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14 years ago

Packers by position: Receivers 


Once again this April, the Press-Gazette will provide a pre-draft breakdown of the Packers roster at each position by beat writer Rob Demovsky. This will lead up to the start of Pete Doughertys annual position-by-position draft series on April 21.

Today: Receiver

What they have

Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones*, Brett Swain, Chastin West

* Could be an unrestricted free agent depending on a new CBA

Position analysis

Jennings was nearly forgotten early last season, when the offense was centered around tight end Jermichael Finely, but was rediscovered after Finley was lost for the season because of a Week 5 knee injury. In the last 11 games of the regular season, Jennings was nearly unstoppable but for a few drops. He had 62 of his team-high 72 catches and 1,082 of his 1,265 yards and nine of his 12 touchdowns (which matched a career high) during that 11-game stretch. His average of 98.4 yards per game led the league in that span. Though he had just four drops, one cost the Packers a touchdown (and possibly the game) at Detroit. Still, Jennings made his first career Pro Bowl and even when Finley returns this season, Jennings should remain a big part of the offense. The seemingly ageless Driver, 36, couldnt finish the Super Bowl because of an ankle injury and was bothered by a quad injury during the regular season. Still, he continues to be a productive No. 2. Jordy Nelson had a monster Super Bowl, catching nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown but dropped three passes in that game alone. Was that his breakout or just a one-game wonder? The inconsistent Jones has been maddening for the coaches, who love his ability to make tough plays but are frustrated by his inability to make routine ones. Swains roster spot is more because of special teams. West spent the entire season on the practice squad.

The future

As good as Jennings is, this is still a position of need both because of Drivers age and the fact that Jones probably will sign elsewhere if hes an unrestricted free agent. GM Ted Thompson has taken receivers early in the draft before. Terrence Murphy (2005), Jennings (2006) and Nelson (2008) were all second-round picks and Jones (2007) was a third. He hasnt picked a receiver at all in the last two drafts, and almost certainly will do so this time around. There are probably only a couple of first-round receivers Georgias A.J. Green and Alabamas Julio Jones and theyll be gone long before the Packers pick at 32. Theres a decent sized group of receivers pegged for rounds 2-3.


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millertime
14 years ago
I'm really not sure we need another receiver during this draft. The way I see it, Rodgers has averaged between 30-35 passes per game for the last two seasons. McCarthy and Rodgers like to get everyone involved in the passing game. The way I see it the targets should be spread like this,

8 passes to Jennings
8 passes to Finley
5 passes to Nelson
5 passes to Driver
Rest of passes go to RBs, other TEs, etc.

I really don't see where another WR would get an opportunity to get enough reps to be worth a high pick when we have needs on the o-line and on defense.

Ted and Mike need to decide whether they want to pay Nelson or Jones. They probably can't keep both. Once that player is decided, our top three is locked down with that player, Finley and Jennings.

So many weapons!
nerdmann
14 years ago
They were forcing the ball to Finley too much early last year. Chastin West is no slouch, btw. But I do think DD will be on the decline. Don't necessarily get rid of him, but let one of the youngers guys be the #2. It will preserve DD's career.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
wpr
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14 years ago
Packers draft needs by position: Wide Receivers By Tom Silverstein  


This is the fourth in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Need level: Moderate


On the roster
: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain, Antonio Robinson and Chastin West.

Free agent:
James Jones.

Outlook: The future is cloudy at the position due to Drivers advanced age and Jones possible departure. Barring a sudden end to the lockout, GM Ted Thompson wont know for sure if hell have Jones this season. Whats more, Nelson will be a free agent after this year and Jennings will be the year after that. So its time to start addressing this position. After his terrific Super Bowl performance and strong showing in the post-season (tied with Jennings for team lead with 21 receptions and second in yards per catch at 13.6) the No. 2 position in his sights. He needs to cut down on his drops, but hes a capable blocker and needs to be on the field on running and passing downs. The indefatigable Driver hasnt had a 100-yard game in forever and will have to give way to the others more next season. If the Packers had their druthers, theyd take Jones back. They probably value him more than other teams around the league and dont seem put off by his adrenaline-draining drops. So, its very possible hell be back. But it takes just one team to create an inflated market and the Packers would drop out at a certain level. Swain may have to fight off Robinson and West, two competitive practice-squad players, in camp.

Eye-opening stat: The Packers have only taken two wide receivers in the first round over the past 31 years (Sterling Sharpe, 88 and Javon Walker, 02).

Whats available: The Packers have no shot at the top two candidates, Alabamas Julio Jones and Georgias A.J. Green. As a result, its unlikely theyll take anyone early. However, one intriguing prospect is Kentuckys Randall Cobb, a do-everything prospect along the lines of Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle-El. Cobb is raw, but he could fill a return role until his receiving comes around. Its likely the Packers would have to take him with their first pick because he wont be around in the second. There are a number of other receivers with return ability such as Marylands Torrey Smith and East Carolinas Dwayne Harris, both of whom will go somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. There arent a lot of classic West Coast, run-after-catch receivers in this draft, and depth overall isnt very good. So, if Thompson doesnt go for someone in the first three or four rounds, he might be forced to go with a rawer talent like Boise States Austin Pettis, who doesnt test well, but is fast enough.

Bottom line: Thompson did a good job finding Jones in the third round and Nelson in the second, but he hasnt found much in the later rounds and probably will have to use one of his top three picks to snare someone this year. Its unlikely hed move up for anyone other than maybe Cobb and with the last pick in the first round he wouldnt have to. Its more likely hell take a shot later, but the competition for good receivers will be strong because the class is not very good.


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Fan Shout
beast (1m) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (9h) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (9h) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (18h) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (19h) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (19h) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (19h) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (19h) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (20h) : Check
Zero2Cool (22h) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : No thanks. Not a dependable guy to be in the right place and run the right route. Dumb as a box of rocks.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : No.Absolutely not
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : NO NO NO NO NO NO!!1 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
dhazer (25-Apr) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Hopefully she had some comfort that her son will be live his dream when she passed away. Sad news.
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Damn that sucks
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : News about Derrick Harmon mom, saddening.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Mark Murphy: "I predict we will trade up once and down twice."
beast (25-Apr) : Rip the Packers and getting the fans yelling and booing him
beast (25-Apr) : Super competitive Bears fan and WWE "superstar" wrestler, Seth Rollins is supposed to announce a Bears pick and absolutely rip Packers
packerfanoutwest (25-Apr) : Golden
beast (25-Apr) : I want DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : And I can't be looking at my phone
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Hey I'm at work lol
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : btw, new site chat won't delete auto like
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : because everyone left like wimps
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : I am wondering if there is some type of autoclear when there isn't activity after a certain amount of time.
Mucky Tundra (24-Apr) : What happened in the chat? Me and Zero posted a few things earlier and they're all gone
dfosterf (24-Apr) : 10-15 min bs plus flyover
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