Does Jennings move foward or stay the same?

[DonHutson]

One factor not mentioned is the possible downward slide of Donald Driver. He keeps himself in great shape, but eventually everyone starts to slow down. Not saying for sure that this is the year, but if Driver slips Jennings will pick up the slack.

Driver may decline, but probably not enough in 2008 to give Jennings a huge pickup. Even with a pretty steep decline, Driver could still grab 50 catches and 700 yards. I can't see Donald going into the tank overnight...but I guess anything is possible. I think where you will see Donald's production fall most is in scoring TDs, not yardage.

Now, if Driver got hurt for a significant amount of time, then I could see Jennings having a strong chance at getting 1000 yards.

At this point in their respective careers, another year for Jennings means he's more comfortable and more polished. Another year for Driver is one more year on the wrong side of 30.

Add in that Driver had many years of chemistry built up with Favre. But Rodgers is coming in fresh and he will need to build chemistry with everyone starting from scratch. There should be no assumption that he will automatically see Driver as his favorite WR. It could be Driver, but it could just as easily be Jennings (or Jones, or Nelson for that matter). I'm not saying Rodgers can't or won't spread the ball around, but I think every QB has that favorite WR that gets a second or third look when nothing else is going on. Driver was that guy for Favre. He may not be for Rodgers.

All that combined, Jennings could (and probably should) step up and become the number one target for the Packers. If he doesn't do it this year, then it's only a matter of time.

[packers11]

Boy is he on pace... Many here predicted it to...

[texaspackerbacker]

Jennings is a solid WR, but with the position so deep and with the loss of Favre I'm guessing we won't have any WRs that reach 1000 yards this year if everyone stays relatively healthy. It will be especially hard for Jennings...because if there are any double teams this year, he will be the one getting targeted instead of Driver IMO.

I'm expecting about 3200-3500 yards passing from Rodgers...and not much more than 2500 of that will go to WRs, as I'm guessing the RBs and TEs will be larger factors in the passing offense this year.

I tend to disagree, Leaper, on a couple of counts.

First, 3,200 is just 200 a game X 16. If he doesn't get hurt, Rodgers should get way more than that. He's certainly on track to.

Secondly, I think the huge majority of that--a lot more than 2,500 out of 3,200-3,500, maybe more like 3,500 out of 4,000, goes to the wide receivers. That's the way it has gone so far, and while I could see Lee having some big games, and some circumstances where the backs are used more, I think it is MORE likely as Jones and Martin get healthy that we use more 4 and 5 WR sets, and that the WRs in general get the bulk of the catches and even bigger bulk of the yardage.

[BF4MVP]

He's had 91, 167, and 115 yards..Great start, and he is without a doubt Rodgers' favorite target..I think if he stays healthy he's a lock for quadruple digits.

[mission]

He's had 91, 167, and 115 yards..Great start, and he is without a doubt Rodgers' favorite target..I think if he stays healthy he's a lock for quadruple digits.

Maybe 5 digits if he gets REAL hot!

Could happen ...

[MJZiggy]

One factor not mentioned is the possible downward slide of Donald Driver. He keeps himself in great shape, but eventually everyone starts to slow down. Not saying for sure that this is the year, but if Driver slips Jennings will pick up the slack.

Driver may decline, but probably not enough in 2008 to give Jennings a huge pickup. Even with a pretty steep decline, Driver could still grab 50 catches and 700 yards. I can't see Donald going into the tank overnight...but I guess anything is possible. I think where you will see Donald's production fall most is in scoring TDs, not yardage.

Now, if Driver got hurt for a significant amount of time, then I could see Jennings having a strong chance at getting 1000 yards.

At this point in their respective careers, another year for Jennings means he's more comfortable and more polished. Another year for Driver is one more year on the wrong side of 30.

Add in that Driver had many years of chemistry built up with Favre. But Rodgers is coming in fresh and he will need to build chemistry with everyone starting from scratch. There should be no assumption that he will automatically see Driver as his favorite WR. It could be Driver, but it could just as easily be Jennings (or Jones, or Nelson for that matter). I'm not saying Rodgers can't or won't spread the ball around, but I think every QB has that favorite WR that gets a second or third look when nothing else is going on. Driver was that guy for Favre. He may not be for Rodgers.

All that combined, Jennings could (and probably should) step up and become the number one target for the Packers. If he doesn't do it this year, then it's only a matter of time.

Add to that the occasional injury (Ruvell) and there are more opportunities for other receivers. And while Rodgers was running the scout team he did develop timing with receivers. I know that Driver was working with #1s and Favre, but I think Jennings worked with Rodgers some in that capacity.