Green Bay Packers' Jordy Nelson turns heads with stellar offseason
BY KAREEM COPELAND kcopeland@greenbaypressgazette June 23, 2010
Some things just take a little time.
Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson has put together a phenomenal offseason in his third year, demanding attention with his play in organized team activity practices and minicamp.
Passes stuck to his gloves. Defenders couldnt keep up. Any ball in his vicinity seemed catchable.
As quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his bag of offensive toys prepare for what the organization hopes is a lengthy playoff run, Nelson looks ready for a bigger role.
Jordy has had, by far, his best offseason, receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. Hes feeling so comfortable out there, that hes making a ton of plays.
Nelson has caught 55 passes for 686 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons with the team. Twenty-two of those receptions came last year as he split time with James Jones as the slot receiver.
The team prides itself on drafting and developing its own players and examples litter the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, Nick Barnett. Putting Nelson in that group with proven commodities is premature after an offseason running routes in shorts and helmets, but no one denies the strides he has made.
Thing about Jordy is, when he first came in you looked at him and said this guy has all the talent to be a great receiver, Driver said. Jordy just wants an opportunity.
The good thing about it is our receiving group is so deep, (but) its hard for guys to get that opportunity.
Regardless of how much Nelson has improved, he will be in that same fight this year. The Packers ranked No. 2 in the league in points scored (28.8 points per game) and No. 6 in total offense (379.1 yards per game) in 2009 and everyones back. Driver is a Pro Bowler. Jennings was a Pro Bowl alternate. Finley broke out in the second half of last season. Running back Ryan Grant was the NFLs seventh-leading rusher (1,253 yards).
And Jones, who caught 32 passes for 440 yards and five touchdowns, has improved as well.
Its nice having those weapons, Rodgers said. Our 1-2 (receivers), I think, are as good as any in the league and our 3-4 (receivers are) probably better than any 3-4 in the league.
Nelson, however, has impressed in offseason workouts before. The same was said last year, but his receptions dropped from 33 to 22 which may have been a function of opportunity. Nelson said familiarity makes all the difference.
Its just another step, Nelson said. Another whole offseason with Aaron and just working out here. Keep progressing and keep being confident. The more routes and the more plays you get, the better you feel. Its all about confidence, seeing more defenses and just knowing things.
If you continue to be consistent on the practice field, itll turn over to the games.
Robinson added, Just being out there day after day after day and being together helps you no matter who it is.
Nelson, a second-round draft pick out of Kansas State, could join a growing list of NFL receivers that experienced a breakthrough after at least a couple years of seasoning.
Driver had just 37 catches his first three seasons and broke out with 70 receptions in Year 4. Greg Jennings posted 98 catches his first two seasons and 80 in his third season. Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne caught 76 passes in his first two years and followed with 68 in Year 3, 77 in Year 4 and has never had fewer than 82 since. New England Patriots wideout Wes Welker had 29 catches his first two years combined, 67 in Year 3 and never fewer than 111 in the next three seasons.
Hopefully, hes in a position where hes ready to kind of emerge and really take off, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said of Nelson. The time is now as they say.