the_idle_threat
07-25-2006, 02:10 AM
Positions up for grabs
Driver the lone certainty in a unit that struggled last season
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers will need superior coaching and a whole host of factors breaking right in order for their wide receiver position to be transformed from weakness to strength next season.
Hailed by coach Mike McCarthy as one of the league's premier wide receiver coaches, 16-year National Football League veteran Jimmy Robinson figures to be an upgrade over James Franklin, an NFL neophyte who was hired a year ago to replace the respected Ray Sherman.
But unless a host of veteran and rookie receivers alike elevate their games to loftier levels, not even a teacher and drillmaster with Robinson's reputation can make this unimposing group look good.
"Do we have a bunch of household names? No, we don't," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "But do we have some talent? Yeah. We need to have 'Fergy' and (Rod) Gardner step up."
The only sure bet is Donald Driver, clearly the Packers' best player regardless of position in 2005. Although Robinson regards Driver as a true No. 1, there are so many fine wide receivers in the NFL these days that the intrepid 31-year-old was ranked only 27th at the position last month by Pro Football Weekly.
"Until something proves me otherwise that's what I feel about Donald," said Robinson, who previously tutored wideouts for Atlanta, Indianapolis, the New York Giants and New Orleans. "All I've seen of Donald over the years, he's always going 100 miles an hour. He's a whirling dervish."
If Ted Thompson's master plan had reached fruition, Javon Walker would be starring alongside Driver, and Terrence Murphy would be emerging as a dangerous No. 3. Instead, the Packers are grab-bagging to a degree after Murphy was forced to retire April 21 with a spinal injury and the unhappy Walker got his ticket out of town eight days later via a trade with Denver.
Robert Ferguson had every opportunity to succeed Walker and failed for an assortment of reasons, including another rash of injuries. So Antonio Chatman, Andrae Thurman and Gardner all had to make starts opposite Driver. The Packers were so dissatisfied that they didn't offer Thurman a contract, cut Chatman and re-signed Gardner for a modest $100,000 signing bonus.
Although Greg Jennings was drafted in the second round and Cory Rodgers in the fourth, rookie wide receivers rarely start in the NFL.
Ask Jagodzinski who other than Driver would he feel comfortable starting and the ready reply was Ferguson and Gardner.
"They both have started and they were first- and second-round picks," he said. "They had to make plays to be that high in the draft. (Brett) Favre is going to get the ball where it needs to be. He always has. When that 50-50 ball is up in the air they've got to go make the play. Period."
Ferguson, Gardner and former Chief Marc Boerigter, along with impressive free agent Ruvell Martin, all fit the towering profile that McCarthy prefers at the position.
But Ferguson, Gardner and Boerigter are coming off non-productive seasons and Martin was cut by San Diego each of the last two summers.
Undoubtedly this will be Ferguson's final chance in Green Bay. He's 18 months removed from the devastating hit by Jacksonville's Donovin Darius in December 2004 and shouldn't be hearing footsteps anymore.
"I think he has big-time talent," Robinson said. "It's his job and my job to make that talent come out on a consistent basis. He's a big body, and guys like that you like on short and intermediate stuff because that's where they're getting banged around. At the same time, Robert's got good speed."
Gardner, the 15th pick in the 2001 draft, averaged 56.8 receptions, 749 yards, 13.2 yards and 5.5 touchdowns during four seasons as a starter in Washington. But the Redskins weren't happy with his route-running or work against press coverage.
"We're kind of trying to resurrect his career," Robinson said. "He's got a ton of talent. He's not a speed burner per se but he's a big target that runs well enough to get up on top of people."
Boerigter ranked well down the line of available unrestricted wideouts but his height prompted the Packers to pay him bonuses totaling $128,000 in late March.
"A true professional," Robinson said. "I'd like to see Marc catch the ball a little bit better than he did this spring but he has a great feel for route-running and still can get open down the field well enough to be successful."
It was a down year for wide receivers but that didn't stop Thompson from selecting two within the first 104 choices. Rodgers is viewed more as a return specialist but it's conceivable Jennings could blow by the vets at some point this season.
"(Jennings) has played like a guy that's beyond what he is in years," Robinson said. "I expect him to contribute in a fairly meaningful way for us.
"I do think (Rodgers) is quicker than fast. He has a ways to go with route-running improvements and techniques that he probably didn't get a lot of work on in college based on the (shotgun) offense. He's kind of a guy I see as a gamer."
Two free agents, Martin and Chris Francies, could contend given all the uncertainty. Nobody was in pads and the top two cornerbacks were missing, but Martin's playmaking was hard to dismiss.
"You've got to believe some of what you see," Robinson said. "Ruvell Martin had a great spring. He's a big long-legged, long-armed guy that has a knack for making plays. Real smart guy. He worked himself up the hard way. I'd say he has adequate speed."
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At a Glance
The 12 wide receivers on the Green Bay roster entering training camp. Each player is listed with height, weight, age, how acquired and college. Acquisition categories: D7 means seventh-round draft choice, W means awarded on waivers, UFA means unrestricted free agent and FA means free agent. Wide receivers at a Glance
Player Ht. Wt. Age Acquired College
DONALD DRIVER 5-11½ 190 31 D7-'99 Alcorn State
Dropped six of 149 passes in ’05, or 4.03%. His drop percentage was 7.69% in 2002, 5.16% in ’03 and 6.16% in ’04. His 149 passes were ninth-highest total of any receiver in the NFL last season. Arizona’s Anquan Boldin led with 171.
ROBERT FERGUSON 6-1 219 26 D2-'01 Texas A&M
Caught four passes for 20 yards or more in ’05, down from eight in both ’04 and ’03. He also had four in ’02. Hasn’t had a 100-yard game since December 2002.
GREG JENNINGS 5-11 197 22 D2-'06 Western Michigan
All-conference athlete in football, basketball and track at Kalamazoo Central High School. Redshirted in ’01, backup in ’02 and became 11th Division I-A receiver with three 1,000-yard seasons (2003-’05). Father is a pastor, mother is a minister.
ROD GARDNER 6-2 215 28 W-'05 Auburn
Four-year starter for Washington from 2001-’04 with 227 receptions, 2,997 yards (13.2-yard average) and 22 TDs. Traded to Carolina on July 27, 2005, for sixth-round draft choice. After having little impact, Panthers cut him Dec. 20 and Packers claimed him.
MARC BOERIGTER 6-3 220 28 UFA-'06 Hastings (Neb.)
Made NFL debut with eight TDs for Chiefs in 2002 but hasn’t scored another since. Registered 111 receptions for 18.2 average and 19 TDs in two CFL seasons.
CORY RODGERS 6-0 186 23 D4-'06 Texas Christian
In February, scored 14 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. In July, pleaded guilty to unlawfully carrying a firearm and was placed on 15 months’ probation.
RUVELL MARTIN 6-4 217 23 FA-'06 Saginaw Valley State
Three-year collegiate starter with 152 receptions. All-NFL Europe selection in spring 2005 with 12 TD catches. Cut by San Diego Sept. 3, then spent seven weeks on Packers’ practice squad.
CHRIS FRANCIES 6-0 1/2 193 24 FA-'06 Texas-El Paso
UTEP’s most valuable player in ’05 with personal bests of 44 receptions, 744 yards and five TDs. Started 40 of 46 games, finishing with 128 catches and 15.8 average.
CHAD LUCAS 6-1 201 24 FA-'05 Alabama State
Released by Packers on cut to 65 last Aug. 29. Spent 15 weeks on practice squad and two weeks on 53-man roster. Had 27 receptions, 16.3 average and eight TDs in NFL Europe.
LEO BOOKMAN 6-2 212 24 FA-'06 Kansas
World-class sprinter at 200 meters. Lettered for Jayhawks at safety in 2001 and ’02, then was out of football until signed by Green Bay on April 14.
VINCE BUTLER 5-11 1/2 195 25 FA-'06 NW Oklahoma State
Released by Packers on cut to 65 last Aug. 29, then logged eight weeks on their practice squad. Two-year starter at Division I-AA Nicholls State before transferring to lower level.
CALVIN RUSSELL 6-0 190 23 FA-'06 Tuskegee
Three-year letterman in a Division II program. In ’05, he caught 42 passes for 668 yards and 15.9 average.
Driver the lone certainty in a unit that struggled last season
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers will need superior coaching and a whole host of factors breaking right in order for their wide receiver position to be transformed from weakness to strength next season.
Hailed by coach Mike McCarthy as one of the league's premier wide receiver coaches, 16-year National Football League veteran Jimmy Robinson figures to be an upgrade over James Franklin, an NFL neophyte who was hired a year ago to replace the respected Ray Sherman.
But unless a host of veteran and rookie receivers alike elevate their games to loftier levels, not even a teacher and drillmaster with Robinson's reputation can make this unimposing group look good.
"Do we have a bunch of household names? No, we don't," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "But do we have some talent? Yeah. We need to have 'Fergy' and (Rod) Gardner step up."
The only sure bet is Donald Driver, clearly the Packers' best player regardless of position in 2005. Although Robinson regards Driver as a true No. 1, there are so many fine wide receivers in the NFL these days that the intrepid 31-year-old was ranked only 27th at the position last month by Pro Football Weekly.
"Until something proves me otherwise that's what I feel about Donald," said Robinson, who previously tutored wideouts for Atlanta, Indianapolis, the New York Giants and New Orleans. "All I've seen of Donald over the years, he's always going 100 miles an hour. He's a whirling dervish."
If Ted Thompson's master plan had reached fruition, Javon Walker would be starring alongside Driver, and Terrence Murphy would be emerging as a dangerous No. 3. Instead, the Packers are grab-bagging to a degree after Murphy was forced to retire April 21 with a spinal injury and the unhappy Walker got his ticket out of town eight days later via a trade with Denver.
Robert Ferguson had every opportunity to succeed Walker and failed for an assortment of reasons, including another rash of injuries. So Antonio Chatman, Andrae Thurman and Gardner all had to make starts opposite Driver. The Packers were so dissatisfied that they didn't offer Thurman a contract, cut Chatman and re-signed Gardner for a modest $100,000 signing bonus.
Although Greg Jennings was drafted in the second round and Cory Rodgers in the fourth, rookie wide receivers rarely start in the NFL.
Ask Jagodzinski who other than Driver would he feel comfortable starting and the ready reply was Ferguson and Gardner.
"They both have started and they were first- and second-round picks," he said. "They had to make plays to be that high in the draft. (Brett) Favre is going to get the ball where it needs to be. He always has. When that 50-50 ball is up in the air they've got to go make the play. Period."
Ferguson, Gardner and former Chief Marc Boerigter, along with impressive free agent Ruvell Martin, all fit the towering profile that McCarthy prefers at the position.
But Ferguson, Gardner and Boerigter are coming off non-productive seasons and Martin was cut by San Diego each of the last two summers.
Undoubtedly this will be Ferguson's final chance in Green Bay. He's 18 months removed from the devastating hit by Jacksonville's Donovin Darius in December 2004 and shouldn't be hearing footsteps anymore.
"I think he has big-time talent," Robinson said. "It's his job and my job to make that talent come out on a consistent basis. He's a big body, and guys like that you like on short and intermediate stuff because that's where they're getting banged around. At the same time, Robert's got good speed."
Gardner, the 15th pick in the 2001 draft, averaged 56.8 receptions, 749 yards, 13.2 yards and 5.5 touchdowns during four seasons as a starter in Washington. But the Redskins weren't happy with his route-running or work against press coverage.
"We're kind of trying to resurrect his career," Robinson said. "He's got a ton of talent. He's not a speed burner per se but he's a big target that runs well enough to get up on top of people."
Boerigter ranked well down the line of available unrestricted wideouts but his height prompted the Packers to pay him bonuses totaling $128,000 in late March.
"A true professional," Robinson said. "I'd like to see Marc catch the ball a little bit better than he did this spring but he has a great feel for route-running and still can get open down the field well enough to be successful."
It was a down year for wide receivers but that didn't stop Thompson from selecting two within the first 104 choices. Rodgers is viewed more as a return specialist but it's conceivable Jennings could blow by the vets at some point this season.
"(Jennings) has played like a guy that's beyond what he is in years," Robinson said. "I expect him to contribute in a fairly meaningful way for us.
"I do think (Rodgers) is quicker than fast. He has a ways to go with route-running improvements and techniques that he probably didn't get a lot of work on in college based on the (shotgun) offense. He's kind of a guy I see as a gamer."
Two free agents, Martin and Chris Francies, could contend given all the uncertainty. Nobody was in pads and the top two cornerbacks were missing, but Martin's playmaking was hard to dismiss.
"You've got to believe some of what you see," Robinson said. "Ruvell Martin had a great spring. He's a big long-legged, long-armed guy that has a knack for making plays. Real smart guy. He worked himself up the hard way. I'd say he has adequate speed."
-----------------------------
At a Glance
The 12 wide receivers on the Green Bay roster entering training camp. Each player is listed with height, weight, age, how acquired and college. Acquisition categories: D7 means seventh-round draft choice, W means awarded on waivers, UFA means unrestricted free agent and FA means free agent. Wide receivers at a Glance
Player Ht. Wt. Age Acquired College
DONALD DRIVER 5-11½ 190 31 D7-'99 Alcorn State
Dropped six of 149 passes in ’05, or 4.03%. His drop percentage was 7.69% in 2002, 5.16% in ’03 and 6.16% in ’04. His 149 passes were ninth-highest total of any receiver in the NFL last season. Arizona’s Anquan Boldin led with 171.
ROBERT FERGUSON 6-1 219 26 D2-'01 Texas A&M
Caught four passes for 20 yards or more in ’05, down from eight in both ’04 and ’03. He also had four in ’02. Hasn’t had a 100-yard game since December 2002.
GREG JENNINGS 5-11 197 22 D2-'06 Western Michigan
All-conference athlete in football, basketball and track at Kalamazoo Central High School. Redshirted in ’01, backup in ’02 and became 11th Division I-A receiver with three 1,000-yard seasons (2003-’05). Father is a pastor, mother is a minister.
ROD GARDNER 6-2 215 28 W-'05 Auburn
Four-year starter for Washington from 2001-’04 with 227 receptions, 2,997 yards (13.2-yard average) and 22 TDs. Traded to Carolina on July 27, 2005, for sixth-round draft choice. After having little impact, Panthers cut him Dec. 20 and Packers claimed him.
MARC BOERIGTER 6-3 220 28 UFA-'06 Hastings (Neb.)
Made NFL debut with eight TDs for Chiefs in 2002 but hasn’t scored another since. Registered 111 receptions for 18.2 average and 19 TDs in two CFL seasons.
CORY RODGERS 6-0 186 23 D4-'06 Texas Christian
In February, scored 14 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. In July, pleaded guilty to unlawfully carrying a firearm and was placed on 15 months’ probation.
RUVELL MARTIN 6-4 217 23 FA-'06 Saginaw Valley State
Three-year collegiate starter with 152 receptions. All-NFL Europe selection in spring 2005 with 12 TD catches. Cut by San Diego Sept. 3, then spent seven weeks on Packers’ practice squad.
CHRIS FRANCIES 6-0 1/2 193 24 FA-'06 Texas-El Paso
UTEP’s most valuable player in ’05 with personal bests of 44 receptions, 744 yards and five TDs. Started 40 of 46 games, finishing with 128 catches and 15.8 average.
CHAD LUCAS 6-1 201 24 FA-'05 Alabama State
Released by Packers on cut to 65 last Aug. 29. Spent 15 weeks on practice squad and two weeks on 53-man roster. Had 27 receptions, 16.3 average and eight TDs in NFL Europe.
LEO BOOKMAN 6-2 212 24 FA-'06 Kansas
World-class sprinter at 200 meters. Lettered for Jayhawks at safety in 2001 and ’02, then was out of football until signed by Green Bay on April 14.
VINCE BUTLER 5-11 1/2 195 25 FA-'06 NW Oklahoma State
Released by Packers on cut to 65 last Aug. 29, then logged eight weeks on their practice squad. Two-year starter at Division I-AA Nicholls State before transferring to lower level.
CALVIN RUSSELL 6-0 190 23 FA-'06 Tuskegee
Three-year letterman in a Division II program. In ’05, he caught 42 passes for 668 yards and 15.9 average.