Which current or former NFL WR would you say....

[HarveyWallbangers]

Harrison is quicker than Jennings, and runs exceptional routes. Jennings is good, but I wouldn't put him in that class. Bruce is a good comparison. Neither blow you away with their speed--until you see them on the field. I thought Hines Ward last year, but he's making a ton of plays downfield this year--which isn't really Ward's strength.

[b bulldog]

I don't consider jennings very physical while ward is one of the most physical players in the game. The dud loves the short stuff and he may be the best runblocking WR in the game..

[BradStrand]

At this point in his career, Jennings hands are way way worse than Harrisons. That dude catches everything. Here's hoping for a lot of work on the Juggs machine in the offseason...

[Patler]

Harbaugh was a spirited and competitive player, but he defined journey man. Might we call him the Kitna of his day? Or is Kitna better.

Anyway, all I really was trying to point out was that Harrison had a mediocre Harbaugh and the immortal Paul Justin in 96 and THREE QBs in 97 whereas jennings has had Brett favre. I rarely have found receivers to benefit from a rotating QB situation. Pretty significant advantage. Almost as significant as jennings taking advantage of his advangate.

Interesting comparison, Harbaugh and Kitna. Neither is/was a great QB, but neither are/were a schmuck either

Harbaugh started 14 games for Indy in '96 and 11 in 97. It was not a rotating QB situation. Harbaugh was the starter when he was available.

[The Leaper]

But on the other hand I don't think it is a real valid argument to suggest that Harrison's performance was down significantly his first few years because Harbaugh was his QB. Maybe a few receptions, maybe not. Who knows?

I think it is a very valid argument.

I would agree it is impossible to actually qualify a percentage or amount of difference there is. In that respect, I agree.

However, to suggest it isn't even a valid argument to point out that Jennings has the advantage of one of the top 5 QBs of all-time throwing him the ball rather than Harbaugh...who was OK, but certainly nothing special, just doesn't cut it for me Patler.

Just what kind of argument IS valid, then?

[The Leaper]

Bruce is a good comparison. Neither blow you away with their speed--until you see them on the field.

That is a good comparison...although I'm not sure Bruce has anything close to the elusiveness of Jennings.

But in terms of their sneaky speed...it is a damn good comparison.

[Freak Out]

If everything works out in a few years people are going to be comparing their teams WRs to Jennings.

[Freak Out]

Its been awhile but what about Mark Ingram?

Lets just hope Jennings does not follow in all his footsteps.

[Patler]

oops

[Patler]

This is exactly why I usually stay away from any comparisons about who a player plays with. It can't be quantified.

Packer receivers do no get due credit because after all, Favre is throwing them the ball.

Manning is denigrated in comparison to Favre, because after all he has Harrison to throw to and Favre has had no one.

If Harrison is making Manning great, then why was he held back for playing with Harbaugh?

In this comparison between Harrison and Jennings, no one has pointed out that Harrison didn't have a truly fantastic year until his fourth year, Manning's second year. As Manning matured, Harrison got better and better. (No surprise, really) This year, with Harrison out, Manning has shown some kinks.

You could also argue that Jennings was held back in numbers last year because Favre tried to force everything to Driver, often even when Jennings was open. Favre was not such a great QB last year. In fact, you could say he had a "Harbaugh-like" year. So maybe that equals things up for the Jennings/Harrison comparison? But wait, I forgot, the last two years were everyone else's fault, not Favre's. But then this year, when Favre is good, it is all because of him, not those around him. I've got that right, don't I?

Too many fans credit Favre for everything and blame him for nothing. He has transcended the normal QB situation of getting too much credit AND too much blame.

I suspect Kampman has become a Pro-Bowl player, Williams and Barnett have gotten better because of Favre. After all, Kampman is a so-so athlete, but Favre is his QB.

[The Shadow]

Antonio Freeman.

[vince]

Whatever the comparison, Jenning's definitely getting it done! Both his performance and his approach are fantastic.

Jennings Developing Into All-Around Threat

by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 12/11/2007

It's been well-documented how far ahead of the curve Greg Jennings was last year as a rookie wide receiver. He ran routes, caught the ball with his hands, and just generally handled himself, on and off the field, like a more seasoned pro.

But as his development has continued this season, Jennings has gone beyond being fundamentally sound and consistently productive. He's developing into a big-time weapon.

In just his second year, Jennings is evolving into a complete NFL receiver, able to pose a threat from anywhere on the field with virtually any type of route, and there's ample evidence from the past several weeks to illustrate it.

"He just has a knack for making plays when he has the opportunity," receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. "It's hard to describe why."

**The description starts with his flat-out speed, which still seems to deceive opponents even after seven touchdown catches of 40 yards or longer in his brief career.

The most obvious display of that speed came in Week 8 on Monday Night Football in Denver, when Jennings flew by Broncos cornerback Dre Bly for a game-winning 82-yard TD in overtime.

**Then there's his elusiveness. Two weeks ago in Dallas, Jennings took a quick flare from backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers near the sideline and proceeded to dart and dodge his way back toward the middle of the field and around several defenders for a 43-yard gain.

It's one thing to get yards after the catch when the timing and angle of the route are just right to gash a defense, like on Jennings' 57-yard go-ahead TD on a fourth-quarter slant pass against San Diego in Week 3. But on the play in Dallas he showed moves and escapability similar to that of veteran teammate Donald Driver, with sharp cuts, quick early steps and body control.

**And last but not least there's his ball skills. Last Sunday against Oakland, Jennings went deep against cornerback Stanford Routt but had to slow up on Brett Favre's slightly underthrown pass.

No problem. As the ball came down, Jennings gave Routt a little bang with the shoulder to hold his ground and then caught the ball at the top of his leap as Routt fell to the ground and watched Jennings stroll into the end zone for an 80-yard TD.

"The corners that have speed probably feel that they can run with Greg," Robinson said. "But then they may find out he's a little stronger than they think he is and maybe a little more physical than he looks."

Those facets to Jennings' game weren't readily seen during a productive but frustrating rookie season that was slowed by a bad ankle sprain in Week 7 at Miami. Jennings missed just one game due to the injury but wasn't really full strength the rest of the way and finished with 45 catches for 632 yards and three TDs.

This year, despite missing the first two games of the season with a hamstring strain, Jennings is blowing away last year's numbers. With three games to go in the regular season, Jennings has 46 catches for 812 yards and a team-high 11 TDs.

"A lot of people said late in the year he hit the rookie wall, but I think he's proving to people that rookie wall is over," Driver said. "Now he's a veteran guy, he's stepping up to make plays, and he proves it week in and week out."

Players around the league will cast their votes for the Pro Bowl later this week, and while Jennings is certainly on the radar, his chances realistically aren't too good because he's tied for 47th in the league in receptions and ranked 27th in yards.

The most impressive numbers are his 17.7 yards per catch, second in the league to Tampa Bay's Joey Galloway (17.8), and his one score roughly every four catches for a TD total that's tied for fourth overall (with Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzaeh), behind New England's Randy Moss (19), Dallas' Terrell Owens (14) and Cleveland's Braylon Edwards (13).

But Pro Bowl-bound or not, what's most impressive about Jennings is just how difficult he's becoming to stop in this offense.

Always a team-first guy, Jennings credits the scheme and the multiple threats his teammates pose for any success that comes his way. And to a certain extent he's right, because defenses have seen film of not only Jennings but Driver, James Jones and Donald Lee make their share of big plays this season as well.

"When teams go to the single-high safety, we all lick our chops, honestly," Jennings said. "Brett, the receivers, everybody. It's just like, if we can protect, we'll make a big play. When we see that, it's almost like our eyes get huge."

But Jennings deserves just as much credit for some of his eye-openers, particularly the "jump ball" of sorts against Oakland for 80 yards. Jennings had a similar play in Week 10 against Minnesota, when he out-battled cornerback Cedric Griffin for a Favre lob and took a good whack from safety Darren Sharper but held on for a 34-yard gain to the 7-yard line that set up a TD.

Favre admitted after the Raiders game that Jennings wasn't necessarily open on that deep ball and the throw didn't feel right coming out of his hand. The only thing he said he did well was keeping the throw to the outside. The rest was all Jennings.

"He continues to make plays every week that I don't want to say 'wow' you, but it's just he makes what could potentially be a hard play (and) makes it look easy," Favre said. "It's nice to know when you don't throw your best ball, that plays like that can happen."

That play, probably moreso than the game-winning bomb in Denver, could give opponents pause the rest of this month and next.

"It's not like he was 5 yards past the guy, he just made a play," Favre said. "And to me as a defensive coordinator, that worries you a little bit. A guy is 5 yards past you and you make a good throw, I mean, that just happens. But when you have good coverage, now you have to consider doubling guys like that, because even with good coverage and the guy makes a play, you've got problems."

That's a good problem for the Packers, because if defenses do start double-teaming Jennings, his teammates will benefit. Robinson calls it "one of those pick-your-poison kind of deals" when it comes to this offense.

The same can be said for defenders sizing up Jennings himself with his all-around game - deep routes, underneath patterns, yards after the catch, and ball skills - proving dangerous.

"We're not going to put him in the Hall of Fame just yet but he's certainly playing well," Robinson said. "I think the sky's the limit for the guy."

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Jim Harbaugh is a bit under-appreciated. Not that he was great or anything like that, but he started around 120 games in the NFL. To start that many at QB you have at least some talent.

C'mon Patler.

You can sit here and blab all you want about Harbaugh being underappreciated...having talent...looking good in a tight Colts white uniform.

Jennings has Brett Favre...BRETT FUCKING FAVRE...throwing him the ball.

Favre >>>> Harbaugh

Of course Favre is a better QB than Harbaugh, so what? I never suggested Harbaugh was as good as Favre. But on the other hand I don't think it is a real valid argument to suggest that Harrison's performance was down significantly his first few years because Harbaugh was his QB. Maybe a few receptions, maybe not. Who knows?

You seem fixated on Harbaugh which would be fine if he had him as the QB. Harbaugh's best TD year was below Brett's worst. Harbaugh has one year at 63%, Brett way more. Brett's subpar years are Harbaugh's average.
More importantly, Brett regularly throws 500 passes a year. Harbaugh averaged about 150 less based on 16 games sked.

But, the fact remains that he didn't. He had 2 or 3 QBs every year. Hard to build timing and rapport.

I'm not arguing Favre...this holds true for any good/great well established QB.

[Patler]

You seem fixated on Harbaugh which would be fine if he had him as the QB. Harbaugh's best TD year was below Brett's worst. Harbaugh has one year at 63%, Brett way more. Brett's subpar years are Harbaugh's average.
More importantly, Brett regularly throws 500 passes a year. Harbaugh averaged about 150 less based on 16 games sked.

But, the fact remains that he didn't. He had 2 or 3 QBs every year. Hard to build timing and rapport.

I'm not arguing Favre...this holds true for any good/great well established QB.

I don't give a crap about Harbaugh or Favre in a discussion of Jennings vs. Harrison. Others are fixated on Favre being the be-all and end-all of every Packer discussion. Quite frankly, it gets very boring at times.

So how many more receptions did Jennings have because of Favre, and how many fewer did Harrison have because of Harbaugh? 1? 2? 5? 10? 15?

How many fewer did Jennings have last year because Favre was, well, not very good?
How many fewer did Jennings have last year because Favre focused so heavily on Driver at times?

I think you can discuss wide receivers without worrying about who throws them the ball.

[RashanGary]

It seems to me that even if Jennings had Rodgers throwing him the ball, he'd be very effective. Acctually, I think Rodgers looks to Jennings more than Favre does. I didn't see any drop off in Jennings game when Rodgers entered.

Jennings was also the biggest WR in the preseason the year Rodgers was throwing him the ball with the 2nd unit (Jennings rookie year)