Playing young guys

[mraynrand]

Jones is slow. The Packers lack of a downfield threat is a weakness. If you are unwilling to risk a change, there is no hope of getting better.

Part of the risk/reward calculation are the consequences of a guy like Janis getting pushed off his route, making an incorrect read of the coverage, miscommunication with Rodgers, etc. etc. all of which can lead to turnovers and/or stalled drives. Much of this is stuff we cannot see - things in practice and meetings that tell the coaches and Rodgers whether they can trust Janis to do all these things correctly. We only get these little glimpses and what we've seen isn't great. Sorry, but preseason fourth quarter dominance doesn't translate to first quarter regular season. If the packers coaching staff and Rodgers had a history of poor assessment with regard to talent and readiness, I wouldn't give them the benefit of the doubt about not playing Janis.


(But if they sucked, Janis would be the least of our concerns!).

[George Cumby]

Randall is getting lots of playing time, so is DickRod, Linsley started his entire rookie season, Bakhtari started most of his rookie season, Dix started significant parts of his rookie season iirc, Lacy got huge playing time, starting iirc, on and on and on.

How does this team not give the young kids playing time?

I don't get the argument.

[ThunderDan]

One play he gets pushed out of bounds. This defines his potential to contribute?

People have been calling Janis "not ready" or "just a guy" based on almost nothing. It is not brain surgery, he can learn from mistakes and get better. He won't become a better receiver on kick coverage alone.

No, it doesn't define his potential. It is certainly an indicator of his potential. The guy has been on our roster for 2 years and that is the best route he can run there? Either our WR coach is horrible (I don't believe this for a second) or maybe Janis isn't the guy we hope he would be. It happens all the time in the NFL.

[Tony Oday]

If AR wanted him on the field he would be on the field.

[Fritz]

It's a long season; let's see if he doesn't get worked more and more into the mix as the season goes on. Apparently he was open over the middle on Sunday and Rodgers simply passed on the opportunity. But if the kid does things right, at some point AR will throw him the ball. If he catches it and does good things, he'll get another.

[Patler]

No, it doesn't define his potential. It is certainly an indicator of his potential. The guy has been on our roster for 2 years and that is the best route he can run there? Either our WR coach is horrible (I don't believe this for a second) or maybe Janis isn't the guy we hope he would be. It happens all the time in the NFL.

He has been on the Packer roster for one year and four games; he missed a chunk of his rookie camp due to shingles; and he was coming from from a much weaker background than many others. It might take more than a single year for him. Whereas people often look for a second year jump, Janis' fist year was taken getting him to the level that many other rookies are at when they come in. One article at the end of camp said that while he wasn't yet challenging for a lot of playing time, he was light years ahead of where he was at as a rookie, and his coaches were pleased with his progress. One predraft article said his route running ability was unknown, because in college all he did was use his size to get past defenders and his speed to out run them. I think the end of camp next year will better define if he has a future as a WR in the NFL or not.

From everything I've read, its consistency, not ability.

The Packers have worked with Janis to be more physical in escaping press-man coverage from much speedier cornerbacks, and there's tape of him doing exactly that.

"He has days where you come out there and say, 'Man, he's just throwing guys around,'" Van Pelt said. "Because he's being physical and using his strength. That's what you like to see."

Then, there was a rep in one-on-one's Aug. 7 where a strong safety, Morgan Burnett, prevented Janis from releasing in the bump zone and rode him into an incompletion.

His work as a gunner on the punt team should help that, and he seems to be doing very well at that. I have been surprised at how quickly he has been downfield sometimes, getting there not as the ball is getting there, but well before it gets there.

[Patler]

It's a long season; let's see if he doesn't get worked more and more into the mix as the season goes on. Apparently he was open over the middle on Sunday and Rodgers simply passed on the opportunity. But if the kid does things right, at some point AR will throw him the ball. If he catches it and does good things, he'll get another.

One article said it was a play in which Rodgers took a sack rather than throw to him. That leads me to three possible conclusions: 1.) Janis wasn't really as open as the writer thought, 2.) even though he was right in front of Rodgers, Rodgers didn't see him; or 3.) for some reason Rodgers didn't think he could make the throw.

[Fritz]

He has been on the Packer roster for one year and four games; he missed a chunk of his rookie camp due to shingles; and he was coming from from a much weaker background than many others. It might take more than a single year for him. Whereas people often look for a second year jump, Janis' fist year was taken getting him to the level that many other rookies are at when they come in. One article at the end of camp said that while he wasn't yet challenging for a lot of playing time, he was light years ahead of where he was at as a rookie, and his coaches were pleased with his progress. One predraft article said his route running ability was unknown, because in college all he did was use his size to get past defenders and his speed to out run them. I think the end of camp next year will better define if he has a future as a WR in the NFL or not.

From everything I've read, its consistency, not ability.



His work as a gunner on the punt team should help that, and he seems to be doing very well at that. I have been surprised at how quickly he has been downfield sometimes, getting there not as the ball is getting there, but well before it gets there.

Yup, that fist year would be a tough one.

[sharpe1027]

One article said it was a play in which Rodgers took a sack rather than throw to him. That leads me to three possible conclusions: 1.) Janis wasn't really as open as the writer thought, 2.) even though he was right in front of Rodgers, Rodgers didn't see him; or 3.) for some reason Rodgers didn't think he could make the throw.

4) It is possible that in the split second decision, Rodgers hesitated because he knew that it was Janis. Your conclusions seem more likely.

[mraynrand]

4) It is possible that in the split second decision, Rodgers hesitated because he knew that it was Janis. Your conclusions seem more likely.

5.) Maybe even though Janis was open when 'Scoops' was looking, he actually wasn't open the way he was supposed to be; that is, it's possible he ran the route wrong. Maybe he was supposed to keep running or set down in a zone or maybe he was too deep or to shallow. Unless someone knows exactly what the play called for and what Rodgers saw/was thinking, it's pretty hard to know. (Patler, this is a refinement of your '3')

[Harlan Huckleby]

How does this team not give the young kids playing time?

I don't get the argument.

Nobody made that argument. We're talking about Janis, and I'm talking to myself about Walker.

[Patler]

4) It is possible that in the split second decision, Rodgers hesitated because he knew that it was Janis. Your conclusions seem more likely.

I suppose, but what possible motivation would Rodgers have for taking a sack and intentionally freezing out Janis?

[Patler]

5.) Maybe even though Janis was open when 'Scoops' was looking, he actually wasn't open the way he was supposed to be; that is, it's possible he ran the route wrong. Maybe he was supposed to keep running or set down in a zone or maybe he was too deep or to shallow. Unless someone knows exactly what the play called for and what Rodgers saw/was thinking, it's pretty hard to know. (Patler, this is a refinement of your '3')

Similar to the reasons QBs sometimes get interceptions. A DB or LB ends up where he isn't expected to be, and the QB doesn't see him even though he is in plain view. In one of his interviews this past week, Rodgers was asked about his almost interception last week, he kind of chuckled and said, believe it or not, he flat out didn't see the linebacker, even though he threw it right to him.

[sharpe1027]

I suppose, but what possible motivation would Rodgers have for taking a sack and intentionally freezing out Janis?

It would not need to be intentional, and probably wouldn't be given the lack of time to really think it through. It could be a split second reaction. This happens to people all the time in sports, which is why trusting your training is so important. You don't have time to consciously think through every action.

Like I said, it doesn't seem like the most likely explanation.