It was only a matter of time before the Aaron Rodgers hand signals discussion began again. Last season, there was a great deal said about how then-rookies Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure were going to struggle early because their quarterback refused to work with them until training camp even though Rodgers’ infamous hand signals are notoriously complicated for rookies and veterans alike.
As it turns out, they are difficult for coaches, too. In a recent article published by the New York Post, Jets wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni admitted that he does not know what all of Rodgers’ signals mean. He also said it is up to the receivers to learn and figure them out, not him.
Azzanni said:
“That’s all on them,” receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. “I don’t want to speak for Aaron and [Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett], but we’ve probably done about less than 10 percent of that stuff signal-wise [in the spring]. Those things grow exponentially as we grow.”
"The guys are like, ‘What’s that signal?’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Azzanni said. “It might have been from 2011, but let’s get on the same page. That’s what’s cool about those guys all being here [voluntarily], working through those things.”
The Post also referenced an article in The Athletic last year in which Doubs, Jordan Love and Sammy Watkins all said that Rodgers’ hand signals were difficult to learn.
However, it seems as if Rodgers is taking a more active roll in teaching the Jets wide receivers about his hand signals than he did for the pass-catchers in Green Bay:
“He’s a great communicator, and he’s a great teacher,” quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese said. “When he’s talking with the receivers or tight ends on how he wants certain routes just from experience, it’s special.”
Must be nice.
All of this being said, it is far from likely that the Jets’pass-catchers will be able to master all of Rodgers’ signals before the season begins. This could lead to Rodgers relying heavily on his former Packers teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in crucial situations.
As the Packers learned last year, that is not always a good thing. The fact of the matter is that Rodgers often forces passes to the receivers he is most comfortable with, regardless of who is open elsewhere on the field.
If the Jets offensive line is as bad as it was last year, and if the receivers do not master Rodgers’ hand signals to a level that he is satisfied with, it could be a very long year in New York.
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