Zero2Cool
15 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/99210304.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=packers 

Green Bay The division of footballs among the four crack wide receivers means a lot more to the players than the coaches at one of the Green Bay Packers' most outstanding positions.

"Obviously, Greg and Donald are the starters, but we're going to be good whoever's in there," said Jimmy Robinson, who is coaching the wide receivers for a fifth season. "I am so comfortable with the group. I don't care who's in the game."

Since being drafted in the second round in 2006, Greg Jennings has played 3,069 snaps alongside Donald Driver, who has played 3,420. Together, they join Boyd Dowler-Max McGee, Carroll Dale-Dowler, James Lofton-John Jefferson, Sterling Sharpe-Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman-Brooks and Javon Walker-Driver on the club's list of all-time receiving tandems.

After Jordy Nelson came along in the second round in 2008, he and James Jones essentially have split time as the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers. In the last two seasons, Jones has played 780 snaps compared with 718 for Nelson.

For two years, Aaron Rodgers has been throwing to a corps with fairly defined roles: Jennings at split end and Driver at flanker in base, Driver in the slot in three wide, Jennings often in the slot in four wide, and both Jones and Nelson usually playing outside.

As training camp opens, positions and playing time appear less locked in.

"Jordy and James are at that stage where the next step on the ladder is within their reach," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "Obviously, we have to see what happens with Driver's knee when he comes back. Wide receivers are like D-linemen. Those guys roll into the game. Those guys are going to play."

Driver underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees during the off-season. In his absence, Jones and Nelson had the chance to play all over the formation and Robinson liked what he saw.

"Jordy and James had great off-seasons," said Robinson. "With Donald being out we've had an opportunity to mix and match and move guys around. I think it's been a great off-season."

Philbin is assuming Driver's knees will be fine; in a late June conversation, Driver assured him that they will be.

If Driver does return to his usual form, Jennings can elevate his game to the elite level and both Jones and Nelson really are improved, the Packers won't have to take a backseat to any other team. As it stands now, Green Bay's wide-outs are in a mix with 10 other teams, including Dallas, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Arizona from the NFC.

"That system, and I give (Mike) McCarthy credit for this, that system creates receivers," an NFC personnel director said. "They run the packages, do the horizontals, confuse people and it's tough to match up. I don't think they fall off a cliff if any receiver goes down. They're all kind of interchangeable parts."

No matter who's on the field, the corps has little reason to feel smug. Dropping 28 of 343 targeted passes in 17 games a year ago, the wide receivers posted their worst drop ratio (8.2%) of the decade.

Driver was the chief offender, dropping a career-high 11 passes for the highest total in Green Bay since Antonio Freeman dropped 12 in 1997. Driver also dropped seven in 2008 after having just two in '07.

The 35-year-old Driver hasn't missed a game since 2003 despite taking as many if not more stinging shots inside the numbers on the field than any receiver in the league. Still, he has never missed an entire off-season, either.

Driver often has said he plans to play until he's 40. His contract, which contains a $4 million base salary and roster bonuses totaling $2.8 million, expires after the season. Never one to need motivation, he will break Lofton's club yardage record with 507 more.

"I haven't seen him do anything since Jan. 10, but he's still got that desire," Philbin said. "Let's be honest. There's guys in the league that have similar talent that don't have near the production because they're not as tough mentally and don't have the passion for the game. That's what has made him the player that he is."

Driver's statistics outpace Jennings' over their four-year partnership, but Jennings has crept past Driver the past two seasons, counting playoffs: 156 receptions to 148, 16.3 average to 14.3, 14 touchdowns to 11, 266 targeted passes to 230 and 1,752 snaps to 1,729.

Jennings, who had 11 plays of 20 yards or more in the last six games compared with Driver's two, also cut back on his drops and was much better after the catch.

"You're impressed with his fundamentals and technique, getting in and out of breaks," said Philbin. "He does some things effortlessly. He's primed to have a good season."

Entering camp, there is little to separate Jones and Nelson, according to their coaches. Asked to identify his No. 3 man, Robinson replied, "Jones-Jordy."

Besides the rich investment in Nelson, the Packers have a third-round pick in Jones. They need one of them to grow into a legitimate starter, but so far they've been just good complementary types.

In their two seasons together, counting playoffs, Jones has more yards (764 to 697), touchdowns (seven to five) and average yards after the catch (4.87 to 3.01). Nelson has the edge in receptions (56 to 55) and fewer drops (four to 12). Jones has had 96 passes come his way compared to Nelson's 83.

Built like a brick outhouse, Jones isn't a physical runner or blocker. He tends to drift mentally, which has led to some sloppy routes and way too many drops (20 in three years).

"He has to avoid the fluctuations," said Philbin. "Some of it just came maybe from lack of concentration, sometimes the injury bug."

Nelson probably is a more dependable route runner, catcher and blocker than Jones but hasn't demonstrated the pizzazz after the catch that he has shown on returns. Neither player has more than adequate speed for a group that lacks a true burner.

The frontrunners for the No. 5 job seem to be Brett Swain, Chastin West and Patrick Williams. Swain is expected to practice sometime in August after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery Nov. 5.


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dhazer
a year ago
Interesting read and like I was saying at the end of last year the receiving group was reminding me of the 2010 club with so many weapons and you never knew who was going to be the man that day. I actually think this team might not have that star power at wr yet but we make up for it with better TE's and RB's I believe. We shall see if Love can follow suit and get the ring in his 3rd year before the gang is dismantled.
Just Imagine this for the next 6-9 years. What a ride it will be 🙂 (PS, Zero should charge for this)
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (2h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (2h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (4h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (8h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (8h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (9h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (14h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (14h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (14h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (14h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (16h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (16h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (16h) : umm... what?
wpr (16h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (16h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (16h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (16h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (16h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (23h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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