Packers Add Two “Clutch” Receivers
By Brian Carriveau on Aug 25, 2011 with 6 Comments
The SEC is the unquestioned top conference in college football, at least until someone knocks them off their perch.
So to be one of the top receivers in the best college football conference in America is no small matter. The Green Bay Packers added two of them this year.
According to a recently released set of numbers from STATS dubbed “clutch catches,” the Packers added two of the SEC’s top seven receivers in that category from last season, including the top overall, in Randall Cobb and D.J. Williams.
Clutch catches are defined as any reception on third and fourth down that results in a touchdown or first down.
The SEC’s leaders in 2010…
| Randall Cobb, Kentucky | 22 | Round 2, Pick 32 | Green Bay Packers |
| Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina | 21 | ||
| Gerald Jones, Tennessee | 20 | undrafted | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Chris Matthews, Kentucky | 18 | undrafted | Cleveland Browns |
| Darvin Adams, Auburn | 16 | undrafted | Carolina Panthers |
| Carl Moore, Florida | 15 | ||
| DJ Williams, Arkansas | 13 | Round 5, Pick 10 | Green Bay Packers |
| Julio Jones, Alabama | 13 | Round 1, Pick 6 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Terrence Tolliver, LSU | 11 | undrafted | Houston Texans |
Filed Under: D.J. Williams • Packers News • Randall Cobb
How did those guys rank across the nation?
Good question. I’m only privvy to the information STATS sent to me, which only included the SEC. You can visit them at STATS.com.
As a hardcore University of Kentucky fan, I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Cobb is playing for the Packers…as a hardcore Packers fan.
If you’re looking for a WR with a clutch gene, then you’ve definitely got it with Cobb. This kid doesn’t give up, and gives 100% on every play. This can come back to bite him at times, as he tends to get really down on himself when he does make a mistake.
He was a great returner as well. He doesn’t have great break-away speed, but he’s extremely agile and can break tackles like a RB. Another interesting facet of his game, is he has roots as a QB. When our starting QB went down in Cobb’s freshman year, he ended up being our starter and did a good job. So he’s a good utility player which could come in handy for any trick plays as well.
I’ve seen enough of DJ through the years, guy will be a stud in the future
Isn’t Sherrod’s school also in the SEC. That would mean at least three of their draft picks from this draft are from the SEC.
Not to poop on the parade, but how meaningful has this stat been over time when looking at draft picks going into the NFL? You can’t help but notice that a majority of these “top 7 clutch receivers” went undrafted. As much as we all love undrafted guys like Shields, the truth is the NFL scouts and managers seem to know what they’re doing (o.k. except in Oakland where what they know doesn’t matter because they work for Al Davis).