Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100930/PKR01/100930124/Receivers-scrap-for-piece-of-the-action 

Greg Jennings chose his words carefully Thursday afternoon. He paused to gather his thoughts as teammates Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson chuckled nearby.

So goes the give and take of being a Green Bay Packers receiver.

Jennings and company have the good fortune of playing on a Super Bowl contender in a pass-first offense with one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

At the same time, Jennings, Driver, Jermichael Finley, James Jones and Nelson make up a deep receiving group and the ball gets spread around. The Packers have four different players with 10 receptions or more. Only six other teams have that type distribution.

That style makes it difficult for anyone to put up gaudy numbers, and its been Jennings and Nelson whove been most affected by the depth through three games.

It is what it is, Jennings said. Opportunities come and they go. Thats just the reality of having a plethora of guys out there.

We joke about it. We all want to eat, but theres going to be times where you dont eat like you really expect to. Youve got to move on to the next game.

Jennings has ranked in the top two for team receptions the last three years, but is on pace for 53, which would tie the second-lowest output of his career (2007). Eighteen receiving yards against Chicago was the second-worst mark since his rookie year. Jennings was held without a catch for the only time of his career against Cincinnati last year.

You never really know, Jenning said. Thats pretty much our mindset. You have to be prepared each week, each snap.

While Jennings numbers have fallen, Finley and James Jones have watched theirs rise.

The entire NFL community knew Finley was poised for a breakout year after posting 70-plus receiving yards in four of the final five regular-season games in 2009. Hes on pace for 91 receptions and 1,413 yards. Finley had career highs of 55 catches and 676 yards last season. Only nine players caught more than 85 passes in 2009, including tight ends Jason Witten (94) and Dallas Clark (100). Texans wideout Andre Johnson was the only player to reach the 1,400-yard plateau last year he put up a league-high 1,569 yards.

If Finley continues at this rate, he will set Packers single-season records in receptions (55 held by Paul Coffman in 1979) and yards (814 by Coffman in 1983).

Jones is also on the path to career-highs. If things continue, he will end the year with 53 catches six more than his rookie year and 21 more than 2009. Jones made a brutal mistake against the Bears when he lost a fumble in a 17-17 game with 2:27 left in the fourth quarter and the Packers driving for the win. Chicago recovered the fumble and drove for the game-winning field goal.

But Jones has established himself as the clear No. 3 receiver, in front of Nelson, after the two were neck-and-neck in training camp.

James has worked very hard and has been given some opportunities the first three weeks, coach Mike McCarthy said. Frankly, anybody thats part of that offensive perimeter, you just need to spend five minutes in the meeting room to clearly understand that if you have an opportunity, youd better cash in on it, because if you dont, that means youve taken an opportunity away from Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver or somebody else in that room.

Its very competitive. Theyre a very close group. So I think it really speaks volumes for any of the younger players who are given more opportunities this year as opposed to the past, and James would definitely fall into that category.

Wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson added, (Jones) ran the ball with authority last week. I think hes trying to make a point of it. We certainly made a point of it to him. Its a gradual process and theres still more there for James.

Nelson has been the one left out. He looked ready to drastically increase his production during the offseason and stood out as much as any other pass-catcher in organized team activity practices. But Jones has soundly passed him on the depth chart.

Nelson has been left with just eight balls thrown his way in three games. He has six catches, one less than running back Brandon Jackson, for 53 yards. Hes on the way to 32 receptions, 10 more than 2009, but 283 yards would be a career-low.

Thats what its going to be, Nelson said. When you get a ball, you better catch it and you better do something with it because it might be your one of maybe two or three balls that game.

Im doing all right. Ive had two opportunities that I havent made the most of, so thats frustrating. But, besides that I think Ive done a good job. Just have two drops, so I cant be doing any more of that.

Robinson and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin would like to see everyone involved, but knows much of that depends on the opposing defense. Chicago plays a base cover-2 with safeties over the top of the outside receivers. That opened up the middle for Finley to snatch nine passes for 115 yards.

If teams play Cover-2, the tight end and slot receiver will thrive. If teams concentrate on Finley and focus on defending inside routes, more opportunities open on the edges.

Like Jennings said: It is what it is.

Its a good group, Philbin said. Greg had the two catches on the first drive. Id like to see him get his hands on the ball a little more. Its funny how games unfold, Donald had nine catches. Those things usually over the course of time balance themselves out.

Its a good problem to have because your other guy is catching nine balls. People kind of have to pick their poison so to speak.


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yooperfan
14 years ago
This is a good problem to have as long as egos don't get in the way.
gbpfan
14 years ago
it is good to have such talent and to be able to use them,glad we have those guys.
Greg C.
14 years ago
Jennings' and Driver's stats are looking pretty shabby after three games. Hopefully things will even out. So far that's happened every season, but I'm not sure about this year, with Finley in the mix.
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zombieslayer
14 years ago

Eighteen receiving yards against Chicago was the second-worst mark since his rookie year.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Gregorious drop a deep pass against da Bears? Or was it he caught it and it was brought back because of a penalty. I remember something involving a deep pass to Gregorious.

One thing I noticed is we haven't gone deep to Driver yet this year. Or at least I don't remember.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
coltonja
14 years ago

Eighteen receiving yards against Chicago was the second-worst mark since his rookie year.

"zombieslayer" wrote:



Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Gregorious drop a deep pass against da Bears? Or was it he caught it and it was brought back because of a penalty. I remember something involving a deep pass to Gregorious.

One thing I noticed is we haven't gone deep to Driver yet this year. Or at least I don't remember.



Jennings dropped a catchable, deep pass. And when I say catchable I mean Greg put himself in position to catch an extremely well defeneded pass.
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Thanks to pack93z for the sig!!!
zombieslayer
14 years ago
Thanks. Well, he can't complain about 18 yards receiving because if I remember correctly, that was a 40+ yard pass. That pass would have tripled his stats for the day.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
14 years ago
What are the odds, I wonder, that this is J Jones' last year as a Packer?
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
DakotaT
14 years ago

What are the odds, I wonder, that this is J Jones' last year as a Packer?

"Wade" wrote:



Same as the possibility of you shoveling snow this winter; and I swear to God, if you bitch about this year and jinx us all: I'm coming down there on one of my Rochester trips with some ND yellow snow and have a little throwing contest with you being the target.

Jones is too good to be a 3rd receiver even though his dumb ass doesn't know which arm to carry the ball in when pinned on the sideline.
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Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
14 years ago

What are the odds, I wonder, that this is J Jones' last year as a Packer?

"DakotaT" wrote:



Same as the possibility of you shoveling snow this winter; and I swear to God, if you bitch about this year and jinx us all: I'm coming down there on one of my Rochester trips with some ND yellow snow and have a little throwing contest with you being the target.

"Wade" wrote:



Does that include bitching about the OL, or am I allowed one area of bitching? :)

Or are you talking about the "hate winter" bitching?

p.s. You do know we have yellow snow in Iowa, too. Is yours a better quality?
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
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