Packers Young Receivers Need Rodgers' Confidence

When it comes to wide receivers, Rodgers' confidence in them is paramount to their success.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has seen a lot in the decade that he's been in the NFL.  Coming in as a rookie in 2005, he waited patiently behind Brett Favre for a chance to shine in green and gold.  He endured a tumultuous summer in 2008 when the Packers were deciding what to do with a wavering Favre and fans were booing him at practice.  Just two short seasons later, Green Bay and Rodgers hoisted their latest Lombardi trophy.  

A year later, a 15-1 and dominant Packers team was bounced from the playoffs after a home loss to the New York Giants.  In 2013, Rodgers missed half of the season with a broken collarbone only to return to lead Green Bay to a dramatic season finale win over the Chicago Bears and another playoff appearance.  Last season, Rodgers had his team within minutes of another Super Bowl appearance when the inexplicable laws of nature took over and snatched that chance from the Packers.

Over the last 10 seasons, Rodgers has undoubtedly learned what it takes to be a successful pro and when it comes to wide receivers, his confidence in them is paramount to their success.  Last season, the Packers spent a seventh-round draft pick on receiver Jeff Janis.  Janis's measurables compare closely to Jordy Nelson, who has become a staple of the Packers' offense and a regular target of Rodgers's.  But that's where the comparison between Janis and Nelson ends. Janis became a bit of a fan favorite last summer and many questions arose about whether he could earn a roster spot when final cut downs were made.  

When Rodgers was asked about Janis, however, he was very guarded in his praise of the young wideout and even alluded to a lack of understanding of the Packers' offense that may be holding Janis back.  

A year later, Rodgers is still offering vague feedback about Janis, while at the same time, praising fellow youngster Jared Abbrederis.  Abbrederis, as you may recall, tore his ACL early in training camp last year and missed his entire rookie season.  Abby, as fans affectionately refer to him, was also a big fan favorite and received some of the loudest ovations during practice sessions.  

As it turns out, these very two receivers will likely find themselves locked in a battle for the team's final receiver spot behind Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and rookie Ty Montgomery, who is all but a lock on this year's roster, but who will also be working on his rapport with Rodgers.  Last year, Janis had two catches in the preseason and both were 35-yard touchdown catches.  

If it was big-play ability that the Packers coaching staff was looking for, Janis gave them just that.  Yet, he wasn't active on game day much and played very few meaningful snaps during the regular season.  

Janis knows he needs to buckle down and understand the playbook if he wants to be putting on the uniform this season.  He has also said he hopes to contribute more on specials teams, a role that many rookies use to catapult themselves to bigger things throughout the season.  A year later, Janis knows that his time is running out to gain the confidence of the coaching staff and, just as importantly, Rodgers.

With the Packers poised to make another run at a Super Bowl in 2015, the final roster becomes very important and each position group meticulously chosen.  The choice to carry an extra receiver may mean one fewer defensive lineman or linebacker, for example.  While it's up to the coaches and general manager Ted Thompson to ultimately make those decisions, it comes down to how comfortable Rodgers is with these young pass--catchers on the field that may give them the last push they need to spend another year as Packers.  

 

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (12)

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 17, 2015 at 01:51 pm

" A year later, Rodgers is still offering vague feedback about Janis, while at the same time, praising fellow youngster Jared Abbrederis."

Would you mind posting the link(s) or at least a few sentences from the praise of Abbrederis' on field exploits from OTA's and the one day of mini camp by Rodgers,less the standard applaud given to any player as to his endeavor to recovery which is already an understood,that would void a premise(mine) of meaning from you with no direct wording,that Janis should simply pack his bags and begin his travel to make another teams roster.
I'm not of conviction to prove you or any other wrong,as is by many often the verdict, but want only to read myself the reason(s) that led or swayed you to come to these thoughts and apply weight to and erase any inserted premise of mine about them.
Thank You. :)

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Icebowler's picture

June 17, 2015 at 02:16 pm

"Rodgers had his team within minutes of another Super Bowl appearance when the inexplicable laws of nature took over and snatched that chance from the Packers."

The inexplicable laws of nature took over? Well that's definitely the most creative explanation I've heard yet to explain what happened to the Packers in the NFC Championship game.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 17, 2015 at 02:21 pm

Yes, more like the inexplicable laws of stupidity.

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 17, 2015 at 02:42 pm

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/307051341.html

I watched and listened to this,which was posted by another who I offer a thank you for doing,however Rodgers talks about what he viewed last year in Abbrederis and was happy about him being healthy and back in the mix.Rodgers says that being fast and big isn't always a need as Jared seemed to get separation in the slot last camp and that in itself cannot be used to dismiss Janis nor can the fact already known of his need to enhance his route knowledge and running.This 2.5 min tape doesn't offer anything to suggest Abbrederis has or will supplant Janis for a spot to date or offered any disgruntlement by Rodgers toward Janis as was a couple of times last year,which is an expected from Rodgers who requires perfection,perhaps to a fault, and may be looked back upon,depending, on the teams over all outcome as achieving perfection cannot be realized without real game venture. :)

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Mojo's picture

June 17, 2015 at 04:43 pm

This might be a good video topic to show the difference between a well run route and a poor one and what it looks like to the QB. Maybe even show Abby and Janis in action.

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 17, 2015 at 06:18 pm

Perhaps we will get to do that this preseason but I would not rely on an unbiased approach as to which clips or routes run are compared.There are some who believe no difference exists between an apple and an orange because both are fruit. :)

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BMGG77's picture

June 18, 2015 at 12:06 am

I really enjoy the way you seek to find truth in this article rather than simply taking the authors words for it. I wish more readers were as active as you. We will get to the bottom of this one way or another. You won't allow for anything less.

I applaud you :)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 18, 2015 at 12:40 am

I have expressed my opinion about Rodgers' obsession with the WRs knowing the routes and adjustments. I appear to be in a minority of one. So be it. While there is a happy medium involved, I think Rodgers ignores too much the receivers he doesn't trust. I am not really talking about Janis so much as Richard Rodgers and to a much lesser extent, Adams. Aaron ignored his TE, even on safety valve and dump off type plays where the route is certainly not intricate, and consequently I thought the defenses we faced ignored the TEs. I thought LBs who dropped back into a zone did not come up to match Richard Rodgers and instead just stayed at their normal depth. Aaron mouthed the words that the veterans have to tow the rookies along, but he could have actually practiced it more. Thompson tWins disagreed with me forcefully. His points were valid, and yes, it might lead to an extra INT, maybe even two if applied to Adams. I don't think it would have in regards to the TEs.

I've seen a lot of these articles where authors talk about gaining Aaron's trust and his obsession with it like it's a good thing to the exclusion of utilizing available talent.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 18, 2015 at 11:33 am

Have to agree with you especially about the TE's. There have to be some growing pains during the season. That is how one really learns.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 18, 2015 at 11:28 am

I'm rooting for them both. I also think Rodgers wants Janis to succeed and is not so stubborn as to write him off. Yes he wants him and everyone to know what not knowing their routes will get them. A ticket out of town. Rodgers is smart enough to see Janis' potential.

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Oppy's picture

June 18, 2015 at 05:15 pm

I haven't heard that Abberderis knows the offense better than Janis, but I've seen with my own two eyes that Abberderis was a much more polished route runner and WR in general than Janis.

Janis has great potential, but he was not nearly as refined as Abby was coming out of the draft.

Janis gets his fundamentals down, and he'll be a monster deep threat.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 19, 2015 at 03:23 pm

Dear receivers,

Run the right routes.
Make the correct adjustments.
Catch the ball when it's thrown to you.

Sincerely,
Everybody

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