FA WRs - 2014

[3irty1]

Well maybe you just found the reason why I usually skip over your posts. Either I don't understand what you're saying or I think you're an idiot? The more posts I read I'm convinced the latter is true.

I'm pretty sure at the end of our post you said and I quote "His ability to beat press coverage, his hands, and his physical play don't matter if you can't get him the ball in a tight window." Hmm is it just me or did I not just say I disagree with that assessment. So b/c I disagree that means I didn't understand? Maybe you didn't understand what you wrote.

And if you CAN get him the ball in a tight window, because you have a super-accurate quarterback, you can take advantage of his ability to beat press coverage, hands, and physical play. Hence why he's a lot more valuable to teams like us than most of the rest of the league, which should show in his offers during free agency. I didn't think the dots were that hard to connect.

It sounds like we both learned a valuable lesson about who's not worth engaging in discussion.

[3irty1]

When did James Jone's hands become a strength? Or is the argument that his hands are fine but his brain is damaged? But by golly that fella has a nice smile.

I know he's not as bad as he used to be, but every time he drops a ball, usually an easy one, it all comes flooding back.

He's got very natural hands so definitely his brain although I think even that is exaggerated in the minds of fans because his drops have tended to be in memorable situations. He fumbled twice in one game after Charles Tillman punched it out and by the time he shook his reputation as a fumbler he had a string of big drops in the 2010 playoffs and has been labeled a dropper ever since. Possibly unfairly. Certainly not like Finley who has Steve Blass syndrome of the hands. He has always sucked at catching it over his shoulder though he's seldom outrunning anyone to be in that situation anyways.

[Patler]

When did James Jone's hands become a strength? Or is the argument that his hands are fine but his brain is damaged? But by golly that fella has a nice smile.

I know he's not as bad as he used to be, but every time he drops a ball, usually an easy one, it all comes flooding back.

James Jones has always had good hands, and has always made a lot of very difficult catches. He became infamous one year because of dropping several over the shoulder catches that looked like sure TDs, but even that season made some extremely difficult catches.

Over the last three seasons, Jordy Nelson (11/296) has a slightly higher drop rate than Jones (9/256), yet fans perceive Nelson as having great hands, and Jones' hands being a liability.

[pbmax]

I think Rodgers may have changed how he throw to Jones down the sideline. He doesn't see many lasers over his shoulder these days. He tends to drop it in from higher up.

Probably somewhat dependent on the coverage, as if there is a safety nearby, you might not have a choice.

[3irty1]

I think Rodgers may have changed how he throw to Jones down the sideline. He doesn't see many lasers over his shoulder these days. He tends to drop it in from higher up.

Probably somewhat dependent on the coverage, as if there is a safety nearby, you might not have a choice.

Seems to me that Jones's best route is that back shoulder thing along the sideline which might also be Rodgers's best route. It's like his Favre slant.

[mraynrand]

Over the last three seasons, Jordy Nelson (11/296) has a slightly higher drop rate than Jones (9/256), yet fans perceive Nelson as having great hands, and Jones' hands being a liability.

It seems too that most of Nelson's drops are on crossing routes, when he gets confused how to position his hands. Jones's drops seem to have come on more vertical routes, a couple that I recall passed through/by defenders' hands, which typically increases the degree of difficulty on a catch. Jones' rep definitely suffered from the two fumbles at Chicago in '08 and the huge drops in Philly and in the Superbowl in '10.

Both seem pretty capable on comebacks and sideline throws.

[Guiness]

Haven't seen this posted elsewhere:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/12/its-a-buyers-market-for-free-agent-receivers/

It's quite a deep field of FA WRs this year. James Jones is just another name on this list. Only 10-20% of these guys will get first-week, high-value contracts. The rest can be signed to shorter, cheaper contracts. Add in the ascension of Boykin in 2013, and I think WR is the least of our upcoming worries.

Hey, what about Titus Young? Talking about the Lions in the other thread reminded me about him, I think he got probation or something!

[Brandon494]

That is how I would like to see it work out, but I can also envision a situation in which a team with a lack of decent receivers makes an offer to Jones that might not be extreme, but still more then the Packers are willing to pay.

People are making too much of the lack of interest shown in Jones when he was a FA the last time. He was a FA the year of the lockout. There was very little FA activity that year. I think in a normal year, he would have received more interest.

He had a very average season last year even with Jennings gone and Cobb/Finley injured. Out of the list of FA WRs hes not even in the top 10, no team is going to over pay for a WR who they don't think can be a #1. I also believe James Jones likes playing here and will most likely get a deal similar to the last contract he signed.

[Brandon494]

James Jones has always had good hands, and has always made a lot of very difficult catches. He became infamous one year because of dropping several over the shoulder catches that looked like sure TDs, but even that season made some extremely difficult catches.

Over the last three seasons, Jordy Nelson (11/296) has a slightly higher drop rate than Jones (9/256), yet fans perceive Nelson as having great hands, and Jones' hands being a liability.

We remember Jones drops more because they seem to happen during a critical time in the game. Nelson on the other hand is the receiver I trust the most to make a catch with the game on the line.

[mraynrand]

We remember Jones drops more because they seem to happen during a critical time in the game. Nelson on the other hand is the receiver I trust the most to make a catch with the game on the line.

I agree. And even though I like what Nelson does, I still don't see him as a true top flight #1 receiver - maybe #15-20 in the league at best. He just can't consistently get open and really depends on Rodger's accuracy. So the Packers can't take their receiving corps for granted and need to draft another top 20 receiver IMO.

[smuggler]

I disagree. I think Nelson is a top10 receiver.

[Freak Out]

I don't know about top 10 but the guy carried the team with Lacy when Rodgers and Cobb were gone. Wait....they lost how many straight? you know what I mean.....

[packer4life]

I disagree. I think Nelson is a top10 receiver.

He is in the top 15.

He is not better than megatron, aj, fitz, dez, demaryius, Gordon, Marshall, Julio, and vjax. He is basically in the next tier.

[Bretsky]

That is how I would like to see it work out, but I can also envision a situation in which a team with a lack of decent receivers makes an offer to Jones that might not be extreme, but still more then the Packers are willing to pay.

People are making too much of the lack of interest shown in Jones when he was a FA the last time. He was a FA the year of the lockout. There was very little FA activity that year. I think in a normal year, he would have received more interest.

It would not suprise me if a team like NE or Denver swoop in on Jones; he would do well with both of those teams IMO where he's a part of things. If he goes to a team with severe weakness at WR who needs him to beat a top tier CB, he might disappear

[Bretsky]

He is in the top 15.

He is not better than megatron, aj, fitz, dez, demaryius, Gordon, Marshall, Julio, and vjax. He is basically in the next tier.

Good examples; I'd take all of those over Nelson and maybe a couple more........I think top 15 is fair