woodbuck27
08-14-2006, 03:14 PM
Adjusting to speed challenges Jennings
Monday, August 14, 2006
By Scott Jungman
Special to the Gazette
SAN DIEGO -- Greg Jennings' play-making ability has gained him early star power in his first NFL training camp. There have even been whispers he could be the first rookie receiver to start opening day for the Green Bay Packers since Sterling Sharpe in 1988.
But all that chatter developed off his efforts in practice. The Kalamazoo Central High School and Western Michigan University finally got the chance to show what he could do in a game Saturday night and he didn't disappoint -- catching four passes for a team-high 68 yards in the Packers'
17-3 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
Jennings was in on the Packers' longest play of the game -- a 47-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in the second half.
Afterward, the second-round draft pick confided to Packers running back and Mattawan native Noah Herron that he was floored by the speed of the game.
" I was telling Noah, it was like I didn't feel anything. I didn't know what to feel,'' Jennings said.
"When I got out there that first play, it was just like, man, the speed of the play. I couldn't believe it. You definitely can't practice the speed of the game and can only experience it by being out there.''
Jennings entered the game on the third play from scrimmage and his first lesson came on a quick hook pattern. Jennings battled two defenders for position and turned just in time to have a Brett Favre laser ricochet off his face mask.
" I told Brett that one was my fault,'' Jennings said.
" I didn't get my head around quick enough.''
But two plays later, Jennings hauled in a Favre pass and tip-toed the sidelines for a nice 8-yard gain to set up a fourth-and-2 at the Chargers' 14-yard line.
Then, the speed of the game overwhelmed him once again. On fourth down, Jennings made the catch over the middle only to have two defenders strip the ball out of his grasp for an incompletion.
"I had it and they knocked it out of my hands,'' Jennings said.
"I should have caught it and there's no excuse."
Top Packers receiver Donald Driver noticed Jennings' frustration after the drop.
" I told Greg that you have to go out there and just play,'' Driver said. ``I told him that the game is faster than practice, believe it or not. I think he realized that in the first half when those guys were coming at him, and when he caught the ball they were right there.''
Monday, August 14, 2006
By Scott Jungman
Special to the Gazette
SAN DIEGO -- Greg Jennings' play-making ability has gained him early star power in his first NFL training camp. There have even been whispers he could be the first rookie receiver to start opening day for the Green Bay Packers since Sterling Sharpe in 1988.
But all that chatter developed off his efforts in practice. The Kalamazoo Central High School and Western Michigan University finally got the chance to show what he could do in a game Saturday night and he didn't disappoint -- catching four passes for a team-high 68 yards in the Packers'
17-3 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
Jennings was in on the Packers' longest play of the game -- a 47-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in the second half.
Afterward, the second-round draft pick confided to Packers running back and Mattawan native Noah Herron that he was floored by the speed of the game.
" I was telling Noah, it was like I didn't feel anything. I didn't know what to feel,'' Jennings said.
"When I got out there that first play, it was just like, man, the speed of the play. I couldn't believe it. You definitely can't practice the speed of the game and can only experience it by being out there.''
Jennings entered the game on the third play from scrimmage and his first lesson came on a quick hook pattern. Jennings battled two defenders for position and turned just in time to have a Brett Favre laser ricochet off his face mask.
" I told Brett that one was my fault,'' Jennings said.
" I didn't get my head around quick enough.''
But two plays later, Jennings hauled in a Favre pass and tip-toed the sidelines for a nice 8-yard gain to set up a fourth-and-2 at the Chargers' 14-yard line.
Then, the speed of the game overwhelmed him once again. On fourth down, Jennings made the catch over the middle only to have two defenders strip the ball out of his grasp for an incompletion.
"I had it and they knocked it out of my hands,'' Jennings said.
"I should have caught it and there's no excuse."
Top Packers receiver Donald Driver noticed Jennings' frustration after the drop.
" I told Greg that you have to go out there and just play,'' Driver said. ``I told him that the game is faster than practice, believe it or not. I think he realized that in the first half when those guys were coming at him, and when he caught the ball they were right there.''