When Aaron Rodgers starts to scramble, wide receiver Randall Cobb is often a favorite target. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — When the Green Bay Packers offense gathers for the initial passing game meeting in training camp, the first thing addressed isn't play-action or shotgun or seven-step drops or red zone.

That has to wait.

The first step is installing the scramble play.

If you're the Denver Broncos or New Orleans Saints or San Diego Chargers or New England Patriots, that slide is probably buried in the pile. If you're the Packers, and Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, it's in the pole position in coach Mike McCarthy's PowerPoint presentation.

"That's the very first one, what's expected if the quarterback breaks contain or gets flushed out of the pocket," quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said. "From Day 1, we emphasize it.

"Our guys are very good at it and understand what we're trying to accomplish and how to find the open area. Aaron is as good as anyone once he leaves the pocket."

If you thought Rodgers was the only reason the scramble play has been effective for the Packers, you'd be neglecting the other end of the connection.

Few can make the kind of across-the-body throw Rodgers did rolling to his right on a 5-yard touchdown pass to receiver Randall Cobb against Miami two weeks ago. But if Cobb hadn't worked his way back to Rodgers after running a route to the middle of the end zone, the throw would never have been made.

"It always comes down to being on the same page with Aaron, having the ability to anticipate," receivers coach Edgar Bennett said. "That's an important part of it. Some of it, you go over that and they work that drill in practice and then you go out and see them execute in a game situation. It's a little bit of everything."

Sense of purpose

The scramble play is not a chaotic car chase scene with everyone doing wheelies and doughnuts in order to escape the authorities. There is structure to which each player needs to adhere, which is detailed in that PowerPoint presentation on the first day of training camp.

Take the 47-yard catch and run Cobb made Sunday against Carolina.

Rodgers saw some pressure from the left side and rolled to his right. Cobb, who had lined up in the slot on the right, ran a short hook at the numbers. Upon seeing Rodgers break the pocket, he curled to the middle and then back in a horseshoe maneuver before jab-stepping back to the middle one more time.

The final move left him right between linebacker Luke Kuechly and cornerback Antoine Cason. Rodgers delivered the ball and Cobb made a socks-stealing move that left him free to run.

No one on the Packers roster could have made those moves but Cobb, which explains why he is often the target of Rodgers' scramble throws, including the division-winning touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 29

"He can create separation," Bennett said. "He's an extremely instinctive football player. Some of those qualities start to come out."

There's more to the story on the play against Carolina and some of the others Cobb has made.

On this one, rookie Davante Adams, who was lined up to Cobb's right and ran a similar pattern toward the sideline, saw Rodgers scrambling. But unlike Cobb, he didn't come back and try to get in Rodgers' vision. He turned and ran down the field, creating a high-low concept that spread out the Panthers defenders and made it easier for Cobb to find a hole.

"You've got to understand the play call and where other guys are on the field, and not go into their area of the field whenever the scramble drill happens," Cobb said. "And (it's) understanding where the quarterback's moving to."

The same thing happened on the play in Miami. Jordy Nelson was on Rodgers' side of the field, but rather than run to the middle, he worked the sideline, which occupied defenders and allowed Cobb to find the void in the defense.

He might have gotten the ball if Cobb hadn't broken open.

"You have to get lucky, fortunate that he scrambles your way and you're in the position to make that separation," Nelson said. "And sometimes you're on a deep ball and you can't do anything about it, or your backside.

"If it comes your way, you have to get separation at the right time and give him a place to go with the ball."

The Packers work the scramble drill every week in practice so that when Rodgers breaks the pocket there's some semblance of order. When Rodgers takes off to one side of the field or the other, his vision is generally limited to that side.

So, if Nelson has run a curl on the right side and Rodgers has scrambled to the left, he'll start to work back to the left and try to get into the quarterback's vision. But he also has to be aware of where others are and not crowd their space.

"In my mind, it's more about knowing where you are in relationship to the other receivers on the field and seeing where the quarterback is moving," tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said. "We have definitive rules that they need to follow.

"I think instincts kind of take over and guys don't follow the rules all the time. That's something we focus a lot on because of all the production we've had extending the play with Aaron."

Scoring plays

Four of Rodgers' 18 touchdown passes this season have come on scrambles. Many other key completions were the result of Rodgers using his legs to avoid pressure.

In addition, he has run 17 times for 91 yards, most of which have come on scrambles.

As the Packers get ready to take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night, the threat of Rodgers getting outside the pocket and hurting the Saints defense is probably causing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan indigestion this week.

Everyone who plays the Packers knows it's a part of their offense.

"We have Aaron, the best in the business as far as extending plays and buying that time," Bennett said. "Then it's the receiver getting open and being on the same page as far as the area and space he's looking for. It starts with our protection and the receiver being on the same page."

And then quite often it ends in a big play.