Packers: Youth will be served at the WR position in 2016
By Brennen Rupp
It should come to no surprise that the Green Bay Packers have informed wide receiver, James Jones that they won’t be bringing him back for the 2016-17 season. With youngsters, Ty Montgomery, Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis on the roster, to go along with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, it didn’t make sense for the Packers to re-sign the veteran receiver.
After Nelson went down in the preseason, nearly everybody thought the Packers would stand pat at wide receiver and go with the youth movement. Unless of course Jones was released by the New York Giants. As we all know Jones was released and the Packers were waiting with open arms.
Jones looked better than ever in his first six games back with the Packers. He caught 21 passes for for 424 yards and six touchdowns. Things slowed down for Jones dramatically after the first six games. In the final 10 games he caught 29 passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones finished the season with a career-high 890 receiving yards. He also set a career high for yards per reception with an impressive 17.8 mark. His eight receiving touchdowns was the second most he posted in a season.
If the Packers didn’t have faith that Adams, Abbrederis and Janis could make strides during their third year Jones would likely be back, and he’d be a very good forth or fifth option. But, it’s time for the third-year wide receivers to sink or swim.
Adams had an up and down rookie season. He had games where it looked like he was ready to bust out, and then he’d disappear for stretches. For example he had five catches for 50 yards against the Jets. Then over the course of the next three games he caught five passes for 40 yards. Against the Patriots he had six catches for 121 yards. Then the next four games he had four catches for 29 yards. In the Wild Card game against Dallas he had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. In the next round against Seattle he had one catch for seven yards.
That kind of inconsistency can be expected from a rookie. When Nelson went down, many expected Adams to be the direct beneficiary. It never happened as Adams battled injuries and struggled to catch the ball during his second season in the league.
The way Adams struggled in 2015-16 was put under a microscope by the fans and the media. But he wasn’t the only one that struggled offensively for the Packers. Cobb had arguably the worst season in his career. The reigning league MVP put up solid numbers, but he missed a lot of throws that he typically makes. Eddie Lacy, the offensive line, the playcalling. The offense in general struggled in 2015. In 2016 the Packers will find out if Adams just suffered a sophomore slump; or if his performance in 2015 is an indication of the type of player he is.
Abbrederis when healthy has proven that he can be a solid option for the Packers. He’s the best route runner on the team and has some shiftiness to him. The problem is he can’t seem to stay healthy.
He missed the entire rookie season with a torn ACL. This past year he battled various injuries and played in 10 games. In the short time he played he caught the attention of Aaron Rodgers and the coaching staff. If Abbrederis can stay healthy in 2016 he could battle Adams for the fourth wide receiver spot on the depth chart.
When the Packers drafted Janis they knew they were getting a raw project. He wasn’t a good route runner and was used to beating people with his speed. As Janis enters his third year in the league he needs to become a better route runner, otherwise he’ll find himself at the bottom of the depth chart once again.
Janis had 7 catches for 145 yards in the Divisional Round against Arizona. That performance makes the Janis lovers believe he’s due for big things in 2016, and rightfully so. But, he still has work to do before he leapfrogs Adams and Abbrederis. Keep in mind that two of those catches went for 101 yards on the Packers final drive. It’s not like Janis was setting the Cardinals secondary ablaze with his route running and speed the whole game. Others may be willing to crown him after one game, but I’ll wait and see how he looks in 2016-17 before crowning him. Janis has the tools, now it’s time for him to put it all together.
The competition between these three throughout training camp and preseason will be a thing to watch. If one of them can hit their stride and give the Packers a reliable fourth option the Packers offense could be dangerous in 2016. If all three of them hit their stride; watch out.
Which wide receiver do the fans think will have more catches in 2016?
@brennen_james Adams. At this point, he's a reclamation project that needs to succeed in order to legitimize his 2nd round pick status.
— Rusty Weise (@RustyWeise) March 23, 2016
@brennen_james Abby by a mile. But I also think Montgomery might have even more.
— UltraGBpakrfan (@GBPakrfan1) March 23, 2016
@brennen_james Of those 3 most likely Adams if he stays healthy. But I hope Abby & Janis get some chances.
— Lisa (@lmyarbro) March 23, 2016