Green Bay There were more than 80 players out there this spring and summer and literally dozens of new faces. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy had to study them all, some on first impressions, everyone in a blur. It's not easy to become distinguishable in a crowd like this.

Yet receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson managed to separate from the crowd.

"Outstanding off-seasons," said McCarthy during the last Packers minicamp. "If you go through the films, James Jones, just from a production standpoint, probably stands out as one of the top performers through the OTAs. He's gotten a lot of opportunities, particularly in the slot with Donald's absence, and I think he's done a very good job of that."

It's never a bad thing to get praise like that from the head man. Except it was June.

Jones would like to hear it again in November.

He did his best when he got more practice time in veteran receiver Donald Driver's slot spot while Driver rested his 35-year-old knees.

But Jones, heading into his fourth year, wants a lot more than attention.

He wants a 1,000-yard season and a time share in the end zone.

"I have set my goals. I definitely want to have a 1,000-yard season. That comes with opportunity, so we'll see," Jones said. "I always tell myself to shoot for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

"We'll see if the opportunities present themselves. I can't run without the ball."

The tone in Jones' voice wasn't whiny or sarcastic. It was the voice of a realist, and he spoke matter-of-factly.

Jones once again finds himself on a team stocked with talent with the intent to balance the offense between the pass and the run.

That means the hard, cold facts boil down to simple math.

Aaron Rodgers averaged almost 34 pass attempts per game last year, and he always aimed to spread them around his talented receivers, tight ends and even running backs.

So, of Rodgers' 350 completions, 230 went to the top four guys: receivers Driver (70) and Greg Jennings (68) and tight ends Jermichael Finley (55) and Donald Lee (37).

Jones was the fifth option with 32 catches last year, though he got five touchdowns and 440 total yards out of them for a 13.8-yard average.

"We've got so many weapons on this offense I can't really complain if I don't always get the ball," Jones said. "You know what I mean? I have to get the ball in this offense whenever the opportunity presents itself."

That's what Jones' receivers coach, Jimmy Robinson told him, and that's the line Jones is sticking with.

He's not in Rodgers' ear with his goals and won't remind him that he had 47 receptions as a rookie in 2007. Or that he, too, was frustrated in 2008 with injuries that kept him to just 20 catches that year.

Jones won't even consider having a talk with Rodgers, concerned that it might come off like a complaint.

"I may tell him I was open," Jones said, laughing. "But I will never say, 'Throw it to me.' "

It has been suggested that Jones might be a starter on another team. But Jones expects Driver to be the same productive receiver he's been for a decade. And the talent is undeniable in Jennings, a close friend of Jones.

With a locker right next to Nelson, Jones can both commiserate and admire his abilities as well.

Jones and Nelson have had some standout plays this off-season. One of them came on a pass in the red zone. The pass was targeted for Nelson, but Jones made an incredible athletic leap and stole the ball from No. 87 for the completion and touchdown.

"The summer has meant more repetitions, more reps at different positions," Jones said. "When it is me, Greg and Donald in the game, we play different positions and stay at that position. In this camp, with Donald being out, me, Greg and Jordy moved around. Like my coach always tells me, you've got to make the most of your chances. If you get one ball, you better make the play.

"So all I did was go out there and try to control what I can control and make as many plays as I could."

Jones fights hard to remain patient and play his role even as he prepares like a starter.

"Well, you think that but, like I said, I don't want to say that and then end up with 20 catches again for another season," Jones said. "Hopefully you can come to me after maybe Week 5, and I will give you a real good story."

So Jones took a little time off after the minicamp ended June 22, but he's right back to working out and punishing his body in California. It's all he can do for now - keep working hard and counting the days until training camp, when he hopes to turn all this work into production.