Jennings Needs To Focus Starting Now
By Aaron Nagler on May 26, 2010 with 32 Comments
Interesting post from Alex today over at the Lounge. I don’t agree with all or even most of it – but I do agree that Jennings seemed to take a step back in 2009. Some have said that Jennings’ drops, especially early in the year, may have been due to the offenses struggles in keeping Rodgers upright.
Please.
Rodgers running for his life had nothing to do with this:
Greg Jennings can have a Marvin Harrison-type career – if he wants it bad enough. The guy got paid and then started the season with focus problems. That’s not a good sign. But he has the talent to be special if he chooses to be. That starts now – with OTAs and Mini Camps. Focus on the route tree, focus on timing that tree with Rodgers – and focus on catching the damn ball before you start to run.
Filed Under: Aaron Rodgers • Featured • Greg Jennings
“I don’t agree with all or even most of it”
LOL.
Alex is usually right on, but I didn’t really agree with that either.
I think Ron LC summed it up best over there…
GBP 4 LIFE
That was a terrible drop, but what REALLY stands out to me in that clip… look at A-Rod’s pocket awareness, that ‘feel’ should only get better with an improved line. THAT’S exciting. THAT’S Steve-friggin’-Young-like right there.
WOOT
i think the new depth at oline really helps. Lets hope jennings takes advantage.
p.s fitz who you going for this weekend rampage or rashad?
I’m just wondering who Fitz is going to smack down this week. Hope it’s not me…I’m way over myself. BTW, all the receivers dropped too many passes last year including DD. This is an area that needs fixing. Also I believe the YAC was down a bit too but am not sure. Maybe they were pushing for yards and not focusing on the catching first.
Gee, somebody’s holding an “internet grudge”…
And about the YAC, it has dropped since Rodgers took as the QB. I don’t buy the “Rodgers puts the receivers in a bad spot” sh*t, but it is what it is.
I stand by my post(s), Doug. And as long as anybody doesn’t take an ‘intentional’ cheapshot, everything should remain relatively civil.
GBP 4 LIFE
Aussie,
Man, I’m really torn about that. I’m not a huge fan of either. It’s been awhile since Rampage has been in the Octagon (rusty?). And I’m curious to see if Rashad’s a bit gunshy after getting knocked-the-puck-out for the first time. I guess I’m just hoping for a good fight (unlike Machida vs. Shogun… WOW). With their respective styles, I’m gonna be shocked if somebody doesn’t go to sleep. Although if I were in Rashad’s corner I’d have him implement that MSU wrestling background, but I don’t wanna see that… STAND AND BANG BABY!!!!
Enjoy it Aussie, I’m looking forward to it.
I think Greg did okay last season, the drop above (and others) are likely more down to his urgency to do better than the previous season, which made him hurry catches and get impatient (and ultimately, frustrated). Hopefully this season he’s learned that you just can’t play that way.
That’s a good point – “trying to do too much” You only have to watch the playoff game to see how amazing he can be.
What do you think can be his factor to be the pro he can be? Do you think it is mental or physical? Or is he the type of person to cuise through life and never strive to or reach his true potential?
“Or is he the type of person to cuise through life and never strive to or reach his true potential?”
Man I hope not. I don’t think that’s the case. He’s working with Larry Fitzgerald in the offseason (doesn’t have to) to try to get better. I think he wants to improve.
He’s not an Andre Johnson Or Fitzgerald type of guy, he just doesn’t play with that type of physicality. He sure seems to be a bright guy though. I think he’s got to utilize his ‘smarts’ to improve, because he’s not going to get bigger, stronger, or faster.
[...] Aaron at Cheesehead TV has a counter point piece, sort of, to the Packers Lounge article on Greg Jennings posted earlier this week. While Aaron doesn’t entirely agree with Alex, he does say that Jennings Needs to Focus Starting Now. [...]
God I remember how frustrating those drops were.
Right? I specifically remember yelling at Jennings through the television after the one above…
Well, 2nd most in drops behined only the Chiefs if you go by Stats, LLC. I recall consistant reports out of camp last year about the drops with the entire receiving core and it carried into the duration of the regular season schedule. I’m anxious to hear reports of, ‘drops are few and far inbetween’ coming out of this years camp.
Tempo starts in camp, here’s to hoping.
I dont think his focus is improving after his acting debut a few weeks ago.
Jesus Christ, that was the definition of a bullet pass right there.
Hmmm… I seem to notice that Rodgers stopped throwing a lot of his “cannon” passes throughout the course of the season. Ironically the recievers started to actually catch the lighter passes.
Aren’t these the same guys that caught Favre’s finger breakers? AR throws harder????
The drops tapered off pretty quickly last season and every receiver was guilty on several occasions. Makes me wonder what the common factor is.
Check out the stats:
1 CHI W 21-15 6 106 17.7 50
2 CIN L 31-24 0 0 0.0
3 @STL W 36-17 2 103 51.5 53
4 @MIN L 30-23 3 31 10.3 14
5 Bye Week
6 DET W 26-0 6 64 10.7 26
7 @CLE W 31-3 5 52 10.4 18
8 MIN L 38-26 7 81 11.6 30
9 @TB L 38-28 5 61 12.2 21
10 DAL W 17-7 4 45 11.3 14
11 SF W 30-24 5 126 25.2 64
12 @DET W 34-12 4 53 13.3 33
13 BAL W 27-14 6 77 12.8 21
14 @CHI W 21-14 3 56 18.7 25
15 @PIT L 37-36 5 118 23.6 83
16 SEA W 48-10 4 111 27.8 40
17 @ARI W 33-7 3 29 9.7 12
After looking at those it seems to pretty clear that Jennings thrives on the big play. He doesn’t catch a ton of balls (volume) but his best games are usually when he has one deep pass at least. Chicago, Pittsburg, San Fran, St. Louis. I can’t recall if he had one in the Arizona game. He did have that one insane sideline catch.
I don’t think it’s a matter of not working hard. Last off season I remember hearing about how he did that workout with Larry Fitzgerald. Maybe he was simply trying to hard or thinking to much.
I remember in the tampa game, Rodgers threw it into triple coverage way down the field to Greg and it was a perfect throw and went right through his hands.
If he makes that catch it might have shifted that game into a win despite how bad we played.
It seemed like the whole season the receivers weren’t ever all on in the same games. In the first half of the season Driver was making circus catches and having a great season, then he tailed off the second half. Jennings started off badly but played better the second half, especially in the game that matter most, the playoff game.
It seems to me that if Donald, Greg, and Jermichael all played well in the same game we would blow every opponent out.
“It seems to me that if Donald, Greg, and Jermichael all played well in the same game we would blow every opponent out.”
Y
E
S
I don’t care who we’re playing, they can’t match up. It all teeters on whether or not #12 has ample time to let the routes develop and get the ball out. There’s no reason this offense can’t challenge some scoring records.
Yeah, I think it’s focus, but I don’t know why.
They started off slow, but later in the season the drops seemed to stop.
But right in the most important game, where the focus should be total, we all saw complete lack from everybody…
The blocking on that play wasn’t super, but wasn’t bad like “running for your life”, A-rod had 3 to 3.5 seconds to throw the ball before he scrambled for more time.
Last year I got tickets for the Monday Night game in Minn. After seeing an NFL game live and viewing the whole play as it develops made me realize how much we miss watching at home with all the closeup shots.
Particularly that game as I watched the old veteran BF put on a show on how to get rid of the ball fast hitting his receiver in stride.
Before that game I wanted a completely new O-line and the line coach fired. After being able to watch all 22 players at once, it was clear half the problem was with A-rod.
IMO A-rod and Jennings will get even more in tune this year, if that pass was a little more in front and lower he makes that catch.
Totally agree with everything until “…if that pass was a little more in front and lower he makes that catch.” — which is beyond absurd.
I may have gone a little over board there. A receiver of Jennings pay scale should catch that ball, a little lower in the numbers would have helped.
I guess to be more clear to my point we don’t know what any of the receivers positions are for a second or 2 when the camera zooms in on A-rod
Was Jennings in a much better position before? What are the positions of the other receivers? All we see is that pass and that side of the field.
That’s what I’m saying. That throw doesn’t serve as an example, because it was a perfect throw. But most throws aren’t perfect.
But they’re catchable. I’d say 95% of Rodgers’ throws are catchable. And the level of our receivers suggest they should make those catches. It’s on them.
I abide by the old saying: If you can touch it, you can catch it.
I remember Rodgers’ first int, were he threw the ball high, but the receiver let it go up in the air, and the defender made the int. A hard ball, but a catchable ball.
Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-SjGkZLtPA
Look at how Freeman has to adjust to a lot of balls that Favre throws… And a lot of people consider DD and Jennings better than Freeman.
Point is, it’s on the receivers, if the ball is catchable.
Actually, the year before the two of them made almost the exact same play against Tennessee that went for a big gain. The one where Jennings came back and got around Finnegan. I think he had visions of the same thing here and started running before he caught it. In fact, I’m almost positive.
I completely agree with you. If Rodgers runs to Jennings and places the ball in his hands, Jennings makes the catch…
You got me, point taken. I got a little carried away.
“I specifically remember yelling at Jennings through the television after the one above…”
Alex and I were yelling from section 107.
you also have to take into account.. they have all been catching passes from favre for years.. favre doesnt throw like anyone else.. adjusting to ar would take some time. i cant place blame on anyone for taking a while to adjust to him and i dont know if itll be perfect next season either.. i certainly expect to see improvement but rodgers still needs to grow a little when it comes to his timing and ball placement.. and.. jennings doesnt seem all that serious about his football career.. when u listen to interviews he always says “if i play that long” when someone talks about his potential.. he doesnt come across as someone who is really dedicated.. he just has a lot of natural talent and the ability to break big plays he isnt a driver.. hes not the guy you throw the ball to 10 times a game.. he catches 5-7 balls and gets a lot of yards with those catches i dont see him ever being the guy you go to when u need a catch.. hes the guy you throw to when your comfortable and are trying to create a big play.. which is an important thing to think about.. cause driver isnt getting any younger.. i believe after this year they are going to need to find a wideout that will be what driver is for them.. the guy you throw it to the majority of the time.. cause jennings will always only be a big play wr not a go to wr.. and there is a difference