Jordy Nelson observations

[Scott Campbell]

I missed this earlier. This is nice. I like the kid. Have the same feeling watching this as I did when I watched Jennings highlights. Nice. I didn't get the same feeling watching James Jones' highlights.

I completely agree. Last year, I was very hard on Jones. I didn't think he was a good choice. He turned out to have an OK season last year, but had some inconsistency and hit the wall after 2 months. Jones just isn't an explosive player and doesn't create a lot of separation. He's a reliable route runner with very good hands. With Favre, that might be enough to be a capable starter down the road...but with lesser talented QBs, I'm not sure Jones is starting caliber.

We all had questions about Jennings heading into his second season too. Jones had a good first year, and you can ask Champ Bailey about his ability to create separation. He just needs to take that big second year step like most guys need to.

[Patler]

I'm not sure that Jones "hit the wall" as much as some might think. Early in the season Jennings was out for a couple games and Robinson was still suspended. Jones started. Jennings came back and Jones went to #3. Then Robinson came back and saw his playing time increase as he got into playing shape. About that same time, the running game picked up and the Packers passed less and ran more.

Jones' opportunities decreased significantly, I think.

[Scott Campbell]

Jones' opportunities decreased significantly, I think.

I think they decreased in part due to the fumbles in the Bear game.

[HarveyWallbangers]

We all had questions about Jennings heading into his second season too. Jones had a good first year, and you can ask Champ Bailey about his ability to create separation. He just needs to take that big second year step like most guys need to.

Personally, I didn't have any questions about Jennings. Seems to me that those that did have questions about him had questions about his durability. The ones that have questions about Jones have questions about his upside. I think it's limited.

[Partial]

We all had questions about Jennings heading into his second season too. Jones had a good first year, and you can ask Champ Bailey about his ability to create separation. He just needs to take that big second year step like most guys need to.

Personally, I didn't have any questions about Jennings. Seems to me that those that did have questions about him had questions about his durability. The ones that have questions about Jones have questions about his upside. I think it's limited.

Agreed. For the most part people were sold on Jennings other than his ability to stay healthy.

Like you, this guy reminds me a lot of Jennings with his ability to make people miss. He looks deceptively fast and very quick.

[sharpe1027]

While there were some questions about Jennings, I have to agree that Jennings had fewer questions after his first year than Jones does now. However, Jones biggest problem was hanging onto the ball, he was getting open and making plays after the catch.

What I like about both Jones and Jennings is that they showed good ability to run after the catch. I have a feeling that is a quality that they also liked about Nelson.

[RashanGary]

Jones is a very capable, physical WR IMO. However, Jennings knows defenses. He knows right away if he can exploit something. Favre often seemed frustrated that Jones wasn't on the same page.

I do think Jones had a really good rookie year. He's here now workign with Rodgers, getting on the same page in the offense. I think he'll be a lot better for it.


As far as Nelson, he and Jennings are different in that Nelson is harder to cover in tight quarters and seems to have better hands (although Jennings are also really good). Jennings is more of a vertical threat (although Nelson can do that too). They're both very good WCO players. I think Jennings is a perfect 'between the 20's' type WR because he really opens up the offense and I think Nelson will bring something extra in the redzone by understanding defenses, being on the same page with Rodgers and by being so dominate in tight quarters. I think all 4 of our WR's can do everything, but also have dominate areas of their game that McCArthy can utilize. Rodgers really has no excuse. If he stinks, I'll be ready for the rookie as soon as the playoffs are out of reach.

[RashanGary]

I think a good pass for Jones is the sideline pattern where the QB throws it behind the WR and then the WR has to go up for it, but the DB doesn't know where the ball is so he's often running past and then trying to get back in position. Looking back at the James Jones highlights, he really excelled at competing for the ball. I think it would be great to take advantage of that.

[The Leaper]

I do think Jones had a really good rookie year. He's here now workign with Rodgers, getting on the same page in the offense. I think he'll be a lot better for it.

That's a good point. Nelson strikes me as a guy who also will have that natural football IQ from early on, since he is a former QB and has played multiple positions during his career.

Jones did seem to struggle at times in figuring out the system...but most young WRs struggle greatly in the WCO. Jennings is more of the exception in that instance.

[Tarlam!]

(...)since he is a former QB and has played multiple positions during his career.

The more I sleep on it, the more I'm convinced we have drafted a TE project in Nelson.

[Noodle]

Actually, I had a big question about Jennings that had nothing to do with durability, and it's the same big question I have about Nelson: can the guy get sufficient separation. That's why conference matters. It's one thing to get separation from some mid-major sloth and build up big numbers, it's another to get it against liquid-hipped speedsters in the speed conferences like the SEC.

Jennings is no burner, he's not a vertical threat, but it turned out he could get separation through outstanding precision in his route running and his ability to maintain speed through the cut, as well as fearlessness. Question answered, dude is a stud.

Nelson will need to show the same skills, precision, speed in the cut, and fearlessness. Can he do it? We'll see. He's played against some good corners in the Big 12 -- those Texas and Sooner defenses are tough -- so I'm betting he'll be able to do it at the NFL level.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Actually, I had a big question about Jennings that had nothing to do with durability, and it's the same big question I have about Nelson: can the guy get sufficient separation. That's why conference matters. It's one thing to get separation from some mid-major sloth and build up big numbers, it's another to get it against liquid-hipped speedsters in the speed conferences like the SEC.

Jennings is no burner, he's not a vertical threat, but it turned out he could get separation through outstanding precision in his route running and his ability to maintain speed through the cut, as well as fearlessness. Question answered, dude is a stud.

Nelson will need to show the same skills, precision, speed in the cut, and fearlessness. Can he do it? We'll see. He's played against some good corners in the Big 12 -- those Texas and Sooner defenses are tough -- so I'm betting he'll be able to do it at the NFL level.

We weren't talking about whether there were questions about Greg Jennings before his rookie year. We were talking about whether there were questions about Jennings' ability after his first year--as some (me included) do about James Jones at this point.

After his rookie year, I think most people were pretty confident in Jennings' ability, but not his durability.

[The Leaper]

Actually, I had a big question about Jennings that had nothing to do with durability, and it's the same big question I have about Nelson: can the guy get sufficient separation. That's why conference matters. It's one thing to get separation from some mid-major sloth and build up big numbers, it's another to get it against liquid-hipped speedsters in the speed conferences like the SEC.

I'm SO tired of people who seem to think the SEC is the be-all-end-all of college football. Sure, it is a great football conference...the deepest and usually the toughest. However, there are PLENTY of other conferences with lots of NFL caliber talent.

#1 CB taken: McKelvin - Sun Belt
#2 CB taken: DRC - Div I-AA
#3 CB taken: Talib - Big 12 (a guy who Nelson faced and torched, so I have no idea why you have questions regarding Nelson)
#4 CB taken: Jenkins - Big East
#5 CB taken: Cason - Pac 10
#6 CB taken: Flowers - ACC
#7 CB taken: Porter - Big 10
#8 CB taken: Lee - SEC (and not noted as a speed guy)

If the SEC is so damn superior, where are all the "liquid hipped speedster" guys that Nelson would have to face to convince you he is NFL caliber? The fact of the matter is that Nelson faced plenty of high end talent at Kansas State, and there should be no questions regarding the level of competition he faced. If you want to question a Jennings or Jones, who actually did come from lower levels of competition, so be it. But don't give me this "SEC or shit" garbage.

[Scott Campbell]

We all had questions about Jennings heading into his second season too. Jones had a good first year, and you can ask Champ Bailey about his ability to create separation. He just needs to take that big second year step like most guys need to.

Personally, I didn't have any questions about Jennings. Seems to me that those that did have questions about him had questions about his durability. The ones that have questions about Jones have questions about his upside. I think it's limited.

As I remember it, Jennings faded badly down the stretch too during his Rookie year - after he came back from injury. So there were questions. It now looks like it was due to him being dinged up.

[Scott Campbell]

While there were some questions about Jennings, I have to agree that Jennings had fewer questions after his first year than Jones does now. However, Jones biggest problem was hanging onto the ball, he was getting open and making plays after the catch.

What I like about both Jones and Jennings is that they showed good ability to run after the catch. I have a feeling that is a quality that they also liked about Nelson.

Jennings still has one major question mark - durability.