Packers Sign Jones

[HarveyWallbangers]

Right on. I heard on Chmura's radio show today that Driver had more drops than Jones last year on fewer targeted passes.

Not according to JSO. Driver had 7 drops on 101 targets--while Jones had 10 drops on 101 targets. Again, one man's drop is another man's bad throw. A targeted pass doesn't tell you if the pass was catchable either. Jones is solid. Nelson is solid. I don't think Jones is a future #1--like JH was saying. I do think he and Nelson are great #3 WRs and probably solid #2 WRs. Having both guys is what makes us tough to defend. Now, add Finley, Cobb, maybe Williams. Yikes! Also, unlike some, I think Quarless has a solid future. He looked the part of a guy who could be pretty good when he puts it all together.

[Patler]

Hasn't Nelson been more consistent overall though? Jones seems to have drops every year. I remember one year where Nelson had like 1 drop. Jones drops seem to be excessively easy, and too many would have gone for TDs. I'd like to see each guy's drops because stats can be misleading. Some of Jones drops should be counted as 2 or 3--given the ease and situation. Anyways. I like both guys. Different type players, but they are pretty equal--despite one segment of the fandom liking one while others like the other guy. Kind of the same with Hawk vs. Barnett before and Hawk vs. Bishop now. They are all close enough in ability that we should all be happy that they are pretty good and not be so picky.

Overall I think they are fairly equal in quality, although as you say they do different things. I remember a couple that Nelson dropped that were pretty easy looking too. Plus, I'm not sure that the pass that drops in from above is always as easy of a catch as it looks to us on TV. While the ball isn't thrown hard, sometimes the receiver doesn't really see it until it is right there, if the DB was in the way. I'm not making excuses for Jones, they were in his hands and he should have caught them. On the other hand, 10 drops in around a hundred passes for Jones, overall, is about the same as 10 drops in about 100 passes for Nelson. Both had too many.

On the flip side, at least Jones was able to get behind the coverage to make those excruciating blunders!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Didn't Javon Walker have that problem. I remember he had some type of surgery on his eye and the year before he broke out.

Not JAvon Walker. I think it was the guy .... Corey something ..... that ended up in Houston. He was a one-trick-pony who could catch fly patterns.

[Scott Campbell]

Not JAvon Walker. I think it was the guy .... Corey something ..... that ended up in Houston. He was a one-trick-pony who could catch fly patterns.

Bradford?

[Harlan Huckleby]

ya, I think it was Corey Bradford. I don't remember Javon Walker getting eye surgery.

[Patler]

Jones is solid. Nelson is solid. I don't think Jones is a future #1--like JH was saying. I do think he and Nelson are great #3 WRs and probably solid #2 WRs. Having both guys is what makes us tough to defend. Now, add Finley, Cobb, maybe Williams. Yikes! Also, unlike some, I think Quarless has a solid future. He looked the part of a guy who could be pretty good when he puts it all together.

I have hope for Quarless too, and in the back of my mind I wonder if TT hasn't built himself up with TEs for the possibility that Finley will be priced out of GB.

Jones and Nelson are great where they are, as #3 and #4 receivers in either order. I think either could replace Driver, but may not be the reliable receiver that Driver was. This year should prove something for one, maybe both. I guess we will find out what TT thinks as Nelson comes up for re-signing. To be honest, Nelson's SB performance not withstanding, neither Nelson nor Jones has really made the most of their opportunities. Maybe the SB was Nelsons coming out party.

[Patler]

ya, I think it was Corey Bradford. I don't remember Javon Walker getting eye surgery.

I don't know about Bradford, but I am virtually positive that Walker did after his rookie year when he had some bad drops.

[Patler]

Found this:

December 19, 2004|Alex MarvezIt sounds like a commercial endorsement opportunity in the making.
Since undergoing Lasik eye surgery to correct nearsightedness in June 2003, the play of Green Bay wide receiver Javon Walker has greatly improved. Walker has flubbed one of the 115 passes thrown to him, which translates to a drop average of .87 percent.

[Harlan Huckleby]

No, I remember now, it was Corey Walker that was half blind.

[Patler]

No, I remember now, it was Corey Walker that was half blind.

...and Javon Bradford was the other half.

[pbmax]

Well, that contention cuts both ways. Targets that you might deem uncatchable or bad throws don't just happen to James Jones. If anything, Jones' most memorable drops were remarkable for their apparent ease of the catch. Would this even be a conversation if he had caught the easier 3 of 5 catchable TDs he dropped?

Football Outsiders has this for the Packer WRs
Jennings: Catch Rate 61% and Fumbles 2
Driver: 61% CR, 1 Fum
Nelson: 70% CR, 1 Fum
Jones: 57% CR, 3 Fum

[Fosco33]

I think Jones has more potential to be great than Nelson. There are so many weapons on this team that Jones will never break out without injury.

[vince]

Nelson had more drops this year than previous years. Jones obviously adds another legitimate threat to the group, which is more than you can say about Swain.

I don't like Rodgers and Driver politicking about the roster. Until they start demanding a trade or trying to manipulate their way off the roster and giving Packer opponents strategic intel because Ted doesn't listen to them I guess it's not a big deal.

[pbmax]

I got the sense from Wilde's Twitter feed that Rodgers last said something on the radio show. Not sure about Driver's comment.

But Jones then asked agent to try to get something done with Packers exclusively. Then Rodgers went on the record again today. The numbers will bear this out, but in his version, Jones wanted back in first. So perhaps TT got his cake and ate it too. We'll see when the contract details emerge.

I would prefer this stance, selectively, than Rodgers badgering a holdout about showing up like Favre did. I think it helps his teammates more than it might hurt the Packer brass or salary cap.

[mission]

Nelson had more drops this year than previous years. Jones obviously adds another legitimate threat to the group, which is more than you can say about Swain.

I don't like Rodgers and Driver politicking about the roster. Until they start demanding a trade or trying to manipulate their way off the roster and giving Packer opponents strategic intel because Ted doesn't listen to them I guess it's not a big deal.

There's always the possibility that Rodgers knew those guys were our FA targets and went on the record to let them know that we'd love to have them back. They both could have felt slighted they weren't offered mid-season extensions and Jones specifically might have been wondering about his role in GB.

It sounds like those guys going "public" with their support of Jones had a lot to do with Jones feeling wanted. You don't think Rodgers wanted Jenkins back? I'm sure he did but he probably knew otherwise so wouldn't put his GM in a tough position with not being able to bring him back.

I think these guys (upper mgmt) are pretty damn smart and all of that was carefully constructed to get Jones at a price that works for the Packers. No one wants to go somewhere they aren't wanted and the FA process is a lot of courting and a lot of "making me feel good". The Packers being his previous team don't have the advantage of being able to roll out the red carpet -- this was the closest thing to courtship. It's tough to imagine some of it wasn't premeditated. Hesitate to compare this exactly to Brett Favre lobbying but that's just my opinion.