Greg Jennings

[Thunder Muscle]

Where have you gone? I haven't heard a peep about this guy. I watched half of the game vs. Pittsburgh and had quite a few distractions while watching last night, but I didn't really notice him at all. I know there was an article saying he was a little frustrated this camp with not being utilized much. But it is true, he seems like a forgotten guy at the moment. I assume the team just wants to get a feel for the 3-6 WR.

[LeopoldStotch]

You gotta think that James Jones could be pushing for the no. 2 spot ahead of Jennings pretty soon. Although, I think he only knows the flanker position (Driver's starting spot), so maybe he can't start with DD.

I think part of the reason Jennings has been quiet is the coaches and TT trying to get a look at the other guys, but it's not like Jennings is a grizzly old veteran. He'll see more balls once the season starts, but it's odd that he's been nearly invisible all camp.

[paulpressey25]

He's playing a different position this pre-season in the Packer offense. He's at the receiver slot that doesn't get many balls called for him in an effort to get James Jones more reps and playing time.......he'll resume his spot when the season starts.....

Or at least that is the official line.....in reality I think Jones is outplaying him.

[MickeyDavis]

There was a large article in yesterdays paper. Jennings has been moved to split end in camp. Split end is pretty much a decoy, last in the QB's progressions. He's not happy about it but they are doing it to integrate Jones into the offense and get him ready.

Jones has been impressive. Jennings will be fine too.

[ReasonablySober]

Jennings was my guy last year. Was thrilled when they drafted him and he did nothing but impress last season. He could have had 1000 yards had he been healthy.

But wow, like I said in the game thread, how can you keep James Jones off the field? All he's done is be the team's best player this preseason. Thompson said that the thing that attracted him to the guy was that at San Jose, he consistently won battles for the ball in the air. You throw it up there, he comes down with it. Last night you certainly saw that.

I hope that the coaches award the starting spot to the player that wins it. Jennings shouldn't be penciled in just because he was there last year.

[smacks1]

Jennings was my guy last year. Was thrilled when they drafted him and he did nothing but impress last season. He could have had 1000 yards had he been healthy.

But wow, like I said in the game thread, how can you keep James Jones off the field? All he's done is be the team's best player this preseason. Thompson said that the thing that attracted him to the guy was that at San Jose, he consistently won battles for the ball in the air. You throw it up there, he comes down with it. Last night you certainly saw that.

I hope that the coaches award the starting spot to the player that wins it. Jennings shouldn't be penciled in just because he was there last year.

Although the thought of Jones matching up against the 3rd DB probably has McCarthy smiling. Hopefully he can keep it up into the regular season. Everyone has seen those guys who look great in preseason and then disappear once week 1 rolls around.....

[El Duderino]

I don't want this at all to come off that i'm not very impressed with Jones,but quite a few of his catches have come off shallow crossing routes where he then ran well after the catch.Jennings hasn't been given those same routes to run,routes more likely to result in the QB looking for him and the chance to shine by running in the open field.

With that said,the coaches see every practice and i'm sure they will know how to use both Jennings/Jones best.For now it's just exciting to see Jones looks like a such keeper.Last year finding two decent wide receivers was a problem after Jennings got hurt,now the three WR sets should actually feature real talent.

[Ayt]

There was a large article in yesterdays paper. Jennings has been moved to split end in camp. Split end is pretty much a decoy, last in the QB's progressions. He's not happy about it but they are doing it to integrate Jones into the offense and get him ready.

Jones has been impressive. Jennings will be fine too.

The impressive thing about Jennings last year was that he was able to learn every WR position soon enough that they had no qualms about moving him around even early in the preseason. That rarely happens.

I'm not worried about Jennings. Hopefully if he is stuck at SE all year he can catch a good number of balls because he has the best ability out of all the WR to take a short one deep.

[ssssssnake]

I was more worried until I read the JS artical. If he's not getting looked at, it's hard to get the ball. He hasn't been dropping balls so I think he'll be fine once he starts getting passes thrown his way. Al Harris also plays on the right side of the defense, which is typically the weak side of the offense which is where the X reciever usually plays.

1. Harris covers him most plays
2. He's the last read on most plays

Let's see what happens in three games of the regular season. If he's not getting open, not catching balls when they are thrown his way and not making things happen with the ball while Jones is, then we'll consider a change. I think AYT hit it right on the head, he's the guy on our team that has the best chance of taking a short pass to the house. He's a real threat. I think it will come together in the regular season.

On the bright side, we have what looks like legit #1, #2 and #3 WR's with good depth at the other two spots.

[MickeyDavis]

Competition is a good thing. Going into camp it was Driver #1, Jennings #2 and everyone else lumped together. Jones emergence has ticked off Jennings. Good. Now go out and earn that #2 spot.

[Ayt]

Competition is a good thing. Going into camp it was Driver #1, Jennings #2 and everyone else lumped together. Jones emergence has ticked off Jennings. Good. Now go out and earn that #2 spot.

How has it ticked him off? If he's ticked off, its about always having to play the X and not ever getting any balls thrown his way. And he's not playing the X because Jones is better, he's playing it because they wanted Jones to learn the toughest position first so he could better be utilized in the regular season.

I don't get any "ticked off" vibe from Jennings other than him wanting to be more involved, which is completely understandable since last year he was able to move all over since, unlike Jones, he was able to learn all of the WR positions in no time at all.

[MickeyDavis]

We talk to Greg all the time. He and Jones are buddies, that's not a problem. He understands needing to get Jones integrated into the offense but he wants plenty of time to work on his game as well. He was hurt most of the second half of the season, it some ways he's starting over.

Here is an article from earlier today:

Posted August 20, 2007

Rookie Jones likely won't start despite solid play

By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

As good as James Jones has been as a rookie receiver for the Green Bay Packers, there's probably little chance coach Mike McCarthy will throw him into the starting lineup anytime soon.

The third-round draft pick from San Jose State had another eye-opening performance on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks in preseason game No. 2. He improved upon what has been a solid summer of work on the practice field by putting up almost unheard-of numbers for a rookie at his position.

Jones caught four passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns. A week earlier, he caught a team-high six passes for 58 yards in the preseason opener at Pittsburgh. A week before that, he caught two balls for 26 yards in the Family Night scrimmage at Lambeau Field.

All summer, Jones has been lauded for his sturdy hands. Saturday against the Seahawks was perhaps the greatest evidence of them. He plucked a ball from inches above the ground with his right hand and shifted it to his left to secure a 7-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That came after his 16-yard touchdown catch and run on a drag route from Brett Favre and a sparkling sideline catch for 32 yards on a go-route from Favre.

SNIP-

Why, then, wouldn't Philbin and McCarthy consider elevating him into the starting lineup?

The coaches have schooled Jones primarily in the "Z" or flanker position

[Ayt]

Exactly. He's not ticked off, he's just frustrated even though he understands why he's not getting many opportunities.

I thought this was funny:

The third-round draft pick from San Jose State had another eye-opening performance on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks in preseason game No. 2. He improved upon what has been a solid summer of work on the practice field by putting up almost unheard-of numbers for a rookie at his position.

Jennings led the entire NFL in receiving yards in the preseason last year with 328 with the next guy at only 245. Opportunity leads to production.

[MickeyDavis]

We are meeting up with Brandon Jackson early next week. Jennings will probably be there and there's a good chance Jones will be too. We'll sound them out.

[Ayt]

We are meeting up with Brandon Jackson early next week. Jennings will probably be there and there's a good chance Jones will be too. We'll sound them out.

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