This is how I felt all year about JJ........

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I started doubting how I felt about him after watching drop big pass after big pass in the playoffs. But this guy makes a lot of sense and basically somes up how I feel about our WR situation.

http://packerupdate.net/?p=9629

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Jennings, Jones, Nelson, and Finley are all just entering their prime. I hope we can keep them together long term.

[bobblehead]

I agree with the writer. DD is ready to accept a backup role....he may still remain the starter in name, but Jordy and JJ need equal snaps. DD needs a modest paycut to help us resign JJ and if he is willing to take it, I would love all of them to be back together (plus replace swain with a return specialist)

[RashanGary]

I agree with the writer. DD is ready to accept a backup role....he may still remain the starter in name, but Jordy and JJ need equal snaps. DD needs a modest paycut to help us resign JJ and if he is willing to take it, I would love all of them to be back together (plus replace swain with a return specialist)

That's ideal. One more year for DD. Next year, when Jordy needs his deal redone, that's when Driver's value really drops. .

[Lurker64]

I'm not sure I would want to make JJ the #2 ahead of Jordy. I agree that shifting DD to a backup and/or roleplayer is probably the best decision.

[vince]

If the contract situaiton were reversed it'd be a no-brainer but it isn't. Driver is under contract and JJ is not. That makes a huge difference here.

In my world, the Packers let JJ walk and draft a guy like Torrey Smith to upgrade that spot. Keep DD onboard for leadership and chemistry while giving Jordy more opportunities and bringing Smith into the mix.

[Fritz]

I wonder why, as I think you or PB pointed out - or somebody - Jones's drops all seemed to come on passes that were traveling in the same direction he was. What's up with that dynamic, I wonder?

[Joemailman]

I wonder why, as I think you or PB pointed out - or somebody - Jones's drops all seemed to come on passes that were traveling in the same direction he was. What's up with that dynamic, I wonder?

Something to do with peripheral vision? Does he have more trouble seeing the ball when he has to turn his head to see the ball? Who knows? Maybe he's just trying to run with it before he's actually caught it.

[vince]

Some have said that perhaps it's a vision thing, but I don't think so. McCarthy attributed it to concentration. Obviously no one can get inside his head, but that would tend to explain the fumbles he's had too.

I haven't tracked his drops but he seems to have trouble catching the ball with his thumbs out. Receiver should always try get their thumbs together and grab it because you have more control but that's not always doable, particularly with the over-the-shoulder throws down the sideline.

McCarthy also noted a hand injury at one point, which could have an impact too. If he had a sprain in the lower digit area it would tend to make those balls tougher to hang onto. Tough to say.

What you can say is that he's been pretty consistently inconsistent. He's a guy I certainly wouldn't be excited at the prospect of committing millions of valuable dollars and multiple years to, particularly when you have three (four with Finley) other guys who can get it done and don't get enough opportunities as it is, the opportunity to get a young one to develop and only one ball to spread around.

[get louder at lambeau]

As JustJeff at packersnews.net pointed out, the over-the -shoulder catches have the receiver catching with the thumbs pointing out instead of in. It's a very different catch to make.

[vince]

Jones has trouble catching them, but he's not the only one that runs that route. Here are the stats for all the receivers over the last couple years, as compiled by Bob McGinn. He has gone through and identified the drops individually, obviously using his own judgement as to what constitutes a "drop."

http://www.jsonline.com/packerinsider/116451263.html

Of the six Packers who were the target of more than 25 passes in 20 games, Greg Jennings had the lowest drop rate. By subjective judgment (there can be no other when it comes to dropped passes), Jennings dropped six of 159 for a rate of 3.77%. It's also a career low for Jennings, who dropped five of 103 (4.85%) in 2006, eight of 99 (8.08%) in '07, nine of 138 (6.52%) in '08 and six of 128 (4.69%) in '09.

As for the other top wide receivers, Donald Driver dropped seven of 101 (6.93%), James Jones dropped 10 of 101 (9.9%) and Jordy Nelson dropped 10 of 92 (10.87%). Brett Swain dropped one of 11 (9.1%).

Jones' drop rates were 9.1% in 2007, 13.8% in '08 and 11.9% in '09. Nelson dropped just four of 83 passes (4.8%) in his first two seasons.

Jordy had some drops this year, but that's an anomaly for his career so far. Jones has consistently been at the top of the list when it comes to drop rate.

[packerbacker1234]

Honestly I'm not overly concerned. If Jones walks to another team, he walks. It's not like "OMG WE"RE SCREWED".

Keep in mind that the writer still admits Driver is a servicable WR when healthy. Driver proved that this year the few games he was 100% in, especially early in the season when Jennings was in his slump - DD really stepped it up. He's also a leader in the clubhouse and has so much respect from his teammates that the Greg Jennings referred to Driver as the #1 WR in the offense, even if that clearly isn't the case. Thats a hell of a lot of respect amongst pears.

Driver isn't going anywhere. Jones may choose to leave because he now realizes he may not get a shot at #2 next year, and frankly NELSON may have stepped over jones for #3 after that Super Bowl performance. You know, the same Super Bowl where Jones dropped yet another potential TD pass. Nelson had his drops, but he came right back. Jones drop was bigger, and less excusable given where the ball was placed and the daylight jones has. That is what is baffling about Jones - he gets open, but he drops THE EASY stuff.

I would love to keep Jones, but the problem is with Driver around Jones is #4 entering next year, not #3. There is no way you can put him ahead of Nelson right now.

As for as many drops as Driver had, he and Jones had the exact same number of targets and Jones had more drops. Jones has consistently been dropping passes every year, while Driver has usually kept his rate under 7% for his career (as he also did this year) which is about average for any "good" wr.

[gbgary]

since we're constantly running wrs in and out, ranks two thru four really don't exsist. jennings is the clear number one but after that being in three and four wr sets most of the time makes the term back-up wr a misnomer. to me the only back up wr we have is swain. since we have greater needs in other positions the chances of getting a wr better than jones are slim. i think he should be resigned. maybe draft a wr, later in the draft, to take swains place. speaking of running guys in and out, i was distressed early in the season when i saw jennings on the sidelines when we had the ball. he should be in there nearly every play.

[Joemailman]

If some team offers JJ legitimate starter money, I don't think you match it. With Finley back, he becomes your #2 receiver, and Jordy is fine as #3. The thing is, with Finley and Quarless, the Packers won't be using 4 WR sets as much. Draft somebody in the first 3 rounds and let him learn from Jennings and Driver before he takes over for Driver in 2012.

[Jimx29]

don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya JJ