Zero2Cool
15 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/97825284.html 


Green Bay There were more than 80 players out there this spring and summer and literally dozens of new faces. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy had to study them all, some on first impressions, everyone in a blur. It's not easy to become distinguishable in a crowd like this.

Yet receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson managed to separate from the crowd.

"Outstanding off-seasons," said McCarthy during the last Packers minicamp. "If you go through the films, James Jones, just from a production standpoint, probably stands out as one of the top performers through the OTAs. He's gotten a lot of opportunities, particularly in the slot with Donald's absence, and I think he's done a very good job of that."

It's never a bad thing to get praise like that from the head man. Except it was June.

Jones would like to hear it again in November.

He did his best when he got more practice time in veteran receiver Donald Driver's slot spot while Driver rested his 35-year-old knees.

But Jones, heading into his fourth year, wants a lot more than attention.

He wants a 1,000-yard season and a time share in the end zone.

"I have set my goals. I definitely want to have a 1,000-yard season. That comes with opportunity, so we'll see," Jones said. "I always tell myself to shoot for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

"We'll see if the opportunities present themselves. I can't run without the ball."

The tone in Jones' voice wasn't whiny or sarcastic. It was the voice of a realist, and he spoke matter-of-factly.

Jones once again finds himself on a team stocked with talent with the intent to balance the offense between the pass and the run.

That means the hard, cold facts boil down to simple math.

Aaron Rodgers averaged almost 34 pass attempts per game last year, and he always aimed to spread them around his talented receivers, tight ends and even running backs.

So, of Rodgers' 350 completions, 230 went to the top four guys: receivers Driver (70) and Greg Jennings (68) and tight ends Jermichael Finley (55) and Donald Lee (37).

Jones was the fifth option with 32 catches last year, though he got five touchdowns and 440 total yards out of them for a 13.8-yard average.

"We've got so many weapons on this offense I can't really complain if I don't always get the ball," Jones said. "You know what I mean? I have to get the ball in this offense whenever the opportunity presents itself."

That's what Jones' receivers coach, Jimmy Robinson told him, and that's the line Jones is sticking with.

He's not in Rodgers' ear with his goals and won't remind him that he had 47 receptions as a rookie in 2007. Or that he, too, was frustrated in 2008 with injuries that kept him to just 20 catches that year.

Jones won't even consider having a talk with Rodgers, concerned that it might come off like a complaint.

"I may tell him I was open," Jones said, laughing. "But I will never say, 'Throw it to me.' "

It has been suggested that Jones might be a starter on another team. But Jones expects Driver to be the same productive receiver he's been for a decade. And the talent is undeniable in Jennings, a close friend of Jones.

With a locker right next to Nelson, Jones can both commiserate and admire his abilities as well.

Jones and Nelson have had some standout plays this off-season. One of them came on a pass in the red zone. The pass was targeted for Nelson, but Jones made an incredible athletic leap and stole the ball from No. 87 for the completion and touchdown.

"The summer has meant more repetitions, more reps at different positions," Jones said. "When it is me, Greg and Donald in the game, we play different positions and stay at that position. In this camp, with Donald being out, me, Greg and Jordy moved around. Like my coach always tells me, you've got to make the most of your chances. If you get one ball, you better make the play.

"So all I did was go out there and try to control what I can control and make as many plays as I could."

Jones fights hard to remain patient and play his role even as he prepares like a starter.

"Well, you think that but, like I said, I don't want to say that and then end up with 20 catches again for another season," Jones said. "Hopefully you can come to me after maybe Week 5, and I will give you a real good story."

So Jones took a little time off after the minicamp ended June 22, but he's right back to working out and punishing his body in California. It's all he can do for now - keep working hard and counting the days until training camp, when he hopes to turn all this work into production.


UserPostedImage
voiceofreason
15 years ago
I love James Jones. His name has such a strong ring to it, and I'll never forget that preseason touchdown against the Bengals. I'm convinced he will eventually replace Driver, and that he is better than Nelson.
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Mckennj3
15 years ago
The receiving core of this team is going to be a strength for a long time to come. We got james ready to jump in for driver anytime he decides to let his age show, and Nelson in the wings for one of the best 4th receivers in the game. No need to say anything about Finley because he's going to be a beast for years, I'd say if him or Quarless can pickup the blocking scheme well enough then Lee is more then expendable. I'd try moving him for anything you can get at this point. Because at this point there's no way we can carry 3 fb's again.
Thats one hell of a young group to develop together.
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
blueleopard
15 years ago
Good ol' San Jose State alum.
Danreb Victorio A Believer of Greg Jennings
Greg C.
15 years ago
I'd been hearing praise for Nelson during the off-season, and it's good to hear that Jones is looking good too. Halfway through his rookie season, I thought Jones was going to be a star, then he sort of hit a rookie wall, then he fought through injuries in 2008. Last year was better, but he's dropped too many balls and hasn't made as many big plays as I expected.

I still think he could be a very good player, though, and he would probably do a respectable job in Driver's place if needed.

As voiceofreason mentioned, that preseason TD against the Bengals in 2008 was amazing. The other play that stands out was the long TD against Champ Bailey in Denver in 2007, when he caught the ball around midfield and cut all the way across the field to reach the goal line.
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PackerTraxx
15 years ago
I like both Jones and Nelson. Both have the talent to be stars. They both just have to be more consistent so they can really be counted on.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
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Zero2Cool (11h) : That's good analysis, yes you are getting old. It'd a blessing!
dfosterf (14-Jul) : *analysis* gettin' old
dfosterf (14-Jul) : One of the best analyisis I"ve ever watched at this time of an offseason
dfosterf (14-Jul) : Andy Herman interviewed Warren Sharp on his Pack a day podcast
packerfanoutwest (10-Jul) : Us Padres fans love it....But it'll be a Dodgers/Yankees World Series
Zero2Cool (9-Jul) : Brewers sweep Dodgers. Awesome
Mucky Tundra (6-Jul) : And James Flanigan is the grandson of Packers Super Bowl winner Jim Flanigan Sr.
Mucky Tundra (6-Jul) : Jerome Bettis and Jim Flanigans sons as well!
Zero2Cool (6-Jul) : Thomas Davis Jr is OLB, not WR. Oops.
Zero2Cool (6-Jul) : Larry Fitzgeral and Thomas Davis sons too. WR's as well.
Mucky Tundra (5-Jul) : Kaydon Finley, son of Jermichael Finley, commits to Notre Dame
dfosterf (3-Jul) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (3-Jul) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (3-Jul) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
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