Will Geronimo Allison Prove to be a Fluke?

Can Geronimo Allison build on his rookie season or he will be another wide receiver fluke? 

Can Geronimo Allison duplicate his success in 2017?

Can Geronimo Allison duplicate his success in 2017?

The Green Bay Packers face a lot of questions this offseason, such as who will they sign, who will they let go and who will they draft?

But while those questions are important, some of the most difficult questions that need answering have to do with player development. And one of the questions I found myself asking recently is about Geronimo Allison.

Allison, the rookie free agent from Illinois, who caught 12 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown in 2016, is one of the players being touted as up-and-coming for Green Bay. And while he certainly had a surprisingly productive season, the questions is can he build on that for 2017?

The answer would seem to be yes. After all, Allison should improve from his first season to his second. Yet, as logical as that seems, it doesn’t always happen.

Look at Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. The Packers definitely counted on them taking step forward in their development when they allowed Casey Hayward to leave via free agency. The idea was that Randall and Rollins would both be better. But in fact, each regressed.

Davante Adams had a stellar third season with the Packers, but during his second year, he left much to be desired. And over the years, there have been some other unheralded receivers that made an early impact, only to see their careers fade to nothing.

One such case was Jarrett Boykin. Like Allison, Boykin went undrafted and during the 2013 season, his first full year in the NFL, he burst onto the scene with 49 receptions for 681 yards and three touchdowns.

Boykin was thought to be a fixture at receiver for the next few years after that. However, by the next season, he was at the bottom of the depth chart and just one year after breaking out, he was no longer a Green Bay Packer.

Boykin is maybe the most relevant example. But others such as Ruvell Martin, Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis, have flashed potential, but were unable to build on it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Allison won’t keep getting better. He certainly appears to have the talent and work ethic to succeed and be a top-four wide out in Green Bay for years to come.

Yet, the Packers should be cautious. If they end up making a move with Randall Cobb, they can’t be complacent and rely on Allison to grab hold of the third or fourth receiver spot next season. They need to add even more talent at the position and if he can best it, so be it.

But for a team that has relied too much on young players and not signed enough veterans over the years, it’s a mistake that gets made often and if Green Bay wants Aaron Rodgers to keep rolling, it’s not one that can continue to be made.

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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru

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Comments (44)

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Point-Packer's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:09 pm

Are the Packers thinking of moving away from Cobb and his ridiculous contract? Haven't seen anything written about that.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:37 pm

I actually wrote about that Sunday here on CheeseheadTV that I think they should consider it for sure.

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Point-Packer's picture

February 23, 2017 at 06:34 pm

Oh yeah, I think I actually read and commented on that piece. I drink from time to time.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 23, 2017 at 06:35 pm

Haha! Don't we all good buddy? Lol.

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MarkinMadison's picture

February 23, 2017 at 07:47 pm

Sorry I missed the piece. I'm sure you addressed the dead cap money it would create. ($6.5M.) That is a lot of spoiled cheddar for Green Bay.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 24, 2017 at 02:15 pm

I didn't. You are right, that is a lot of cheddar. It would still save them 6 million on the cap. But yes that probably is why it won't end up happening.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:04 pm

I think Allison is the real deal, you never know but Adams and Allison I believe can do even more.

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ricky's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:21 pm

The comparison to Boykin is one that is very apt. Janis and Abbrederis, not so much. Janis proved to be unable to learn routes. Abby simply couldn't stay healthy. So, will Allison bloom or bust? We'll find out.

And as far as Cobb's contract, it's quite possible the Packers are going to talk to him about redoing the deal. However, unless they are serious about cutting him if he doesn't renegotiate. Unless you're on board with that idea, then talking about restructuring is mere lip service.

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Ryan Graham's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:40 pm

I agree completely on most fronts. Regarding Cobb, I don't think he has enough on his resume to get near what he's making here. Given that and the fact that he is a stand up team player on that roster looking good to do what's best for the team, he will be cooperative if TT approaches him on his contract. Bring him down to 7-7.5 from 10

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 23, 2017 at 03:39 pm

I think Geronimo is legit too. But I thought the same about Boykin. Hopefully Allison will take a step forward this offseason and in training camp.

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Point-Packer's picture

February 23, 2017 at 06:36 pm

Boykin never looked fluid to me. Whatever that means. Allison on the other hand, looks like a WR. Good hands. Confident. Not the fastest, but neither was Donald Driver.

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MarkinMadison's picture

February 23, 2017 at 07:50 pm

Driver had legit 4.4 speed. Allison, not so much.

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Point-Packer's picture

February 24, 2017 at 11:34 am

No way he was 4.4 during the second half of his career

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MarkinMadison's picture

February 24, 2017 at 08:09 pm

Well, they only run the 40 coming in. We have no other point of comparison.

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4thand1's picture

February 23, 2017 at 05:03 pm

News flash, Cobb isn't going anywhere or renegotiating anything. Guys like Geronimo make plays because of guys like Cobb. We now have 5 receivers that Rodgers can go to with experience. Jordy 100%, Cobb, Adams, Cook, and now Allison. I said at the start of last year this offense would be unstopable, trouble is it took half a year to do so. This year, they'll break records.

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Ferrari Driver's picture

February 23, 2017 at 06:47 pm

Good solid number four receiver. Pay the man.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 23, 2017 at 10:04 pm

Allison is an exclusive rights FA. He will be tendered at the league minimum of $450K. I am fine with paying him league minimum: what does pay the man mean?

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Since'61's picture

February 23, 2017 at 07:54 pm

I think that Geronimo played very well in his rookie season, particularly late in the season and during the playoffs. If our starters stay healthy I think he will be a fine #4 WR. If he is forced into a larger role due to injuries to our starters we may see some regression in his second year as we did Adams. But Adams played with an injured ankle for much of his second year. I hope that Allison continues his development and evolves into a starting receiver for the Packers, possibly into Jordy's replacement in a few seasons. Thanks, Since '61

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stockholder's picture

February 23, 2017 at 07:59 pm

geronimo is no better than Boykin or R. Rodgers. After Nelson and cobb, I still don't believe they have another WR. Nelson already has talked retirement. Cook must be signed. Adams is just to inconsistent yet. Monty is now a running back. Unless Davis shows he can run routes. This position is headed for trouble after next year. We know why James Jones was not signed. This group is going to be to slow to win. More speed is needed. I see 1 year wonder boys.

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Handsback's picture

February 23, 2017 at 09:01 pm

stockholder has the real point....the Packers need some speed and playmakers at the WR position. This isn't the year to get one, but TT will be on the lookout for a potential star receiver. It takes a year or two to develop a guy and well who's that guy in Green Bay? I don't think he's on the roster.

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croatpackfan's picture

February 24, 2017 at 08:06 am

Packers have Trevor Davis on the roster. The fastest man in NFC North! So, stop trolling...

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dobber's picture

February 24, 2017 at 09:33 am

Can't catch TD passes when you're inactive on Sundays or sitting on the bench, though.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 23, 2017 at 10:33 pm

Wouldn't it be nice to see him turn out to be the real deal. I do know I like what I see. A long stride guy who knows how to go get the ball. Either way we need to draft a tall fast WR this year for now and the future. We need another Driver story and I think Allison can be that. Just one of the things I would like to go right for a change.

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EdsLaces's picture

February 23, 2017 at 11:41 pm

Pretty simple for me ..dude has great hands. You can't teach hands. I think he will be a great 3rd or 4th wr.

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Donster's picture

February 24, 2017 at 05:33 am

Good number 4 receiver. Room for improvement obviously, as he learns more.

My question is when or if they are going to finally give up on Jeff Janis? Has speed, but why he hasn't been able to run routes correctly by now is beyond me. Special teams player is great, but still would like to seem him progress into the WR rotation at a higher level. Don't know if he has, but he needs to spend the off season working with a QB like Rodgers or Hundley just running routes and running them correctly. If he isn't putting in the extra work, then he is just taking a roster spot for someone who could be better, a player taken from this years draft or maybe Max McCaffrey can step up take his place. 6-foot-2 and 4.4 in the 40 isn't to shabby.

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croatpackfan's picture

February 24, 2017 at 08:19 am

Well, I'm sure Jeff will stay at least another year. But I do not expect lot of snaps in offense for him. I think we will see improvement from Trevor Davis, who is faster than Janis or at similar speed, but has better hands...

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hodge555's picture

March 07, 2017 at 05:49 pm

Davis is fast no question but Janis is both fast and much bigger, which has all sorts of advantages which is why GB will try a bit longer with Janis. Of course he's a very useful special teams player in the meantime.
The GB offense involves a lot of reads so I don't think this is a matter of just running a route but understanding what's happening in front of him and then running the correct route, and hence then being on the same page as Aaron. I think this is where Janis is maybe struggling but the more experience he has with it then hopefully it'll start to sink in.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

February 24, 2017 at 08:55 am

Actually, Janis was running better routes and catching whatever came his way down the stretch. He just didn't get many opportunities--mostly special teams.

I'd keep him. Excellent special teamer, experienced in the offense, improved in technique. Besides, he's cheap. Along with Davis, Janis provides much-needed speed.

I think we should kerp 6 WR's this year, unless one gets injured--which is likely.

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dobber's picture

February 24, 2017 at 09:37 am

What I'll give Allison is that, despite his lack of timed speed, he gets separation and seems to be able to get downfield on defenders. More than anything else, that's why I think he could develop into a good #3. I just don't think his ceiling is any higher than that.

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TheVOR's picture

February 24, 2017 at 12:35 pm

If you want to know if the dude is for real, go watch the Dallas playoff game. The man can play, there's a reason he's on the field and Janis wasn't. He kind of reminds me of a Donald Driver kind of guy. Decent player, I think he has a future in GB. Hope they get him locked into a contract. I've seen enough to sign this guy to a 3 year deal, right now!

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Couch Cleats's picture

February 24, 2017 at 01:11 pm

I like Geronimo and am very optimistic about his development potential, but can we NOT compare him to Driver yet please?

DD had incredible small space quickness which shook him loose for big gains throughout his career. He also ran with the ball with the power of a much bigger receiver.

Allison has other attributes that I'm sure DD would have loved to have but at this point he is no Driver. If he turns out to be that good he will be one of the best hidden gems TT ever found.

Have we already forgotten how good DD was? Come on - I would take DD in his prime over Cobb any day.

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TheVOR's picture

February 26, 2017 at 09:37 am

Go rewatch the Dallas playoff game. Driver is a comparison, I never said he was Donald Driver. That said, Driver wasn't anything early in his career, he developed into Donald Driver. Allison has a taller/leaner build, and is "quick". Dude has a chance to become special with Rodgers throwing to him. GA has an "it" factor about him.

By the way, I'll never forget how good Donald Driver was, he was one of my favorite all time Packers Players. For me to compare Allison to Driver speaks volumes to the potential I think he has in playing with Rodgers.

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CJ Bauckham's picture

February 24, 2017 at 02:06 pm

I've been high on Geronimo since pre last year's draft. Was happy he made it to GB. Even more happy he's done well for himself.

I think he's the real deal, but the Boykin comparison is apt. Hopefully he doesn't follow the same path.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 24, 2017 at 02:11 pm

Thanks for reading and all the comments guys. My opinion is that Allison is the real deal. I just meant I thought that about other guys and they didn't take that next step. I definitely think he's a top 4 WR for the Packers even with Cobb back. And I think he will get targets. He made some huge catches against Dallas and Detroit. So I have high hopes for him.

And yes I would take Driver over Cobb any day. Driver is a legit Packers Hall of Famer. Cobb is not there yet. He has the talent but this year is make or break for him to me. I don't think he gets released or re does his contract, even though I think that would be reasonable. I think the Packers will stick with him this year but if he has another injury plagued, 600-yard season, he will need to either accept a re-negotiated deal or get cut.

I love Allison too. I just always try to remember too that ARod can make a lot of receivers look better than they are.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

February 24, 2017 at 02:11 pm

Thanks for reading and all the comments guys. My opinion is that Allison is the real deal. I just meant I thought that about other guys and they didn't take that next step. I definitely think he's a top 4 WR for the Packers even with Cobb back. And I think he will get targets. He made some huge catches against Dallas and Detroit. So I have high hopes for him.

And yes I would take Driver over Cobb any day. Driver is a legit Packers Hall of Famer. Cobb is not there yet. He has the talent but this year is make or break for him to me. I don't think he gets released or re does his contract, even though I think that would be reasonable. I think the Packers will stick with him this year but if he has another injury plagued, 600-yard season, he will need to either accept a re-negotiated deal or get cut.

I love Allison too. I just always try to remember too that ARod can make a lot of receivers look better than they are.

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NickPerry's picture

February 24, 2017 at 04:44 pm

I was rewatching part of the playoff game against Dallas and Allison specifically. He's a long strider, maybe not that fast but fast enough. He's a bigger guy with excellent hands who knows how to use his body pretty well against smaller DB's. I like this guy WAY better than Boykin. I also like the way he worked back to Rodgers line of sight when Rodgers started to scramble.

I think I like him better than Davis too but time will tell.

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TheVOR's picture

February 26, 2017 at 09:51 am

Dead nuts! He runs excellent routes, part of the reason Janis isn't on the field, he's never where Rodgers expects him to be. Allison is "quick" in his routes as opposed to lightning fast. He was like 4.6 - 40. The Boykin comparison is kind of ridiculous, and ya, he's better than Boykin and Davis.

I was super disappointed with Davis, I had really hoped we were getting deep threat speed and a kick returner, and the dude was a Fair Catch Artist in the punt return game, and they canned him when they realized he was never going to actually return any kick, regardless of how open the opportunity.

I think Allison has a huge chance, hope they resign him, and get him into the gym. If he could gain 5-8 Lbs of the right stuff and not lose any speed, he's a decent inside route runner, and what's not to like about the 6'3"..

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Packmaniac's picture

February 24, 2017 at 07:22 pm

Any team that lets Janis hang around for 3 years but doubts Allison's potential after one year isn't being patient with the right type of player.

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JacFrost's picture

February 24, 2017 at 09:43 pm

Janis should have been gone after year two. He just cannot get the mental part of the game. He aint a rocket scientist. Too bad, like a lot of you I was hoping for him to light it up with his speed and size but my guess, he never showed it in practice. Something kept him off the field and I think it was himselft

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JacFrost's picture

February 24, 2017 at 09:40 pm

I like this guy. I think he needs more play time to develop more. Putting him in a few plays a game wont do him any good,. Cant develop on the bench Ted. He showed good hands and route running so lets pay and lets play the guy,

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

February 25, 2017 at 08:08 am

Boykin is the low-end example, but I see a lot of Marques Colston (New Orleans All-Time receiver) in Allison as well. Colston and Driver's careers had a lot in common, even though their physiques were very different. Colston and Allison have these things in common: UDFA/one of last picks in the draft, 6'31/2 vs 6'4' and "know how to use it," ability to athletically get the ball in any position, excellent hands, "football smart," etc.

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marpag1's picture

February 25, 2017 at 02:13 pm

Will Allison prove to be a fluke? First, he needs to prove that he should be taken seriously, and then we can see if it was a just fluke.

Personally, I doubt he'll prove either one.

I just don't think he has NFL-level athleticism. I dunno. Maybe he can hold a roster spot. No guarantees on that, though.

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TheVOR's picture

February 26, 2017 at 09:53 am

Go watch the Dallas playoff game, he belongs in the NFL.. Consider this, that was a monster game on a huge stage, and he belonged! Good enough for me..

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marpag1's picture

February 27, 2017 at 12:12 am

Yeah I can't deny that he's shown flashes, but so did Boykin, Charles Johnson and Ruvell Martin and none of those guys panned out. Allison might have a better chance than those guys, but I'm still doubtful.

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