Aaron Rodgers knows the basics of Mike McCarthy\u2019s offense, but that doesn\u2019t mean he has everything figured out in Pittsburgh. The two haven\u2019t worked together since 2018, and McCarthy\u2019s system has evolved since then.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is different. With McCarthy, it\u2019s just different,\u201d 93.7 The Fan\u2019s Jeff Hathhorn said, describing the change in practice tempo between Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy on The Fan Evening show<\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s some work to do trying to get through this offense. I mean, there\u2019s a lot of new for these guys. Even for Aaron, there\u2019s new stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n After the Steelers hired him, McCarthy said he leans into analytics<\/a>. When studying the numbers, certain concepts and philosophies naturally change over time. When McCarthy entered the league, they didn\u2019t have the advanced statistics that we have today.<\/p>\n Even when McCarthy served as the offensive playcaller in Dallas, he had bright, young offensive minds like Kellen Moore and Scott Tolzien. They helped push the envelope and move McCarthy\u2019s offense into the future. Rodgers is starting to see those new concepts for the first time.<\/p>\n \u201cJust [getting] familiar with some of the changes that Mike has made to the offense over the years,\u201d Rodgers said after signing with the team<\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s some terminology we\u2019re working through.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s why, early in the offseason, McCarthy\u2019s been focused almost exclusively on the offense<\/a> and quarterback play. By the time of training camp, the Steelers should be past the basics and growing pains and into the actual install portion of learning the specifics. Then Rodgers can put his flair on the calls with his typical pre-snap hand signals and checks.<\/p>\n Despite the new ideas, McCarthy and Rodgers are ahead of where Arthur Smith and Rodgers were this time last year. Even more so because Rodgers is with the team for OTAs this time.<\/p>\n