Despite Jordy Nelson’s productive night against the Saints, several of the Packers’ other receivers had good showings in Week 1.
Donald Driver remains quite shifty and is still able to be an effective possession receiver. Greg Jennings is what Mike Hass should have been in the NFL…a receiver only lacking great speed but possessing fantastic quickness, route-running, mid-air body control, concentration, etc (although Hass’s ability to vertically “climb the ladder” is far better). Randall Cobb, of course, looked great, especially for a rookie seeing his first NFL action. James Jones was barely involved in the offense, tallying one very short reception. If this continues, Jones may be traded or released, as he doesn’t even play special teams (unlike Brett Swain, who was racially purged last week).
Of the entire Packer receiving corps, Nelson seems to possess the superior body size, wingspan, strength, straight-line speed, and ability to separate. From the first series, when Nelson burned Patrick Robinson for a long gain (see below), it was obvious that he’s the Packers’ only legitimate “deep threat.”
Will Osgood, a random nerd from Bleacher Report, thinks otherwise...
"Robinson got beat deep by Jordy Nelson, which frankly shouldn't happen. Robinson is a better athlete with better speed. But Robinson got turned around by Nelson's craftiness in the route."
Yeah, that sneaky, blue-collar, high-motor, deceptive, overachieving white “craftiness” is the only reason a white athlete could ever catch a pass against a superior athlete such a Robinson...
Also, it was nice to see John Kuhn emerging as the NFL’s best short-yardage back…
