Why? because he doesnt run sharp enough routes for rodgers??? I think that logic is ignorant of what he does do well.
This demonstrates a lack of understanding of how most modern offenses work and why crisp routes are at the very least "strongly desired" and often "required."
First, why crips routes? Because everyone in the NFL is a great athlete. A sharp route fools the defender, however briefly, and gives your receiver have a step. A good route runner makes his entire tree look the same right up until he actual makes his break. If you can do this well, it's much easier to make a hitch look like a go, a go like a hitch, and obviously, sell the hitch'n'go.
This is Janis' weakness. Defenders can more or less see exactly what route he's going to run before he gets to the top of his route (the breakpoint) and cover appropriately. You've made the defender's job easier. Athletics can negate this weakness if you're a quick and shifty guy--you simple out accelerate the defender. It's not perfect, but solvable. Janis isn't necessarily quick, he's fast. His "over come with athletics" is the go route. The problem here is that is easy to counter. Play off, nice and soft, and count on the pass rush to get there. Sure, he'll eventually get open, but with the plan of getting the ball off in 2.8 seconds or whatever, the advantage goes to the defender. Those are also some low-percentage throws and not a reliable way to build an offense.
If Janis can learn to run good routes, his value will shoot up. In the previous example, to defeat the soft coverage, run it hard-hard-hard, and turn it into a hitch/back shoulder at 10 yards. Right now, today, Janis has not demonstrated that he is capable of doing that.
Second, why routes at all? Because the quarterback doesn't throw to guys, he throws to spots. Understand what happens when the QB breaks the huddle. He's immediately looking up trying to identify personnel. Nickel? Base? Dime? Next, where are the safeties? It goes on and on. Once under center, he's probably already made up his mind or he's calling an audible.
Once the ball is snapped, the decision has been made. Between personnel, alignment, down and distance, and film study, he know who has the best chance of being open. The time between receiving the snap and completing the drop "reading" the defense isn't really reading--it's confirming that what you saw pre-snap is correct. Once the drop is completed, he has started his plant, and the ball is going out. This is particularly true of 3-step drops.
This is practiced all the time. The goal is have the quarterback and his receivers know exactly where they are on the field. Three step drop = how many steps in the route = how many yards downfield. For ever route. For every receiver. From each position.
If Janis cannot or will not do this correctly, this will cause Rodgers to throw interceptions. Again, he's throwing to a spot at a certain time. If Janis isn't there, the ball either goes to a defender
uncontested or into the dirt.
