Zero2Cool
15 years ago

Young star has fought back from season of false starts

[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081114&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=811150439&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]This might be James Jones' week to start working his way back toward the No. 3 receiving job.

The third-round draft pick from last year lost the first half of the season because of a sprained knee in training camp. The injury sidelined him for five regular-season games and presented physical and mental hurdles that hindered his play in the other four games.

But with his improvement on the practice field this week, Jones has a shot at not only being active for the second straight game, but also at getting more than the 12 snaps he had last week against the Minnesota Vikings.

"I think we'll roll him in there a little bit more than we have recently," said Jimmy Robinson, the Packers' receivers coach. "But it's just a case of feeling he's back to where he was physically. I think there's a difference between being healthy enough to practice, and practicing at the top of your game. There's obviously degrees of how well you practice, and I think he's practicing pretty well now."

The Packers are hoping a healthier Jones will become another ascending player in their strong receiver rotation for the season's home stretch.

Last year, he was one of the better rookie receivers in the NFL and upgraded the Packers' No. 3 receiver position with 47 receptions for a 14.4-yard average.

He looked better early in training camp this year before a sprained posterior collateral ligament in the Packers' third preseason game at Denver sidelined him for two weeks.

Since, his season has been a series of false starts. He aggravated the injury when he landed on his knee in Week 3, missed a game, then re-aggravated it the following week against Atlanta. The Packers rested him for two weeks plus the bye, and then coach Mike McCarthy surprisingly made him a healthy scratch for the Packers' game at Tennessee two weeks ago.

Second-round pick Jordy Nelson's development allowed the Packers to sit Jones without feeling too thin at receiver, and they say they weren't sending Jones a signal. But it was the first time in Jones' career he's had a significant injury, and the limitations dropped him on the depth chart.

"I don't know about (sending Jones a signal), some of those guys when James was down stepped up and did some good things," said Joe Philbin, the Packers' offensive coordinator. "That's part of it. I don't think there's necessarily any games going on about where we put him. We feel good about that group of (receivers). There's not a huge separation between a lot of those guys."

There's no question the injury hindered Jones' performance when he played he has six catches in his four games and hasn't been as reliable catching as last season. But he says his knee has recovered to where he's not thinking about taking hits on, or landing on, his knee, which could improve his concentration on catches.

"I felt like James," Jones said of practice this week. "I didn't feel like James with a knee I felt like James."

Robinson said: "The struggles he had once he came back, he probably wasn't completely well and kept landing on his knee and having setbacks. I think that affected his ability to have success. That was something in the back of his mind. He may not tell you that, but that's kind of how I see it. I don't think he was ever feeling completely healthy but he was trying to go."

Jones' injury gave Nelson the chance to play more, and he has become the Packers' No. 3 receiver.

Though he hasn't performed to the level Jones did as a rookie, he's played well enough to move ahead of Ruvell Martin and earn regular playing time the rest of the season.

Nelson ranks fifth on the team in receptions (20) and is averaging 11.4 yards a catch, with a long reception of 29 yards. He's on pace for 36 receptions, which is solid for a rookie.

Nelson is a big target (6-foot-3), but his most impressive quality is his ability to learn all the receiver positions in his rookie season, much like Greg Jennings did in 2006. Nelson played mostly in the slot in three-receiver sets in college at Kansas State, so that's where the Packers play him most, but they can move him to any of four positions.

"There aren't huge numbers yet, but I like what (Nelson) is doing, I like the way he runs routes," Philbin said. "I think he has pretty good awareness on the football field, solid technician. He's made a nice contribution so far."

Still, Jones could give the Packers' 11th-ranked passing game a lift for the stretch run if he can return to his form of early training camp. At 6-1 and 218 pounds, he's the team's strongest receiver and is at his best in traffic and over the middle, where he can best use his strength and ability to pluck the ball with his hands.

Last week, he played primarily when the Packers went to a five-receiver set, but if he's active this week, as expected, he probably will get some snaps in more three-and four-receiver groupings.

"I think you'll see (the No. 3 receiver) become a shared-type thing," Robinson said. "I don't know this for a fact, because if we've got somebody that's playing extremely well, they've earned the right to be in there a lot, which I think Jordy has done. At the same time, James was playing extremely well and had an outstanding camp going when he got hurt."


UserPostedImage
TengoJuego
15 years ago
I'm glad he'll be back to help us out. But the thoughts of his miscues last year play vividly in my mind. HANG ON TO THE DAMN BALL JAMES!
Cheesey
15 years ago
I think he will be VERY aware of the drops, and he will NOT do that again.......hopefully.
UserPostedImage
millertime
15 years ago
he was beastly before he went down. A healthy Jones is better than a healthy Nelson, IMO.

this can only make us stronger.
Bigbyfan
15 years ago

he was beastly before he went down. A healthy Jones is better than a healthy Nelson, IMO.

this can only make us stronger.

"millertime" wrote:



Agreed.

I read somehwere that the coackes said that he is the best out of ALL our receivers coming off the linbe of scrimmage for the first five yards. We will need this if the Bears plan on blitzing a lot. Plus I want to see him get his helmet knocked off and score a touchdown again :thumbleft:
blank
Greg C.
15 years ago
Thanks for the link. I'm glad to hear some explanation for why he's been so slow to come back. He could give the offense a real boost.

I'm not sure about all these "drops" people are referring to. The two fumbles against the Bears last year were both great plays by Charles Tillman, one of them immediately after Jones caught the ball. I think McCarthy made a big mistake by taking Jones out of the game after that, because it limited the offense. Luckily, McCarthy didn't make that same mistake with Ryan Grant after his two early fumbles against the Seahawks in that playoff game.
blank
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (8h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (8h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2023 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 10 @ 3:25 PM
Bears
Sunday, Sep 17 @ 12:00 PM
Falcons
Sunday, Sep 24 @ 12:00 PM
SAINTS
Thursday, Sep 28 @ 7:15 PM
LIONS
Monday, Oct 9 @ 7:15 PM
Raiders
Sunday, Oct 22 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Sunday, Oct 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Nov 5 @ 12:00 PM
RAMS
Sunday, Nov 12 @ 12:00 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 19 @ 12:00 PM
CHARGERS
Thursday, Nov 23 @ 11:30 AM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 3 @ 7:20 PM
CHIEFS
Monday, Dec 11 @ 7:15 PM
Giants
Sunday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM
BUCCANEERS
Sunday, Dec 24 @ 12:00 PM
Panthers
Sunday, Dec 31 @ 7:20 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 7 @ 3:25 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 14 @ 3:30 PM
Cowboys
Saturday, Jan 20 @ 7:15 PM
49ers
Recent Topics
4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Mar / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

16-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

16-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dhazer

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

14-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

13-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.