Nelson v. Jones - who is the Packers #3 WR? (1 Viewer)

[smackdaddies]

From the Journal Sentinel

The space separating the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers for the Green Bay Packers is so clouded that you'd have a hard time putting labels on the two guys fighting for the better of the two positions.

Even James Jones and Jordy Nelson don't know who is No. 3 and No. 4.

"I can't even call it," Jones said when asked if he was the No. 3. "That's something you have to ask the coaches. You ask them and they say we have no starters. So, who knows? I can't call it."

Jones has held the No. 3 spot for most of the two-plus seasons he has been with the Packers, but lately Nelson, a second-round pick in 2008, has taken over some of the territory through improved performance.

If you want to get technical about it, they are now in a time-share position. Unofficially, Jones has taken part in 87 plays from scrimmage (not counting penalties) and Nelson has taken part in 85. You couldn't get a much more equal distribution of playing time if you were charting their plays, which receivers coach Jimmy Robinson says he doesn't do.

Nelson's ascension has everything to do with Jones' decline in playing time from last year, and possibly his lack of production.

In the last two games, Nelson was the target of nine of quarterback Aaron Rodgers' passes, six of which he caught for 93 yards and a touchdown and one he dropped. Jones, on the other hand, had just four passes thrown his way, one of which he caught for 34 yards and two he dropped.

 

[PatsChowder]

I remember reading something in the preseason saying that Jones could have a leg up because he was a better blocker. That being said, we certainly haven't seen that leg up in any way, shape, or form.

 

[AB in DC]

I remember hearing on one of the Audible podcasts that one of them has a style more like Driver, and the other has a style more like Jennings, but now I can't remember which is which.

I think the suggestion is that they play separate roles in the GB offense. So if Driver gets hurt, one of them will step in, but if Jennings gets hurt, it'll be the other one.

Any help?

 

[footballsavvy]

I remember hearing on one of the Audible podcasts that one of them has a style more like Driver, and the other has a style more like Jennings, but now I can't remember which is which.I think the suggestion is that they play separate roles in the GB offense. So if Driver gets hurt, one of them will step in, but if Jennings gets hurt, it'll be the other one.Any help?

All signs were pointing to Jones in the pre-season. I had them both so I put a 5 yr contract on Jones and left a 1 yr on Jordy. Now it seems like Jordy is outplaying Jones after the first 5 weeks. I may have to up my bid on Nelson in the offseason and lock him down long term to be safe.I did read something about Driver being potentially on the trade block due to his contract expiring soon. However, I would be surprised if they let him go.

 

[footballsavvy]

I remember hearing on one of the Audible podcasts that one of them has a style more like Driver, and the other has a style more like Jennings, but now I can't remember which is which.I think the suggestion is that they play separate roles in the GB offense. So if Driver gets hurt, one of them will step in, but if Jennings gets hurt, it'll be the other one.Any help?

Jones is a hard-nosed tough receiver. Jordy is more speed/finess. At least thats what my observations have been. I would guess that Jones=Driver and Jordy=Jennings.

 

[Tau837]

I remember hearing on one of the Audible podcasts that one of them has a style more like Driver, and the other has a style more like Jennings, but now I can't remember which is which.I think the suggestion is that they play separate roles in the GB offense. So if Driver gets hurt, one of them will step in, but if Jennings gets hurt, it'll be the other one.Any help?

All signs were pointing to Jones in the pre-season. I had them both so I put a 5 yr contract on Jones and left a 1 yr on Jordy. Now it seems like Jordy is outplaying Jones after the first 5 weeks. I may have to up my bid on Nelson in the offseason and lock him down long term to be safe.I did read something about Driver being potentially on the trade block due to his contract expiring soon. However, I would be surprised if they let him go.

Driver's contract doesn't expire until after the 2010 season. However, he is due $4M in 2010 plus a $3M offseason roster bonus. I doubt they'll pay that roster bonus... so I'd expect him to be released this offseason or to restructure his contract, possibly with an extension in lieu of the roster bonus. Which one will depend on how he plays this season, and probably also on how Nelson and Jones play.I just picked up Jones in a dynasty league, and I plan to sit on him this year to let this situation play out. He could be anywhere from WR #2 to WR #4 on the Packers a year from now. (Same for Nelson.)

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Perhaps worth noting that, with Will Blackmon out for the season, Jordy Nelson will be the #1 return guy for both kickoffs and punts.

 

[SSOG]

Driver's contract doesn't expire until after the 2010 season. However, he is due $4M in 2010 plus a $3M offseason roster bonus. I doubt they'll pay that roster bonus... so I'd expect him to be released this offseason or to restructure his contract, possibly with an extension in lieu of the roster bonus. Which one will depend on how he plays this season, and probably also on how Nelson and Jones play.I just picked up Jones in a dynasty league, and I plan to sit on him this year to let this situation play out. He could be anywhere from WR #2 to WR #4 on the Packers a year from now. (Same for Nelson.)

I'm in a deep dynasty league and I've been sitting on them both since they were rookies. Every time I think one is pulling ahead, the other starts making noise. Jones looked terrible as a rookie (but with plenty of flashes of potential), and very good as a sophomore. Jordy looked bad as a rookie, but not as bad as Jones. In the preseason, Jones was the guy. So far this season, Nelson is the guy. If someone put a gun to my head and said I had to pick one or the other, I'd go with Nelson, but it's like a 50.01% to 49.99% advantage one way or another.With that said, I'm really happy to hold them both. I figure this way I'm guaranteed to get Green Bay's #2 going forward, and as a consolation prize I'll have Green Bay's #3 (and that rarest of beasts- a WR handcuff), as well. Both have looked more than good enough to reassure me that Green Bay will promote from within rather than bringing in outside competition.

 

[Literary Reference]

Jones looked terrible as a rookie (but with plenty of flashes of potential), and very good as a sophomore.

This is the opposite of what I remember. Jones impressed me as a rookie more than Jennings did as a rookie. 2nd year, Jones got hurt early and did very little.Agree that it's tough to guess which between Jones and Nelson will be worth more though.

 

[sparkky]

I'm in the "hold the Jones" club hoping it will shake out his way next year and Driver will leave.

can't say it's working out to well so far but it's early in the season too, lots of football to play.

 

[SSOG]

Jones looked terrible as a rookie (but with plenty of flashes of potential), and very good as a sophomore.

This is the opposite of what I remember. Jones impressed me as a rookie more than Jennings did as a rookie. 2nd year, Jones got hurt early and did very little.Agree that it's tough to guess which between Jones and Nelson will be worth more though.

My recollection of it was that Jones looked impressive at times (impressive enough to have me very excited about his prospects), but on the whole was underwhelming (lots of catches short of the sticks, lots of stat padding). Last year, James Jones looked really impressive and seemed to have solved all of his consistency issues from the start of preseason all the way up until he got hurt and lost for the year. Nelson, on the other hand, looked like a rookie.

 

[Pipes]

I remember hearing on one of the Audible podcasts that one of them has a style more like Driver, and the other has a style more like Jennings, but now I can't remember which is which.I think the suggestion is that they play separate roles in the GB offense. So if Driver gets hurt, one of them will step in, but if Jennings gets hurt, it'll be the other one.Any help?

Jones is a hard-nosed tough receiver. Jordy is more speed/finess. At least thats what my observations have been. I would guess that Jones=Driver and Jordy=Jennings.

I guess it's confusing because I see it the other way. Jones seems more of a vertical threat while Nelson seems to get more of his receptions on slant passes. I think that's why Nelson has more catches. But who knows...that seems to change all the time.

 

[smackdaddies]

Jones looked terrible as a rookie (but with plenty of flashes of potential), and very good as a sophomore.

This is the opposite of what I remember. Jones impressed me as a rookie more than Jennings did as a rookie. 2nd year, Jones got hurt early and did very little.Agree that it's tough to guess which between Jones and Nelson will be worth more though.

That would be, no, unless you ignored the fact that Jennings was hurt for much of his rookie season. It would be like downgrading Jones for his sophomore season, even though he was hurt for quite a bit last year.Jennings has always outplayed Jones - Jennings has speed and hands Jones can only dream of. Jones is definitely tougher, but Jennings has the speed and skills. Jones had a fine rookie year, but a distant third to Jennings and Driver

There was a whole lot of man crush on Jones on these boards that rookie year, but when it came to scoreboard, it was Jennings all the way.

 

[DropKick]

Finley was 6 for 125+ last time out. What are the chance he becomes a bigger and more consistent factor in the passing game?

 

[FUBAR]

Driver's contract doesn't expire until after the 2010 season. However, he is due $4M in 2010 plus a $3M offseason roster bonus. I doubt they'll pay that roster bonus... so I'd expect him to be released this offseason or to restructure his contract, possibly with an extension in lieu of the roster bonus. Which one will depend on how he plays this season, and probably also on how Nelson and Jones play.I just picked up Jones in a dynasty league, and I plan to sit on him this year to let this situation play out. He could be anywhere from WR #2 to WR #4 on the Packers a year from now. (Same for Nelson.)

I'm in a deep dynasty league and I've been sitting on them both since they were rookies. Every time I think one is pulling ahead, the other starts making noise. Jones looked terrible as a rookie (but with plenty of flashes of potential), and very good as a sophomore. Jordy looked bad as a rookie, but not as bad as Jones. In the preseason, Jones was the guy. So far this season, Nelson is the guy. If someone put a gun to my head and said I had to pick one or the other, I'd go with Nelson, but it's like a 50.01% to 49.99% advantage one way or another.With that said, I'm really happy to hold them both. I figure this way I'm guaranteed to get Green Bay's #2 going forward, and as a consolation prize I'll have Green Bay's #3 (and that rarest of beasts- a WR handcuff), as well. Both have looked more than good enough to reassure me that Green Bay will promote from within rather than bringing in outside competition.

I drafted them both late in a start-up this year and just now acquired Driver. I prefer Nelson and have since before he was drafted, but time will tell - I hope.

 

[Bankerguy]

I'm betting on Nelson-but certainly it's murky at best.

 

[smackdaddies]

Finley was 6 for 125+ last time out. What are the chance he becomes a bigger and more consistent factor in the passing game?

He WILL become a bigger and more consistent factor, but perhaps not for another year - he is more WR than TE - Rookie year was a waste, his sophomore year he is looking better - next year should prove to be top 10. I would say top 5, but the packers have a deeper WR corp than just about anyone, and that will always limit touches for the TE