Jordy Nelson file

[motife]

NFL.com Analysis :

Analysis
Positives: While he is not really "muscled up," he has the frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk without having it affect his overall quickness...Lacks blazing speed, but shows good balance, body control and change of direction agility to compensate...Showed marked improvement for boundaries and sticks as a senior, doing a nice job of keeping his feet in bounds along the sidelines...Competitive type who showed he is capable of handling the ball in pressure situations...Plays with good toughness and the desire to compete on every play...Impressed scouts and coaches by playing the 2006 season with a knee injury that would sideline most...Shows good flexibility extending for the ball in a crowd and has those large, soft hands that lets him catch most of the throws outside his frame...Would not call him sudden, but does have competitive quickness in his routes, showing a better thrust off the line as a senior than he did in the past...Has the functional strength to power through the chuck, having learned how to swim and use his hands to get a clean release (not held up much when he powers through defenders)...Still needs to work on his acceleration out of his cuts, but makes smooth and fluid body turns looking the ball in (needs to improve his hip sink, though)...Because of his deceptive speed and quickness, he has worked hard at dropping his weight and accelerating out of his cuts better than in the past (has improved his double cut ability)...Might not have that second gear to run away, but he can turn a defensive back and sell a route (more of a physical receiver who gets good separation when he pushes off and shoves the defensive back)...Will uncover in time for the quarterback to deliver the ball in the short area, as he is good at adjusting and finding the seams...Natural, soft hands catcher who makes very good over-the-shoulder adjustments and is capable of tracking and catching the ball in his hands (no longer cradles or body catches)...Big target who is productive on impact working over the middle...Shows the ability to screen the defender and has outstanding ball concentration, appearing very confident he can get to most throws in a crowd...Not a good fit for the deep passing game due to his burst issues, but he can catch outside his framework or go low to grab the shoestring throws...Does not have explosion after the catch, but when he squares his shoulders and stays low in his pads, he can break arm tackles...Times his leaps well and with his height and long arm reach, he excels at high pointing most throws...Does a good job of settling underneath and perhaps due to his playing experience at quarterback, he shows the feel for coming back when the pocket is pressured...While he lacks the strength to blow up defenders as a blocker, he will position to pester and stalk...Will not hesitate to sacrifice his body and lay out for the ball.

Negatives: Has a good-size frame, but needs to add more muscle tone, especially in the upper body...More quick than fast, but must show better explosion coming off the snap, as he lacks a burst...Is still a work in progress recognizing defensive coverage, but made good strides finding the holes in the zone as a senior...Not really a vertical route runner, as he does not always gobble up the cushion and while he will gather to cut, he needs to show better hip sink...Mostly a position/pester type of blocker who will get in the way, but lacks the strength and hand placement to sustain...Better served playing in the slot than on the outside, as he has the frame to shield the ball from defenders and make the tough catch in a crowd, but does not have the timed speed to stretch the field.

Compares To: KEVIN WALTER-Houston...It took a few years for Walter to find the right system to play in, but if a team is looking for a slot receiver who can be physical over the middle, Nelson has more upside than most. Like Walter and Cleveland's Joe Jurevicius, Nelson is not going to win an Olympic sprint, but he is become a savvy route runner and shows good courage going for the ball in a crowd. While his numbers are the result of being the offense's only quality talent, you still have to be impressed with the progress he has made each year. You just get the feeling that he is on the verge of being a special player.

Injury Report
2006: Saw limited action in the Oklahoma State (10/07), Nebraska (10/14) and Missouri (10/21) games with a left knee posterior cruciate ligament strain suffered in the Baylor game (9/30). Wore a knee sleeve on his left leg the rest of the year.

[motife]

NFL.com Overview :

Overview
From a former walk-on struggling to get on the field at strong safety to one of the premier receivers in the collegiate ranks, Nelson has come a long way since his days at Riley County High School. His banner senior campaign saw him shatter school and Big 12 Conference reception records, as he was weekly highlight film who caught at least 10 passes in six contests during 2007.

For his stellar performances, Nelson became just the ninth player in school history to be named a consensus All-American in his final year, becoming the first KSU player to accomplish that feat since Terence Newman in 2002. He will leave Kansas State holding 11 different receiving records.

Nelson lettered three times as a quarterback and defensive back at Riley County High School. He was named first-team Class 3A All-State at quarterback by the Topeka Capital-Journal and was a second-team All-State selection for all divisions at quarterback and defensive back. He was chosen Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury and was a two-time All-Mid-East League first-team pick. He also played in the 2003 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

As a senior, Nelson connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for 1,572 yards (9.8 avg) and scored 25 times on the ground that year. In his junior campaign, he passed for 1,045 yards and rushed for 730 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Nelson also lettered and started in basketball and track. He averaged 17.2 points on 58 percent shooting as a senior and set school career records for blocks (161), steals (225) and assists (325). He was named first-team All-State and the Manhattan Mercury's Flint Hills Player of the Year. He won the Class 3A track titles in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump at the 2003 state meet, and set division records in the 100 meters (10.63) and 200 meters (21.64).

Despite his impressive prep career, Nelson walked on at Kansas State in 2003. He competed on the scout team at strong safety over the next two years, but never got on the playing field. With the KSU receiving unit depleted by graduation, Nelson asked to move to that unit in 2005.

He was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference choice that year, leading the team with 45 receptions for 669 yards (14.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns, adding another score by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a score vs. Texas A&M. During the season, he became the first player in school history to catch at least one touchdown in each of his first seven games.

A nagging left knee posterior cruciate ligament forced Nelson to miss quite a bit of early season practice time in 2006. He started nine of 13 games, managing to lead the squad with 39 catches for 547 yards (14.0 avg.), but just one touchdown. He also got to see some time at quarterback, completing one of two passes for 28 yards.

The consensus All-American shattered school and Big 12 Conference season records in 2007, hauling in 122 passes for 1,606 yards (13.2 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He scored twice on five punt returns for 264 yards (52.8 avg.) and registered a school record 140 points. He hit on 2-of-4 passes for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns, finishing with 1,863 all-purpose yards, an average of 155.25 per game.

In 36 games at Kansas State, Nelson started 32 contests. He ranks second in school history with 206 receptions for 2,822 yards (13.7 avg.) and is third in KSU annals with 20 touchdown grabs. He returned six punts for 267 yards (44.5 avg.) and three scores, as he also completed 3-of-6 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns, adding seven tackles (6 solos) on special teams. He finished with 3,080 all-purpose yards, an average off 85.56 per game.

Career Notes
Nelson ranks second in school history with 206 receptions, topped only by Kevin Lockett (217, 1993-96)...His 206 catches are good for ninth on the Big 12 Conference career record chart...His 2,822 yards receiving are surpassed only by Lockett's 3,032 on KSU's career record list and rank eighth in conference annals...Ranks third in Wildcats history with 20 touchdown catches, topped by Lockett (26) and Quincy Morgan (23, 1999-2000)...Nelson's 122 receptions in 2007 shattered the old school season record of 75 by Darnell McDonald in 1998 and the previous Big 12 mark of 107 grabs by Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State in 2002...Gained 1,606 yards receiving in 2007, breaking the old school annual record of 1,232 yards by James Terry in 2003...His 1,606 yards rank second in Big 12 history behind Woods' 1,695 yards in 2002... His 11 touchdown catches in 2007 rank fourth on the KSU season record list, topped by Morgan (14 in 2000), Terry (13 in 2003) and Lockett (13 in 1995)...His 140 points scored in 2007 broke the previous school season record of 135 by Martin Gramatica in 1998...His 15 receptions vs. Missouri State, 14 catches vs. Iowa State and 15 grabs vs. Fresno State, all in 2007, topped the school's previous game record of 13 catches by Michael Smith vs. Missouri in 1989...Gained 209 yards receiving vs. Missouri State and 214 yards vs. Iowa State in 2007, breaking the previous KSU game record of 206 yards by McDonald vs. Syracuse in 1997...His three touchdown receptions in the 2007 Oklahoma State clash tied the school game record that he shares with Terry (vs. Baylor, 11/1/2003), Morgan (vs. Ball State, 9/16/2000), McDonald (vs. Syracuse, 12/31/97), Jimmy Dean (vs. Rice, 9/21/96), Smith (vs. Iowa State, 11/9/91) and John Williams (vs. Austin Peay, 9/5/87)...His 92-yard punt return vs. Baylor in 2007 was the fourth-longest punt return in school history, topped by Lamar Chapman (94 vs. Ohio University, 1997), Joe Searles (93 vs. Kentucky, 1961) and David Allen (93 vs. Texas, 1998).

High School
Attended Riley (Kan.) County High School, playing football for head coach Steve Wagner...

Lettered three times as a quarterback and defensive back...Named first-team Class 3A All-State at quarterback by the Topeka Capital-Journal and was a second-team All-State pick for all divisions at quarterback and defensive back...Chosen Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury and was a two-time All-Mid-East League first-team choice...Also played in the 2003 Kansas Shrine Bowl...As a senior, Nelson connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 1,572 yards (9.8 avg) and scored 25 times on the ground that year...In his junior campaign, he passed for 1,045 yards and rushed for 730 yards and 16 touchdowns...Also lettered and started in basketball and track...Averaged 17.2 points on 58 percent shooting as a senior and set school career records for blocks (161), steals (225) and assists (325)...Named first-team All-State and the Manhattan Mercury's Flint Hills Player of the Year...Won the Class 3A track titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump at the 2003 state meet, and set division records in the 100 meters (10.63) and 200 meters (21.64).

[motife]

"unnamed" source :

JORDY NELSON
Kansas State 6-2½ 218 4.54 2-3

Second in Division I-A with 122 catches in '07. "He catches everything," said Rick Reiprish, New Orleans' college scouting director. "He's a competitor. Tough kid." Farm boy from Riley, Kan., who walked on as a safety before converting to offense in '05. "He doesn't have great top-end speed but he reminds me of a Joe Jurevicius kind of guy," Gruden said. "Tough. Smart (28 on the Wonderlic)." Finished with 206 catches for 2,822 yards (13.7) and 20 TDs in 36 games (32 starts). Ran past Kansas CB Aqib Talib in Week 6 for long completion. "He's got the fewest flaws of anybody," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "He may not be the most elite talent but he's got the least amount of warts."

[Kiwon]

He'll be alright. Just so he doesn't become another Robert Ferguson.

[motife]

PFW :

Positives : Excellent size, thickly built. Natural hands catcher. Great competitve speed. Creates positive yardarge after the catch. Good run balance, strength and instincts. Shows great toughness by working across the field. Very productive in converting third downs. Shows good cut back ability and short area burst. Elusive in the open field and can turn a short catch into a long run tracks the ball well over his shoulder. Shows a lot of upside as a punt returner and produced when he got the chance, scored on two of five opportunities as a senior. Outstanding production. Has enough speed to make defenders respect him down the field. Very solid character. Very durable and plays through pain.

[motife]

PFW :

Negatives : Not a blazer and lacks explosive speed. Does not run a full route tree and has not shown he can get in and out of routes and set up defenders the way he will need ot do in the pros. Not a great blocker.

Summary : Consistently produced big plays in the clutch and emerged as a legitamate receiving threat as a senior. Has the size, dependable hands and fearlessness to be very good on third downs and showed the potential to contribute as a returner. Stong Senior Bowl and Combine performances should only add to his value.

[motife]

video :

http://video.google.com/videosearch?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=Jordy%20Nelson&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv

[Bretsky]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24292722/

[RashanGary]

He's tough and relentless. He's got that Welker, Ward, Driver quality about him. He's not going to drop anything. Teams are going to have to cover him, I know that much.

His combination of size, speed, change of direction, toughness and ball skills are pretty impressive. He looks like a taller, faster James Jones. Jones had more highlights where he was going up over DB's, but Nelson has that "you can't cover me because I'll get an inch of separation and catch it in tight quarters anyway" quality about him.

[Lurker64]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24292722/

Great article. The more I read about Nelson, the more I love the guy. I was "WTF?" initially, but he's growing on me like kudzu in the South.

[the_idle_threat]

Jordy Nelson ... didn't she win American Idol last year? :huh:

[CaliforniaCheez]

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http://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpghttp://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpghttp://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpg

http://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpghttp://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpghttp://media.graytvinc.com/images/09-15+Jordy.jpg

This pick is interesting for a phrenologist.

[Tarlam!]

If he adds 20 lbs, he's be as big as the TE's we currently have on our roster. :whist:

[3irty1]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mIUu-nLx0lw
Highlight video

Seems like a bad qb's dream.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ek0ANQ8bRfo&feature=related
"Jordy Nelson destroys Aqib Talib"

This guy might be faster than they give him credit for.

[The Leaper]

He's tough and relentless. He's got that Welker, Ward, Driver quality about him. He's not going to drop anything. Teams are going to have to cover him, I know that much.

I think the comparison to Hines Ward is VERY applicable. Both are former high school QBs who converted to WR from another position in college. McCarthy is going to have some real interesting opportunities as a playcaller with this kid.

However, comparing Nelson to guys like Welker, Driver and Ward is ignoring the fact that he is 2-3 inches taller and probably will end up 20+ pounds heavier than these guys.

[The Leaper]

If he adds 20 lbs, he's be as big as the TE's we currently have on our roster. :whist:

I'd rather have him as a WR...I think his potential is enormous considering where he's gone in the 3 years since he started playing the WR position. If he adds 20 pounds, he's still a relatively puny TE by NFL standards.

[Fred's Slacks]

Just like every other draft, I see the name on the TV and I scratch my head. Then I start looking at write ups and watching highlights and I get excited. He looks like a natural athlete. Definitely a natural pass catcher. Sounds like he's a high character guy that can be coached up. When a guy can run away from Talib like that, you don't have to worry about speed. Plus he ran a 10.6 100M in highschool.

Part I don't get is, he was all state both ways and all state in basketball and a state champ in 4 events in track and he had to walk on? How many recruiters dropped the ball there?

[The Leaper]

Part I don't get is, he was all state both ways and all state in basketball and a state champ in 4 events in track and he had to walk on? How many recruiters dropped the ball there?

Look at Favre. One of the greatest QBs to ever play the game...and was basically a walk-on at Southern Miss who came this close to never even being discovered.

[RashanGary]

However, comparing Nelson to guys like Welker, Driver and Ward is ignoring the fact that he is 2-3 inches taller and probably will end up 20+ pounds heavier than these guys.


Physically, thats the thing that stands out. For as tall as he is, he's not supposed to be that good after the catch. Physically he's really good at everythign.

He's big, fast, strong, has good burst, can go up and get it.

He runs by people. He uses his body well. He catches everything.

The most impressive thing is how he gets open on double and triple coverage, how he catches everything (even balls he shouldn't catch) and how tough he is. He's the type of football player that you love watching. That's where I compare him to DD, Ward and Welker. He's a tough guy. He might be more talented than any of them.

[BallHawk]

I love this pick more and more by the minute, as does my love for Ted.