Finley actually only had 6 catches as a rookie... when you look at Finley's stats over his career it does make you wonder what all the hullabaloo is all about with Jermichael. I think Mike McCarthy answered that in the quotes from the Lyerla piece. He basically just said that defenses play the Packers differently when he's on the field, so I guess he alters defenses making it easier for everyone else even when he's not doing anything. A valuable decoy who could drop a key pass now and again. Mike McCarthy also went on to say he had a huge catch radius something Lyerla doesn't have relative to Finley.
Will Rodgers (no pun) alter defenses like Finley. I doubt it. No speed. For me, I'll be more excited if he can catch the ball with regularity something Finley could not do. One thing to do it in an OTA and another to do it when some rabid LB is on you in regular season.
It is interesting to note the 2nd and 3rd round pass catching selections both had scouting reports that included rock solid hands. There has to be more to that than just the obvious. I wonder if they tired of watching Finley and Jones (in his earlier years) drop key easy passes?
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
Talk of "no speed" regarding Richard Rodgers is laughable in comparing him to Jermichael Finley.
Finley's measured 40 time at the Combine: 4.82
Rodgers' measured 40 time at the Combine: 4.87
Richard Rodgers has far better hands, was touted as an exceptional cut blocker pre-draft, has nearly identical size to Finley, and is a proven route runner.
Have people forgotten Finley's desire to freelance on routes? How many times were he and Aaron Rodgers not on the same page? All the BS with special Saturday night meetings prior to game day...
I agree with you that the staff probably grew very tired of the high drop rates. DD was also on par with Finley for drops.
After seeing Richard Rodgers working on field even in OTAs setting, it is clear that he has the potential to be very, very good. He could easily blow away Finley as a threat to opposing defenses from my own perspective. He won't be a veiled threat either, as he will deliver by being in the right position in a route and finishing plays. Just wait till you see him turn the ball upfield after the catch. Trust me, you'll love it.