WR battle

[gbgary]

When did you buy your Cobb jersey?

Just joking with you. I am not sure what I am going to do with my Lacy jersey.

no jersey lol. on yours get the name changed to jones.

[pbmax]

Right now, Janis' stats are barely less than Driver's thus far. The difference is Driver entered his fourth season as a starter. Janis is still WR5 or WR6 right now. It is unlikely he makes a big step like that this year. But considering how raw he was, it's possible he's a year or two behind Driver. If he puts up 20ish catches this year, he might still have a shot at a later breakout. If he puts out less than that, statistically it is unlikely he'll ever put out more than 10-15 catches per year.

Driver was a freak. Hope Janis makes that jump without others having injury.

[texaspackerbacker]

Driver was a freak. Hope Janis makes that jump without others having injury.

A long long time ago in the old JSOnline, I was almost the only one promoting Driver, just like I'm one of very few promoting Janis now. Mark my words, Janis WILL be an excellent receiver in the NFL - and it damn well better be for the Packers, not somebody else.

[Smidgeon]

Yes, but do Nelson, Adams, Cobb really matchup with Jennings, Driver, Jones?

Nelson was in a serious logjam. There have been snaps available to Janis during the long offensive drought and from injuries.

I would argue that we knew Nelson was good by Year 4, even if that was the first sign of the monster to come.

Only kinda sorta. The comparison with Nelson at the time was who was better, him or James Jones. Going into Nelson's fourth year, it was anyone's guess. Jones started out strong his rookie year, then regressed the next two before matching his rookie year. Nelson started weaker in the first two years and grew a little bit in the third. I remember a lot of people couldn't decide who was going to be better, but I think the general consensus leaned towards Jones. There was a logjam, but they were fighting for the #3 spot after Driver and Jennings.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Driver was a freak. Hope Janis makes that jump without others having injury.

Driver was a WR and worked his ass off to become a very good one. Janis has great athleticism who from reports, doesn't work very hard to be a better WR.

I don't think anyone is doubting Janis' physical ability, it's what's between his ears that many question.

[hoosier]

Yes, but do Nelson, Adams, Cobb really matchup with Jennings, Driver, Jones?

Nelson was in a serious logjam. There have been snaps available to Janis during the long offensive drought and from injuries.

I would argue that we knew Nelson was good by Year 4, even if that was the first sign of the monster to come.

Not to turn this into a sideshow but first sign of Nelson's emergence was in his thirrd year, at the end of 2010, in that late December game against NYG and then the huge game against Pittsburgh in the SB. In his fourth year he went over 1200 yards receiving. I agree with your main point, which is that there have been ample opportunities for Janis to earn playing time whereas Nelson had to split time for his first three years. Moreover, the comparison really isn't apt because Nelson was much more polished coming in and he got plenty of playing of time from the get go. Janis was much greener and has never really dispelled his initial limitations.

[Smidgeon]

Driver was a WR and worked his ass off to become a very good one. Janis has great athleticism who from reports, doesn't work very hard to be a better WR.

I don't think anyone is doubting Janis' physical ability, it's what's between his ears that many question.

I think this part is speculation. He may work super hard but still have trouble grasping things.
When I first started playing basketball in high school, I had a really difficult time with concepts. I was extremely book smart, but I just couldn't grasp court tactics. It took me well into college (watching relatively constantly) before I started picking up nuances before not caring anymore.

The point is: someone can be passionate about it and work hard at it, but sometimes some concepts are difficult to grasp. That's why people speak about a "light going on" because it suddenly makes sense. I think that's where Janis is. His interviews this year are a lot more humble, a lot more "I've got to keep working" and a lot less "I'm just waiting for the ball because I'm ready". We're still waiting for the light to go on, but I think he's finally on the right path.

Armchair sports psychoanalysis.

[Upnorth]

I don't know if we have seen enough to debate one way or another about his route running beyond saying it appears to have somewhat improveD. My question is how are his hands? What has he looked like when a ball is in his vicinity? I have heard no comments or observations either way which screams average to me. Anyone got anything?

[gbgary]

i think i'd rather clark make the team than janis. put josh jones in janis' special teams spot. two games to go to decide.

[ThunderDan]

I don't know if we have seen enough to debate one way or another about his route running beyond saying it appears to have somewhat improveD. My question is how are his hands? What has he looked like when a ball is in his vicinity? I have heard no comments or observations either way which screams average to me. Anyone got anything?

His hands have looked fine but both catches that are being talked about so far this preseason were absolute strikes by Hundley. That deep ball against the Redskins was amazing. Hundley hit Janis absolutely in stride 25 yards down the field into a 3 foot window.

I had 1 complaint against Janis during the game. He ran an out route and was open. The pass was thrown and he didn't come back to the ball to help his QB. He wait for the ball to come to him. Against a starting CB in the NFL that is for sure an incompletion and probably an INT.

[Fritz]

I think this part is speculation. He may work super hard but still have trouble grasping things.
When I first started playing basketball in high school, I had a really difficult time with concepts. I was extremely book smart, but I just couldn't grasp court tactics. It took me well into college (watching relatively constantly) before I started picking up nuances before not caring anymore.

The point is: someone can be passionate about it and work hard at it, but sometimes some concepts are difficult to grasp. That's why people speak about a "light going on" because it suddenly makes sense. I think that's where Janis is. His interviews this year are a lot more humble, a lot more "I've got to keep working" and a lot less "I'm just waiting for the ball because I'm ready". We're still waiting for the light to go on, but I think he's finally on the right path.

Armchair sports psychoanalysis.

Baloney. It's that stupid mustache of his that is holding him back. See, Arod wants to be the only guy on the team with that look, so he doesn"t like Janis and won"t throw to him.