quarless anchoring well, he redirected toward the left tackle and chipped the penetrating inside linebacker. Pop! And then with the ball-carrier running behind him, Rodgers climbed to the second level and pushed the strong safety outside and wide of the ball-carrier, who cut to the middle of the field.

Three plays later, Rodgers did it again. It was a Diamond backfield set. Rodgers was to the right of the quarterback with his right hand in the dirt.

He released laterally to his right again and weaved back to the middle while searching for a defender. The fullback pinned one inside linebacker while the other escaped. Rodgers didn’t block him. Instead the ball carrier evaded the unblocked linebacker at the line while Rodgers searched for another defender at the second level.

The strong safety was the target again.

The safety over-pursued and Rodgers took advantage, running directly at him before grabbing and pushing him backward. The ball carrier cut outside, past the block, and dove in to score a touchdown.

It’s paramount that Rodgers is able to consistently run block well. The Packers plan on running the ball more this season after second-year man Eddie Lacy ran for more than 1,100 yards last season, and they’ll need Rodgers to be reliable.

Becoming a complete tight end will allow Rodgers to stay on the field, helping the offense become more diverse as well. Last season, the Packers offense ran 29 percent of the time with 11 personnel and 62 percent of the time with 12 personnel, according to Football Outsiders. Predictable.

If it’s able to line up with a tight end that can both block and catch, however, it’ll be less predictable and creates more favorable matchups in the passing game. Linebackers will be forced to consider both run and pass, and defend the seam from Rodgers like they once did from Finley.

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