macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
13 years ago
http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/In-GB-offense-receiving-corps-never-deep-enough/ebabbf2f-b800-463b-916b-82184335fd21 


For the past three years, the Packers pass-catching personnel has stood up to anyones in the NFL. The groups production and depth, headlined by receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and a budding star in tight end Jermichael Finley, have been a given.

Luxuries like that dont last forever, though, and for the first time since 2008, the Packers may be in the market for future reinforcements in this years draft.

Back then, the Packers selected receivers Jordy Nelson and Brett Swain in the second and seventh rounds, respectively, and Finley in the third. In the two drafts since, only tight end Andrew Quarless was added, in the fifth round.

Thats not to say a major overhaul is on the horizon. Far from it.

Jennings is the true go-to guy the franchise envisioned the day he began running routes like a smooth, polished veteran as a rookie in 2006. In his fifth year this past season, he made his first Pro Bowl, a spectacle he was glad to skip with the Packers playing in the Super Bowl instead. He followed up his trio of team bests in the regular season (76 catches, 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns) with a pair of eight-catch, 100-yard outings in the playoffs, plus two touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has his number one receiver.

Rodgers has a 1A other passers would kill for. Finleys 301 yards in the first four games of 2010 marked the best start by a tight end in franchise history and projects to 1,200 yards for a full season. Hell be returning from a season-ending knee injury, suffered on the first snap of week five, and having missed out on the teams Super Bowl run, he may be the most motivated of the pass-catching bunch.

The question many will ask is whether Jennings and Finley can co-exist, production-wise, because Jennings numbers didnt take off in 2010 until Finley got hurt. Somehow, the 2009 NFC wild-card playoff game in Arizona gets conveniently overlooked in that discussion. Finley had six catches for 159 yards while Jennings had eight for 130 in that game.

Co-exist they can. Rodgers will make sure of it.

After those two, the depth charts at both receiver and tight end may begin changing, both in the near and long term.

Following Finleys injury last season, receivers such as Driver, Nelson and James Jones took turns having big games, but the pecking order is in flux heading into 2011, given Drivers age and recent injuries and Jones contract status.

Driver had missed only two games from 2002 through 2009, but last season a cumbersome quadriceps injury rendered him ineffective or inactive for three midseason games, and then came a nasty ankle injury in the second quarter of the Super Bowl. He still had the memorable 61-yard, catch-and-run for a touchdown against San Francisco, and a combined 11 catches for 132 yards in the first two playoff games, but how much longer the 36-year-old fan favorite can meet his own high standards, only he can answer.

Its also uncertain whether Jones will be back. His contract has expired and if the previous free-agency rules return in the new collective bargaining agreement, Jones will be unrestricted, able to shop himself to the highest bidder. He set or matched career highs in all categories with 50 receptions for 679 yards and five TDs in the regular season, but his 2010 will be remembered just as much by Green Bay fans, fair or not, for a handful of frustrating drops, including critical ones in the postseason against the Eagles and Steelers.

The continued emergence of Nelson helps temper the questions surrounding Driver and Jones and reduces the need for an immediate contributor. Nelsons third season in 2010 was by far his best, with a combined 66 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games, and his nine catches for 140 yards and a TD in the Super Bowl may have been MVP-worthy if not for a couple of drops and the steady brilliance of Rodgers.

Even with Nelsons continued growth, though, a Mike McCarthy offense that regularly employs four- and five-receiver sets is always looking to build depth at that position and prepare itself for the future.

Others on the current roster will be given an opportunity to step forward. Swain has developed into a special-teams demon, skills he showcased with four coverage tackles in the Super Bowl. Chastin West is another promising prospect; he spent his rookie season on the practice squad. Neither Swain nor West is a proven receiving commodity, however, and another prospect, Antonio Robinson, didnt join the practice squad until well into the playoffs.

As for the tight ends, veteran Donald Lee was released following the season, leaving youngsters Quarless, Tom Crabtree and Spencer Havner behind Finley. (Havner, like Swain, is technically without a contract at the moment but the Packers will have exclusive rights to sign him if the new CBA retains previous rules.)

Given Quarless body type and athleticism, the Packers hope hell continue to progress in the Finley mode. He showed flashes as a rookie in 2010 (26 catches, 284 yards including postseason) but hasnt had his breakout game or moment, yet.

Meanwhile Crabtree and Havner are looked to more for their blocking and special-teams play than for their pass-catching, though its interesting that both have scored wild-card playoff touchdowns in their brief careers (Crabtree vs. Philly, Havner vs. Arizona) and that Havner, who was brought back in 2010 after being cut but then quickly got hurt and landed on injured reserve, found the end zone on four of seven catches back in the 09 regular season.

Having been one himself, McCarthy loves tight ends, keeping as many as four on the 53-man roster at times in his tenure and using them in multiple roles. The head coach also loves competition, so its a good bet the Packers will add to this group, either during the draft or afterward.

GBPressGazette wrote:

millertime
13 years ago
I love the idea of getting another playmaking receiver. But I really think it's in the best interest of this team to solidify the offensive line. We have a potential All-time great at QB. We need to protect him.

Rodgers can make bad receivers look good. Between Jennings and Finley, I feel like we have enough playmakers on offense.
StoicFire
13 years ago
I am impressed that what was being called the best wide receiving corp in football last year is always looking to step up their depth. And it is thrilling to watch Green Bay's commitment to the "draft and develop" strategy every off season.

That being said, I would be shocked to see any major changes in our TE and receiving corps next year. I'm anticipating watching the current players compete for their roster spots, and probably also the practice squad guys and a couple undrafted free agents trying to make their mark as well. Go Pack Go!
"the Quarterback can run if he wants to, but with this rocket attached to your body... who would?" -Aaron Rodgers
warhawk
13 years ago
I see Rodgers go-to guy being Finley until defenses adjust and then Jennings getting his. The other WR's will benefit from those two on the field together.

Finley moving around out there lining up in different positions is going to give all the other receivers a better opportunity. Finley creates matchup nightmares Quarless couldn't being a more traditional TE.

When they run Finley down the middle it will require at least a LB to be under and a DB to be over. This means a CB on one side or the other will not get help deep on Jennings or Nelson down the sidelines. Then, you have Driver crossing underneath. No way teams can guard this.

We saw some times when the Packers O couldn't get things going and I think Finley being back will reduce the times the offense sputters. He's that big receiver on 3rd and 7 that Rodgers can get the ball too who can go up and get it. This was missing last year.
"The train is leaving the station."
zombieslayer
13 years ago

I love the idea of getting another playmaking receiver. But I really think it's in the best interest of this team to solidify the offensive line. We have a potential All-time great at QB. We need to protect him.

Rodgers can make bad receivers look good. Between Jennings and Finley, I feel like we have enough playmakers on offense.

"millertime" wrote:



I do think Ted drafts a WR for depth, but I agree that OL comes first. Aaron's health should be our #1 priority. Look at the Pats for example. They make Brady's health their #1 priority. If our OL was anywhere near theirs, we'd be rolling over everyone, especially with our elite D as is.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
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