There’s a Davante Adams highlight reel versus the Bears on packers.com. If you spend the 61 seconds it takes to watch it, you’ll see only one pass completion (on 2nd and 19, and it went for 19) that came off a broken play.
The other 12 plays are extremely similar. In every instance, Aaron Rodgers has Adams solely in mind as his target and delivers the ball in under three seconds. He begins his throwing motion the instant Adams makes his break from the defender. Rodgers’ back foot is very firmly planted, his body is lined up toward the target, every pass has zip and the ball arrives well before the defender can re-establish coverage. I don’t think Adams caught any of these 12 throws more than a dozen yards downfield.
Ten of the 13 catches were along the right sideline, two were along the left sideline, and the last was the left-side crossing pattern where Adams went unguarded as he slanted toward the middle of the end zone. Even the two inaccurate passes of the 13 both resulted in touchdowns due to Adams’ quick adjustments to the ball.
These highlights amount to a clinic on how to commit to the play call, believe in your receiver, use proper throwing mechanics and precisely time your throws. It helps that Rodgers has one of the quickest releases in the game.
Last year, Rodgers had a similar trust and rapport with James Jones – with similar results. He’s also had such a connection with Jordy Nelson for several years – though it’s presently in need of some maintenance.
If Rodgers takes this same approach with his entire corps of wide receivers – all of whom are capable – the quarterback’s “little bit of a lull” will soon become a thing of the past.