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.