Will Wide Receivers Hold Back This Offense?

[pbmax]

The talent on hand still seems a bit thin and has a history of injuries, so I am worried about depth too.

Say Adams, Allison and Krumerow are the starting WR, are they enough to power this offense to great heights? Do you trust Davis and ESQ as backups?

Or is this team going to go as far as the new running game will take them?

[Zool]

I think it will all depend on the fabled second year jump from a WR. Only the elite WRs are studs in their rookie season.

Adams rookie season - 38catches, 446yards, 11.7avg, 3TDs
MVS rookie season - 38catches, 581yards, 15.3avg, 2TDs
EQ rookie season - 21catches, 328yards, 15.6avg, 0TDs

And just for fun
Jennings - 45, 632, 14.0, 3
Nelson - 33 366 11.1 2
Calvin Johnson - 48 756 15.8 4
Sterling Sharpe - 55 791 14.4 1
Julio Jones - 54 959 17.8 8
OBJ - Freak - 91 1305 14.3 12

[Patler]

I don't know exactly why, but I'm not worried about the WR group in spite of the inexperience apart from Adams.

Allison is reliable, and trusted.

Kumerow is on the verge of being another like Allison. Just has to show it in regular season play over time.

Each MVS and ESB flashed talent last year without simultaneously raising any significant red flags beyond their inexperience. Both are big and fast. I would not be surprised to see either or both show significant development this year.

For the first time, I have hope for Davis as a receiver. Looked completely different during Family Night as a receiver. Went after the ball with strength and determination. Showed good hands. Must remember that for the most part he was working against very inexperienced DBs, but he always has in preseason and never before looked this reliable. He could be an interesting situational factor.

In spite of recent articles about him, Moore showed nothing. Didn't go for the ball with determination. Failed to make a difficult catch, but one you would expect a pro to make. But he still has all preseason to show improvement.

There are several "no-name" young guys who are interesting. Shepherd and J. Davis have kick/punt returner attributes, Lazard is huge.

In summary, I see enough depth in potential that I am not worried about finding 2 or 3 guys to run out there with Adams.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I too am not worried about the WR. Zool does have a good point about that the 2nd year jump will be key. Given we have 4 WRs in that group, at least one of them should hit.

[Gotarace]

If we run quick hitting tightly designed plays I think we're in great shape...if Aaron decides school yard running around until someone is open or throw it away or take a sack...it could be another long season on the offensive side of the ball.

[Smidgeon]

I am still hopeful J.Moore gets it together at some point. I think of the three rookies last year, MVS will clearly be the best of the trio. But I think Moore can still outpace EQ and both could be decent.

HOWEVER, I am having a tough time finding room for Moore on the 53 with Adams (1), Allison (2), MVS (3), Kumerow (4), Davis (5), EQ (6) and Sheppard (7). Do they keep 8? They might.

But it seems as if this team is deeper in many position groups than it used to be towards the end of the TT era. CBs, WRs, OL, and RB all seem to be a little overflowing right now.

[pbmax]

I maintain my concern and it extends to the unproven coach. We'll see. I think he sees the passing game as just an extension of the running game but sometimes it needs to function on its own.

[Upnorth]

I have become more concerned about our secondary. If almost all of our receivers look good to great then what does that say about our d? I understand training camp hitting rules favor the o, but the only d success is coming against kiser it seems.

[run pMc]

I am still hopeful J.Moore gets it together at some point. I think of the three rookies last year, MVS will clearly be the best of the trio. But I think Moore can still outpace EQ and both could be decent.

HOWEVER, I am having a tough time finding room for Moore on the 53 with Adams (1), Allison (2), MVS (3), Kumerow (4), Davis (5), EQ (6) and Sheppard (7). Do they keep 8? They might.

But it seems as if this team is deeper in many position groups than it used to be towards the end of the TT era. CBs, WRs, OL, and RB all seem to be a little overflowing right now.

I'm not sure they'll keep 7, much less 8. They have to go light somewhere else (TE, RB) to carry 8, and I don't see it with MLF's offense.

I agree Davis is a surprise - it sounds like he's been making a play almost every practice...and Kumerow has gotten better too.

This team haven't played a game yet, and an injury could easily sort out the roster. I do think they will try to stash 1 (Sheppard? Moore?) on the PS.

[QBME]

My concern is the ability to stay healthy. With the exception of Devante, all are slim and slight. Whether or not they can withstand the weekly hits is problematic. Kumerow has already been pulled from a couple of pre-season sessions for being dinged up.

With the new PI interpretation from the NFL, my guess is that defense's are going to be hitting on every play, daring the ref's to make a call.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'm still hopeful also that Moore gets it together. With Davis seemingly shaping up as a receiver and presumably still the best kick returner, there are six excellent WRs ahead of Moore. So it would take keeping seven as well as not keeping any of the UDFAs, several of whom are apparently looking decent.

I think Kumerow was pulled because he already had a sore hand - not merely prevention. Most of the WRs in the league are fairly slim, and I'd hardly call 6'3 - 6'5 "slight".

[RashanGary]

I haven’t gone to practices in a number of years, the old days if you will. Mike Sherman practices and early McCarthy practices. I realized early that I could only learn so much at a practice. I couldn’t watch everyone. So I’d pick a position group and just watch them for the whole camp.

This year I picked receivers to watch. I’ve gone to 5 practices and watched almost exclusively WRs. I make my judgements by contrasting new players to known quantities, in this case, Davante Adams. Here is what I’ve gleaned:

Adams is a beast. He’s in ridiculously good shape. He catches everything. He dominates.

Graham is big and fast. He’s Rodgers second favorite target. He drops one here and there but you can see Rosgers loves throwing to graham. They constantly communicate and Rodgers constantly goes Graham’s way. You can see they have chemistry.

MVS looks like a star. He’s quick, smooth, in control, always practicing hard, whether he’s a deep decoy, blocker or 1st read. He had some setbacks last year where maybe Rodgers didn’t like his practice habits, Rodgers has said so much, but that is behind him. MVS has lights out speed, runs confident, effective routes, gets open and catches the ball. He’s young. It takes AR time to build real chemistry, but this guy is a #1 WR in the making and Rodgers first elite deep threat. I hate to like anyone tank hyped up due to 40 yard dash time, but this guy is good.

Allison is Allison. He’s reliable and in the same page with his QB inside. Allison will always pick the right chioce route inside and pick apart zone defense with the help of AR.

After this there is a drop. EQ and Davis look solid. They’ll be better dialed in with the QB than last years rookies if they have to play.

I don’t like anyone after that. Rodgers wont throw to dummies like Moore even tho he’s quick and fast. Kumerow is a slug. I like Shepherd most of the left overs but he’s small and a rookie. Excellent practice squad guy and if we get decimated, I think Rodgers could play with him.

Danny Vitale is the weirdest looking WR I’ve ever seen and I know he’s a fb but he could play WR, that’s how good he is running routes and catching the ball. I’ve never seen anything like it. I could see 30+ receptions from this guy.

Tonyan is on the verge of being serviceable

Our top 4, Adams, MVS, Graham and Allison..... one down we wouldn’t lose much. Two down we’d manage. After that, the offense starts to feel the losses.

[pbmax]

If MVS steps up my assessment will improve because I think Rodgers will work well with Kumerow if he has to play. Gives you four WR to work with plus Kuhn Jr.

[mraynrand]

If "Kumerow is a slug" is an accurate assessment, I don't get how he gets positive press. Perhaps JH is assessing when he's lined up against Texan starters? Maybe he's only successful lined up against their depth? I don't know. Maybe JH can give some more info on that. If he looks like a slug against starters, he still could be effective as a number 4 or 5 and/or against zone if he has chemistry with Rodgers. If Moore can't learn the offense (and if the reports from last year were true, how difficult will it be for him specifically to have to learn a whole new offense?), then he'll be gone. Davis has been getting good press so EQ seems to be the forgotten man. Guess it will come down to numbers...

[pbmax]

If "Kumerow is a slug" is an accurate assessment, I don't get how he gets positive press. Perhaps JH is assessing when he's lined up against Texan starters? Maybe he's only successful lined up against their depth? I don't know. Maybe JH can give some more info on that. If he looks like a slug against starters, he still could be effective as a number 4 or 5 and/or against zone if he has chemistry with Rodgers. If Moore can't learn the offense (and if the reports from last year were true, how difficult will it be for him specifically to have to learn a whole new offense?), then he'll be gone. Davis has been getting good press so EQ seems to be the forgotten man. Guess it will come down to numbers...

Rodgers has a lot of praise for someone who apparently can't play.

@JimOwczarski
Aaron Rodgers continued his praise of Jake Kumerow today & added that Tra Carson has really showed out in #Packers training camp w: Aaron Jones & Jamaal Williams missing time.

One other problem might be the backup speed WR to get to the top of the defense. If MVS isn't available or successful, kinda shortens the field.