Davante Adams Thrived on These Routes in 2017

-- The contract extension issued to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams in late-December was a testament and a reflection of his astounding progress over the course of his last three seasons.

Specifically, since rebounding from the ankle injury that hindered his play in 2015, Adams has led all receivers in the league in touchdown receptions with 22. He's yet to record a 1,000-yard season despite falling three yards short (997) in 2016, but what he's shown on tape and before the very eyes of the coaches who have seen his progression first-hand doesn't go unnoticed.

Even playing with a backup quarterback in Brett Hundley for nine games in 2017 didn't slow Adams down. He caught five of his 10 touchdowns from Hundley and led the Packers' receiving corps in every major statistical category en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

He went from the "offseason MVP" leading into the 2016 season to earning a $58 million dollar contract extension for four years at age 25.

If you needed a more detailed look at just how efficient he was last season prior to inking his new deal, Pro Football Focus mapped it out Wednesday night.

According to PFF, Adams never registered a passer rating below 101.1 when targeted on the routes listed and was double-digits ahead of the NFL average in four different route concepts.

Hundley accounted for a passer rating of 109.9 on go routes, despite 79.0 being the NFL average. He also managed 101.1 on hitch routes -- 17.0 above the NFL average -- and a perfect 158.3 on crosser routes.

The greatest disparity between Adams' success and the rest of the NFL's was on crossing patterns, as he sported 60.9 points above the league average, meaning the average receiver totals a 97.4 rating when targeted. Overall, of receivers with at least 100 targets last season on any route, Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill was the only player to generate a higher passer rating (130.5) than Adams (120.3).

Once Aaron Rodgers returns to being the Packers' starting quarterback in 2018 -- and presumably on a new contract of his own by then -- he'll be delighted to see Adams' production pick right back up where it left off last season.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (17)

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NickPerry's picture

February 22, 2018 at 04:53 am

IMO the Packers did the right thing in signing Adams to a deal when they did. Was it a tad high? Sure it was, just like EVERY other contract a player of Adams caliber receives in FA. But I'm about 99% sure it could have possibly been more had the Packers waited until next month. You also had to factor in Cobbs and Nelsons production with Hundley and look at Adams production with Hundley as well. I mean the guy actually played well with Hundley throwing him the ball!!! Now THAT'S something...

With no TE, a aging WR like Jordy, and Cobbs drop in production every season since 2014 did the Packers REALLY have a choice but to pay him? I mean how stupid would the Packers have looked had they lost Adams in FA. IMO they couldn't afford to take that chance. Not with Rodgers in his mid 30's and still no second SB appearance.

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John Kirk's picture

February 22, 2018 at 06:14 am

"did the Packers REALLY have a choice but to pay him?"

Don't you feel like a broken record typing that line, NP? :)

What a way to run, or ruin, a football team.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 22, 2018 at 10:48 pm

This is so obviously true, even though folks don't like to hear it. Paying a guy like Nelson back in 2014 or Bakh what you have to is fine, because he is really good and likely to remain so. Signing Perry to more than he's worth because we have zip behind him is another. Ditto for Adams, but at least he is good.

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NickPerry's picture

February 24, 2018 at 04:56 am

"Don't you feel like a broken record typing that line, NP? :)"

Good question John but I have to say no. : )

Not only is it true, but it's another way to remind some of those that still love them some Ted that he actually did a pretty poor job keeping this team stocked. I know I'm harder on Thompson than he probably deserves considering he did do an amazing job early, but some of his later drafts just are mind boggling to me.

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NickPerry's picture

February 24, 2018 at 04:56 am

"Don't you feel like a broken record typing that line, NP? :)"

Good question John but I have to say no. : )

Not only is it true, but it's another way to remind some of those that still love them some Ted that he actually did a pretty poor job keeping this team stocked. I know I'm harder on Thompson than he probably deserves considering he did do an amazing job early, but some of his later drafts just are mind boggling to me.

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John Kirk's picture

February 22, 2018 at 06:12 am

I wish I could find a piece looking at 2017, but this piece looks at Davante's Next Gen Stats for #2 WRs from 2016.

From NFL.com:

It is important to note the wide gap between Adams' separation numbers when targeted out wide vs. the slot. His 2.46 number out wide is less than ideal and behind several other players on this list. His slot targets boost his total. It's probably fair to say at this point in his career that we shouldn't expect Adams to ever be the premier separator. However, with his skills in contested situations, he has a counterpunch to mitigate that, especially with the NFL's best passer when throwing into tight windows behind center in Aaron Rodgers.

---He wasn't a top separation guy for WR2's, yet many hail his signing and say he's a WR1. He's a twice severely concussed WR slated to earn 16.6 mil of our cap in 3 years with 7.2 million dead, so we're paying him 16.6 million in 2020.

Yes, it's nice he's the leader in catch rate for contested balls because he doesn't separate, but it's a lot less impressive when you consider Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin and Kenny Britt were Top 10 guys, also, in 2016.

In my near 40 years of following this team I don't think I've ever seen a player as differently as Davante as to general perception.

He was paid on projection. Cobb had a season far better than any Davante has put up before we gave him the money. Greg Jennings destroyed Adams numbers when comparing their first 4 seasons.

Some point to touchdowns as the sure fire indicator that Adams is a WR 1. Cobb has had a 12 TD season. James Jones had 14 TDs a few seasons ago and we know he was nowhere near a WR1.

Julio Jones has 9 TDs to Davante's 22 over the last two seasons. Who would you want? Is it even close? Julio had 3 TDs last season but he also had 1444 yards and over 2850 yards in his last two. Our Adams hasn't cracked 1000 in 4 seasons.

I'm really concerned that a guy who isn't a top separator as a WR2, now has to assume the role of a WR1. His separation numbers will drop further, and those 50-50 balls he's good at will now be wrestled for vs. actual good CBs, not the lessers he saw as a WR2.

A contract I truly don't understand and one that I think will haunt us worse than Cobb's because at least the org knew Cobb wasn't a WR 1 where they have put that on Adams.

One final consideration... Beyond the idea that I don't believe Davante will be successful stepping up in class from WR2 to WR1, is how will he handle the big contract? A lot of guys crater under the weight of lofty expectations after they get the money and that's not considering the coast factor after getting it. He chased the money and somehow got it. What will he do now?

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DD's picture

February 22, 2018 at 08:17 am

John Kirk: I agree with what will he do now. Number one receiver if he is complemented on the otherside or we get a illegitimate TE. Problem mainly is that we still have MM calling the plays with his predictable scheme route running which never changes much, a few yards and out pattern usually. Then Rodgers runs out of the pocket to try and save the backyard play.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 22, 2018 at 10:19 am

I agree with everything you wrote JK. Except the bit about stepping up from #2 to #1 WR. Adams already was the #1 WR in GB by September of 2017, and opposing teams proved it by putting their CB1 on him.

We definitely need someone who is going to cause teams to fear the deep ball and separate opposite Davante. That means a FA WR with speed.

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John Kirk's picture

February 22, 2018 at 10:59 am

This is a good piece on this top CB issue.

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2017/10/14/silverste...

I read something later in the season that said half the time it was Nelson and half the time it was Adams getting CB1 treatment. I wish I could find that piece but Davante didn't exclusively get CB1 treatment. When he does, his numbers will go down and he wasn't putting up all world numbers ever to begin with. Keep in mind, that Adams had better numbers with Hundley than Rodgers last year. Davante also got fat with Aaron vs. a rookie CB in Dallas where Jordy is likely the guy had he not been hurt. Adams has excelled at 50 50 balls which is not surprising as he gets so many chances because he does not separate well. When he faces a better brand of CB he will not win as many of those as he did vs. weaker CB's who faced him in previous seasons.

In my eyes, the best way to prop up Adams is to put a WR1 opposite him not have him be the WR1 but it's too late for that. We cast our lot with Davante and I believe that was a major mistake but we'll see.

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stockholder's picture

February 22, 2018 at 11:22 am

Nice, Really nice. Boils down to; Adams has improved. Adams got the money in the mix. Will never be a #1. That the contracts will be based on separation. Will crater from lofty expectations. Another bad decision by the packers. Blame the coach.

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flackcatcher's picture

February 22, 2018 at 07:25 am

ESPN's Jason Wilde had James Jones on Monday discussing who were the the greatest Packer WR. You can listen or download the segment. His comments on Adams and the Packers WR situation are illuminating.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 22, 2018 at 09:43 am

James Jones chose Hutson, Nelson, Driver and Sterling as the 4 greatest GB receivers. No James Lofton. This is a guy who isn't offending anyone he knows. Then he suggests paying Cobb every nickel of his contract. No real surprise there. Then he suggests GB should re-structure Nelson since Jordy is only going to play one or two more years. No real harm there since Jordy has said the same publicly. He does say that perhaps Jordy doesn't get as much separation as he used to. By the time JJ got around to talking about Davante, I had lost faith in his objectivity.

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John Kirk's picture

February 22, 2018 at 10:02 am

I did notice flak took some of James analysis on Davante and typed about it over in the FA WR thread.

You didn't miss much. He shared the same agent with Adams and worked out with him a bunch out there in Cali. He was effusive in his praise of Adams, of course. He spoke in grandiose terms of Davante's ability to get off the line of scrimmage against press which is what flak carried over to the other thread.

BTW, as I was listening to James Jones, I heard him first mention Don Hutson... I was certain he was going to throw Lofton and Sharpe up there...but...no. No James Lofton. That also begs the question...Is Jordy a Pro Football HOF'er? Four 1250 plus yd seasons including one over 1500. Time to start the discussion on Jordy as he'll be done very soon. Driver had 7 1000 yd seasons including 6 straight but only one over 1250 yards. I think Jordy was the better of the two but not sure either is a HOF player. I can see both being LeRoy Butler's as far as the Hall is concerned. Maybe, one day they'll get in there.

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flackcatcher's picture

February 22, 2018 at 05:41 pm

I talked to Charles Woodson about Adams before the season. Ironically, we were discussing whether James Lofton would make it into the hall and Adams came up in how WR-CB adapt and change in the face of the new rules. His breakdown of how the officials would have a hard time dealing with pass interference and the catch rule was uncanny. Nice man. Wonderful family.

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John Kirk's picture

February 22, 2018 at 05:54 pm

James Lofton has been in the Hall since '03. Did you mean someone else?

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TKWorldWide's picture

February 23, 2018 at 06:05 am

Protypical X receiver.

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DD's picture

February 22, 2018 at 08:10 am

Adams did well, but we still need a speed, great route runner receiver! The missing link is our TE position. Release all our current TE'S, yes, all. Get a tall, big, fast TE for Rodgers via FA or draft. If drafted they must be ready to start, not that develop crap! If you cannot draft a TE that can't start then we might as well keep our underachieving, no separation tight ends and suffer still.

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