Cliff Avril on Aaron Rodgers: ‘He’s super chill in the pocket’

By Alex Schlinsky | Sep 1, 2014

Dec 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; General view of a Seattle Seahawks helmet before the game against the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The NFL season is finally upon us football fans, and the NFL’s first offering should be a delight for all types of football fans. This Thursday evening the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks return to CenturyLink Field in Seattle to take on one of the league’s perennial contenders and best teams in the Green Bay Packers.

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Rodgers has had high praise for the Seahawks defense leading up to the game, but you can bet that the Seahawks defense is keenly aware of the set of skills Rodgers possesses when he steps onto the field. If there is any player in the league that could pick apart the Seahawks defense, it would likely be Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense.

Cliff Avril, who joined Seattle this offseason to take Chris Clemons’ vacated defensive end spot, knows Rodgers all too well as he played against him twice a year for four seasons during Avril’s time with the Lions.

“You know you’ve got to wrap him up, because even if you have his legs he’ll flip the ball out with his right or left hand,” Avril told Seahawks media after practice. “So he’s a crafty vet. But we definitely feel like we can get to him a little bit.”

Rodgers is widely considered to be among the league’s top 3 or 4 quarterbacks every year, but Avril believes that many underestimate just how athletic Rodgers truly is.

“He’s more athletic than they give him credit for, but he’s super chill in the pocket.”

On Thursday night we will find out whether or not Avril and the Seahawks defense can disrupt Rodgers from getting into a groove and pulling out the win on the road.

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