Point of Veau: Don't Count on Davante Adams Playing Meaningful Snaps Early

The rookie wide receiver has played only four snaps with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the preseason.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams by Jasen Vinlove—USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams by Jasen Vinlove—USA TODAY Sports.

Based on the way the preseason has played out, don't expect to see Green Bay Packers second round draft choice Davante Adams to play a big role on the Packers offense early in the 2014 season.

Of the 86 snaps Davante Adams has played in three games this preseason, exactly four have come with the first-string offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Asked specifically about rookies like Adams, Richard Rodgers and Jeff Janis, Rodgers was bullish on their readiness to contribute immediately.

"They need to catch up," said Rodgers. "I think some of them are playing it the right way, and some of them got to catch up. They're going to need to if they want to be on the field. We're going to play the best guys whether that's putting an extra tight end on the field or putting an extra receiver on the field.

"We're taking a couple of those guys off and going some two-back stuff with (John) Kuhn out there. Mike (McCarthy has) done a great job of really putting our best players on the field, and regardless of the personnel set, whether it's three receivers, two backs or two tight ends and one back or our Zebra personnel we run a lot of no-huddle stuff out of, it's going to be the best players out on the field, and the best players are going to be the guys who are most prepared and doing it in practice every single day."

Among the two, Richard Rodgers appears more likely than Adams to play a meaningful role when the Packers open the regular season against the Seattle Seattle in a little more than a week.

The rookie tight end has started each of the team's three preseason games and already has significantly more experience operating out of the Packers no-huddle offense with Aaron Rodgers directing the show.

It's not easy for a rookie to come in after the draft and pick up the Packers offense without a hitch, explains McCarthy.

"I think it's a normal process that these guys go through," said McCarthy. "I think if you ask Richard and Davante, they'd probably think they're preparing more than they ever have before. They think they're probably doing a heck of a job. And the reality of it is, being a rookie, it's never enough. It's just not enough, and once you're able to catch your breath and things slow down for you. Then you realize that there's a whole other level of learning that goes on.

"So right now the younger guys are trying to do the right thing, get the timing within the system with Aaron in particular. But once again, you have a system of football. We refer to the cheat system or the system of experience. All the little things that go on on a daily basis aren't things that are written down in a book. They're not just things that you can tell someone. There's a process you have to go through, and every rookie has to go through that."

Thus far through the exhibition season, veteran Andrew Quarless has gotten his fair share of time at tight end and looks to share at least some time with Rodgers.

But at wide receiver, Adams looks far behind the trio of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Boykin.

Nelson and Cobb are easily considered the top two wideouts on the Packers roster, but the performance of Boykin this training camp has proven there's still a big gap between No. 3 and No. 4 wide receivers.

"Jarrett Boykin, just clearly he's taken the next step," said McCarthy. "I just love the way he plays. He's physical, his toughness, he's relentless. I think he's exceptional at the top of his route. His ability, you see his strength and balance to separate from a DB, so I think he's had an excellent camp."

It's been difficult for Adams to stand out in preseason action with so many other players on the roster, grabbing just four passes for 50 yards and averaging 12.5 yards per catch.

There's still one more preseason game for Adams to prove his mettle on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, although he isn't likely to get much of a chance with the first-string offense. Being the exhibition finale, the Packers typically play their starters either sparingly or not at all.

Most likely, Adams' path to playing time will be through hard work and patience, taking advantage of every snap in a practice environment. His time will come, but don't expect it arrive Week 1.

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (14)

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jmac34's picture

August 26, 2014 at 03:30 pm

GB doesn't really need Adams early on in the season so it is fine that he is a bit behind the curve. Nelson and Cobb weren't exactly world beaters when they were rookies either

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 26, 2014 at 03:41 pm

That's exactly it... They don't need Adams right away. We knew going into camp that Boykin was going to be tough to unseat as the 3rd WR. All Adams needs to do is keep getting better, and be ready to roll when needed and hopefully as the season wears on he will be contributing more and more.

Rodgers however they do need right away and they need him to play well. He seems to be playing well so far.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 26, 2014 at 08:01 pm

Well...Said...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 27, 2014 at 12:32 am

Greg Jennings and James Jones each caught over 40 passes for over 600 yards in their rookie years. No other rookie receiver going back to and including Javon Walker did that well. Jordy Nelson caught 33 passes for 366 yards, which was above average for a rookie, but he did not take a 2nd year jump. Not sure if he had any injuries. Looking over the stats for rookie receivers going back to 1999, 20 to 30 receptions for 200 to 300 or so yards is pretty common, even for rookies drafted in the first and second rounds.

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Imma Fubared's picture

August 26, 2014 at 04:05 pm

This is another reason why I always admired the Vikes Philosophy ( not a fan ). Draft people with smarts so they can learn the system and learn it quickly.
They picked Ponder because he did the Wonderlic in like 5 minutes. Graduated from college in two years and in 3 finished with a masters.
Ya his arm sucked but he learned the system right now, was able to play right away and contribute and that is one heck of an important factor that gets left out.
I watched a few side line chats during the Vikes pre game and every person they talked too, spoke in complete sentences, were articulate and were able to talk constructively.
That's why I'm not a big fan of undrafteds and later round picks.
I think the pack has some developmental issues with some people. And its the reason they are slower to catch on.

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jmac34's picture

August 26, 2014 at 04:21 pm

Spoken like a true Vikings fan. Immediate returns are nice but long term/sustained success should be the goal. The Vikings have really had much of either with their "smarter" football player

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 26, 2014 at 08:02 pm

I lol'd @ the "( not a fan)" part

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zeke's picture

August 26, 2014 at 11:56 pm

Which explains all of the Lombardi trophies lining the walls in Eden Prairie: because the Vikings draft people like Christian Ponder, whose special talent is that he finished the Wonderlic in less than six minutes. It should be physically painful to type something that stupid on a keyboard.

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NickPerry's picture

August 27, 2014 at 07:15 am

Yup those well spoken folks playing ball for the Vikings have been world beaters on the football field haven't they? Matter of fact, the only time the the Vikings actually seemed to be close to making a SB, they had signed some slow, inarticulate former Packer to play QB. Oh and Imma, who cares about a Wonderlic score when they play like Ponder????

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Clay's picture

August 26, 2014 at 11:27 pm

Wow Imma. Wow wow wow.

How has that philosophy worked out for the Vikings?

They haven't even chosen a coach that can stay with them long term.

Did they analyze Bret Favre's wonderlic score too before they paid him 20 mil?

Ponder may be smart, but your suggestion that Ponder the genius has helped the Vikings in any way makes you seem d***.

I don't want to be insulting, but I can't resist at the moment because I am starting to think you are the reincarnation of our old friend Cow (who seems to have changed a bit for the better).

I guess more power to you if your goal is to get us Pack fans all worked up with such stupid statements as you have been making.

It will be up to us to ignore you or to feed your desire for attention by actually responding to you as I am guilty of now.

I will look forward to thoughtful objective conversations by others here who have educated me and made Cheesehead TV a great forum.

Go Pack.

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ron7's picture

August 27, 2014 at 05:52 am

Ponder had a 35 on the Wonderlic, same as Rodgers. Maybe he should have been less cocky and taken the full 12 minutes, if that story is even true.

Ryan Fitzpatrick supposedly had a 48/50 and did it in 9 minutes and left at least one question blank. Now that is amazingly smart.

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Evan's picture

August 27, 2014 at 08:11 am

You guys are really too easy...

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BradHTX's picture

August 27, 2014 at 09:54 am

Hey, it's never too premature to declare a rookie a bust! LOL

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lucky953's picture

August 28, 2014 at 02:59 pm

As many commentators have remarked, it's a BIG jump up from college to the NFL game for receivers. The defenses are far more varied and disguised. Rookie receivers end up doing a lot of thinking on the field and that's not good for QBs. Then there's the matter of beating press coverage from an NFL corner--they don't face that in college.

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