packinpatland
11-25-2007, 04:30 PM
INSIDE THE NFL: Dan Pompei takes you around the league
Pack of receivers rare gift for Favre
Dan Pompei
November 25, 2007
Before the season, many people, including Brett Favre, did not believe the Packers had enough juice at the wide receiver position.
As it turns out, they might have the best group of five wide receivers in the NFL.
The Packers have such depth at the position that coach Mike McCarthy has taken to playing all five at a time in what he calls the Big Five package. He also uses a lot of four-wide-receiver sets. The Packers have been their most dangerous with four and five wideouts on the field.
The five:
*Donald Driver: The nine-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler is the mentor for this group. He knows Favre as well as anyone, and is on a pace to come close to his career bests in receptions and receiving yards.
*Greg Jennings: The second-year man has stepped up his game dramatically this season. "He has made the most of his opportunities," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin says. "He's really coming on."
*James Jones: The Packers were criticized for taking Jones in the third round of the 2007 draft because he was deemed too slow. And Jones was told to take a seat after fumbling twice in the Bears game. But he has rebounded nicely and now has caught more passes than anyone on the team except Driver.
*Koren Robinson: There never has been a question about the talent of the ninth pick in the 2001 draft. But Robinson has been suspended twice for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He returned from his second suspension four games ago and has given the Packers a spark.
*Ruvell Martin: The second-year man is different from the other Packers receivers because he's 6 feet 4 inches and provides an inviting target in tight spots.
There are two keys to the Packers' multiple receiver sets. The first is the ability of the offensive line, particularly tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, to protect Favre without help from tight ends and backs. And Favre also gets a share of credit for avoiding sacks.
"Brett is so good at seeing where the blitz is and if there is a blitz getting the ball out quick," quarterback coach Tom Clements said.
The second key is most defenses can't match up with four and five gifted wide receivers.
This was on display Thursday in Detroit, where the Lions didn't even try. When the Packers went to four wide receivers, the Lions still kept two linebackers on the field and played only five defensive backs. And when the Packers used five wideouts, the Lions still used their regular nickel defense at least part of the time.
The result was the Packers were able to get a receiver matched up on a linebacker at times -- and Favre just killed the Lions' defense.
Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune
Pack of receivers rare gift for Favre
Dan Pompei
November 25, 2007
Before the season, many people, including Brett Favre, did not believe the Packers had enough juice at the wide receiver position.
As it turns out, they might have the best group of five wide receivers in the NFL.
The Packers have such depth at the position that coach Mike McCarthy has taken to playing all five at a time in what he calls the Big Five package. He also uses a lot of four-wide-receiver sets. The Packers have been their most dangerous with four and five wideouts on the field.
The five:
*Donald Driver: The nine-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler is the mentor for this group. He knows Favre as well as anyone, and is on a pace to come close to his career bests in receptions and receiving yards.
*Greg Jennings: The second-year man has stepped up his game dramatically this season. "He has made the most of his opportunities," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin says. "He's really coming on."
*James Jones: The Packers were criticized for taking Jones in the third round of the 2007 draft because he was deemed too slow. And Jones was told to take a seat after fumbling twice in the Bears game. But he has rebounded nicely and now has caught more passes than anyone on the team except Driver.
*Koren Robinson: There never has been a question about the talent of the ninth pick in the 2001 draft. But Robinson has been suspended twice for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He returned from his second suspension four games ago and has given the Packers a spark.
*Ruvell Martin: The second-year man is different from the other Packers receivers because he's 6 feet 4 inches and provides an inviting target in tight spots.
There are two keys to the Packers' multiple receiver sets. The first is the ability of the offensive line, particularly tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, to protect Favre without help from tight ends and backs. And Favre also gets a share of credit for avoiding sacks.
"Brett is so good at seeing where the blitz is and if there is a blitz getting the ball out quick," quarterback coach Tom Clements said.
The second key is most defenses can't match up with four and five gifted wide receivers.
This was on display Thursday in Detroit, where the Lions didn't even try. When the Packers went to four wide receivers, the Lions still kept two linebackers on the field and played only five defensive backs. And when the Packers used five wideouts, the Lions still used their regular nickel defense at least part of the time.
The result was the Packers were able to get a receiver matched up on a linebacker at times -- and Favre just killed the Lions' defense.
Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune