Cory's Corner: Just Not Good Enough

I thought the Packers' receiving corps was fine when Davante Adams was traded. I was wrong. 

I have to admit — I was wrong. 

The moment Davante Adams was traded to Las Vegas on March 17, many people felt like the sky was falling. Remember, Adams was responsible for 34 percent of the team’s receiving yards in 2021. This year, Allen Lazard leads with 19 percent of the receiving yards. 

Herein lies the rub. I think we have all seen that Lazard is not a No. 1 wideout in this league. Heck, I would argue that Lazard may not be a No. 3 receiver. He cannot shake press coverage and has issues with drops. 

Then there’s Sammy Watkins. General manager Brian Gutekunst signed him on April 14. In nine seasons, Watkins has averaged 3.3 catches a game and 49.5 yards a game. There have been numerous times that Watkins has looked perplexed. The 29-year-old has shown the burst that he can still get open, but he isn’t on the same page with Aaron Rodgers — which we all know, is a real problem. 

It’s not all gloom and doom though. Rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs certainly hold plenty of promise. Watson leads all rookies with six touchdown receptions and Doubs is eighth with 34.9 reception yards a game. 

Watson has all the tools for a No. 1 receiver. He’s 6-foot-5 and weighs 200 pounds and has lightning speed. Yes, you can point to his unsightly drops, but that isn’t his biggest hurdle. He just needs to prove that he can stay on the field. The wiry receiver has to prove that he can be healthy, because, as well all know, the best attribute that an NFL player can showcase is reliability. 

“I still think I’m a long ways from where I want to be,” Watson said. “I’m still on the rise.”

I would agree. I think he is on the rise. The crazy thing is, Doubs might even be better. He is so athletic and his movements are staccato and precise that he is a quarterback’s dream. He can get open on his own, he can stretch the field and he can catch passes on the boundary. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Doubs was a steal in the fourth round. 

Finally, we have Randall Cobb. I was also wrong about him. I didn’t think the 32-year-old wideout would be a viable weapon in Green Bay’s offense, but that certainly hasn’t been the case. He has averaged 43.6 yards a game, including three games over 5o yards and one with 99. He has not only been Rodgers’ security blanket, he’s been his hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. It’s admirable that he took a $5.5 million pay cut to stay in Green Bay and he could easily maintain those numbers next year. 

The Packers must add more depth at wideout. Watson and Doubs are electrifying but have had trouble staying on the field. And it sounds like Rodgers is coming back next year, which means he’s going to want his comfy blanket by his side. But Cobb will turn 33 on Aug. 22, which means when he does get nicked up, it takes him longer to recover. 

The Packers have been chasing their tail ever since Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling left and it’s been like that all season. It has taken a long time for Rodgers to get on the same page with the young crew and the older vets just aren’t good enough. 

The only way for the offense to get back on track is with better pass catchers. That includes tight end, because Robert Tonyan has been nearly invisible this year. 

Rodgers hasn’t been throwing a lot of strikes to his receivers this year, but his receivers as a whole just haven’t been good enough. If Green Bay wants to be relevant again in the NFC North and the NFC, that group needs to get much better. 

And once again…I was completely wrong. 
 

 

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__________________________

Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

__________________________

5 points
 

Comments (92)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
PackEyedOptimist's picture

December 03, 2022 at 06:20 am

"Not good enough?"

I'd argue "not HEALTHY enough. If Watson and Doubs had been available all year, and Cobb and Lazard missed fewer games, we'd still be in the playoff hunt.

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HarryHodag's picture

December 03, 2022 at 06:39 am

With THAT defense? As Jim Mora famously said, "Playoffs? You kiddin' me? I just hope we can win a game!"

12 points
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PackEyedOptimist's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:15 am

Yes, with that defense. We're not out of it NOW, so two more wins and we'd have the seventh-best record in the NFC. SIX of our losses were by 7 or less points. Our offense was TERRIBLE the first half of the season, despite a good running game, and made the defense be on the field constantly.

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:28 am

When you compare the stats WR Packers receivers falls in littlee over average group. Adding in the mix to many off passes plus 9 interception by ACR, they might have better stat.

That first throw to Watson vs Minesota many here add to Watson mistake. My opinion is that pass was little to far away from Watson. Maybe Watson was interupted in his route is the reason for that, but, as we seen quite a lot that ACR lost some or more than some of precision at his throws.

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HawkPacker's picture

December 03, 2022 at 03:32 pm

Sorry to disagree but if I remember correctly, it was a perfect pass.

2 points
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KenEllis's picture

December 03, 2022 at 09:36 am

If the goal was to get inexperienced rookies sufficient snaps for the future, the WRs in 2022 were plenty good enough.

If the goal was to seriously compete for a Super Bowl, then the 2022 group of Packer WRs was not close to good enough.

Cory just got burned by being into the hype that the Pack and its loyal followers sold all offseason, that this was a serious Super Bowl contending roster.

5 points
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PackEyedOptimist's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:21 am

I'm not sure it was all "hype." We have all been surprised by the REGRESSION of several players, (especially Amos) and we lost our All-Pro ILB, top pass-rusher, and starting CB, plus, we had the very reasonable hope that Wyatt would be a decent rookie.

Those are HUGE losses.

1 points
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Barnacle's picture

December 03, 2022 at 06:20 am

AR had good young receivers, but he did not practice with them. Then when the games started he criticized them for not being in sync with him.

Maybe our coaching staff should have explained that new receivers needed practice time with their QB. Instead our young coach said AR did not need the practice time…….duh?

30 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:00 am

I don’t get that narrative. How does Rodgers practicing with brand new players who are just learning to play make a difference? They don’t even know the playbook! It’s like a college professor who teaches 4-500 level classes teaching the freshman classes. FIRST they need to have mastered the basics in the system and only then are they ready for more. And yes, AR does NOT need that practice time. It’s just more wear and tear on an aging veteran with no benefit.

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croatpackfan's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:42 am

"How does Rodgers practicing with brand new players who are just learning to play make a difference?"

I believe those WRs did not picked up from the mass of people because they are pretty, but because they already played football. They learned how to play. If you want to have TIMING developed with new receivers, to understand how they see their role and what they like you need to spend time with them. As well as to explane them what is your expectation from them, how you see their roles and what you like when throwing the fooball. After that you need PRACTICE with them to be able to be on the same page when games starts.

Most misunderstandings came from not knowing what your team mate expects from you. Also, every QB has specific way of throwing ball, so, they need to adapt themselves to the specific way of throws. Those are maybe small things, but we all knows (or should know) that at important moments very tiny things makes difference between success or failure.

I hope you understand that chemistry between 2 persons or group of persons do not happened suddenly. To get chemistry with anyone or group of people you need time to spent together working on the same goal.

Packers starting QB obviously do not understand that. But that is the reason why he needed to be at OTAs and mini camp.

6 points
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Oppy's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:59 am

The Rodgers Apologist is strong in this one.

Look, the young WRs need to be thrown to during training camp and preseason, regardless if they have everything down pat or not, correct?

Don't you think there would be value in having the person delivering the ball be the starting QB as much as possible? The young WRs then learn the velocity and nuance of how the starting QB throws the ball. They get insight into the details of what the starting QB is looking for from them... while the QB gets to learn the speed, agility, and general skill sets of the young WRs at the same time. They get a "feel" for each other as they're learning.

It isn't like it's an outlier experience to have a veteran QB spend extra time to get on the same page with rookie, young, or new WRs in the offseason, through OTAs, training camp and pre-season. It literally happens all the time, because it's generally considered a positive action that helps yield better results come the start of the season.

12 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:04 am

I disagree Patrick. For those who played football, practice is kind of a big deal. All I hear from MLF is EVERY snap in OTAs, TC and preseason is very important for every player...especially for rookies.

It would be valuable for rookie WRs taking passes from #12, learn his cadence, audibles, learn how to stay patient as he routinely takes the play clock down to a few seconds. Then mentor the rookies on the sidelines between plays, at meetings, during down time, etc. to answer questions and get to know them personally.

If #12 shows up on his own timetable, expecting rookies to know his "500 course level" Rodgers pass game football, he's an inefficient idiot. It took him the better part of 3 years to learn how to be that 500 level player.

Every practice session is also about relationship building...something Rodgers has to focus on because it is a weakness of his.

His behavior before TC was aloof, entitled, and a bad look for the rookies to see, IMO. And his petulant reactions to rookie WRs when they make a mistake is far different to his demeanor when he screws up.

8 points
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mnbadger's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:41 am

LP - I'm pretty sure I and others have written that same comment over the last 6 months. Every time I see it repeated, I believe it more deeply.
I always point to the fact that tb12 not only actively attends practices but organizes pitch/catch events on his own.
I have to believe that and having bellichek as a hc is why he's the goat statistally including titles.
ar12 only has individual statistics.
GPG!

7 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:27 am

Rodgers has reported a number of times how he connected personally with fellow players. That usually happens in a private session. I don’t think that a few tosses in mini camp would raise that connection. They don’t even know the playbook yet. His instructions are about adjustments to the playbook which they probably don’t even know yet. I get the frustration from fans who think that they found the source of the offensive woes. Yet I don’t think that tossing a few balls in mini camp would cure the problem.

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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:30 am

Ask the question in reverse.

Would catching passes from Rodgers would have hurt their ability to be successful in September?

Might it have speeded up their ability to understand his peccadilloes and shared their mental and physical practice approaches?

I can’t prove it either way, but I know which answers I think are more likely. Then again, I’d have had him throwing to them for most of camp, Cobb and Lazard didn’t need a couple of months of that.

7 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:35 am

I usually agree with you. But the opposite logic does not apply here. But I do agree with most posters that it would not hurt to throw to rookies. I am just not convinced that it would be an overwhelming positive and cure our offensive woes. I stand by my assessment that it’s on the players to actually perform their duties and know the playbook. I also think that our offensive line has been suspect.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:43 am

You're way over their heads .

3 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:33 am

"Maybe our coaching staff should have explained that new receivers needed practice time with their QB" Barnacle

Maybe somebody needs to tell Gute to replenish the wr talent you lose over the years, with new talent.

So a QB doesn't "have to" come to work on his personal time, to help Gute fix the receiver room.
So a QB can fix what Gute broke.

It doesn't work like that.

-9 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:55 am

Silly me, I thought Rodgers would want the best chance to win. But you are right, it can’t be mandated and he will just have to console himself with his meager salary.

Some comments just make me shake my head. This reminds me of the Favre-can-do-no-wrong crowd back in ‘08. I believe
that this was something LaFleur should have built into camp, but your comment just took the biscuit for idolatry beyond reason.

5 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:55 pm

Rodgers has carried this team on his back most of his career.

Overcome the bad defenses, bad special teams that the Packers gave him.

Keeping upper management fat with job security.

Put away your $20 word and listen close....

Rodgers job....isn't to fix Gutes "poor" job performance during Rodgers off season time, when he probably already had plans i'm sure.

Gute had since 2018 to sustain a decent wr/te room....Don't lay it on Rodgers that Gute couldn't do the job he's paid handsomely to do.

Rodgers job is a NFL QB.
Gutes job is to build and maintain a competitive roster.

Does Rodgers ask Gute to come in and do his job?

Yes Coldworld, silly me.....Gute will just have to console himself with the meager 5 year extension he just "earned".

-5 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 06:10 pm

What would you have had Gute do after Rodgers was signed? Where is the Cap after that to do anything material? Even if there were, how would that affect the question here? It wouldn’t. It’s pretty obvious that, whatever the question, you will find an answer that wholly exonerates Rodgers. Unfortunately, any such answer will not stand up as a result. Rodgers may not be the primary culprit: he’d not, but he is a factor.

1 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 11:26 am

Ok, lets see how this stands up ColdWorld. These may be tough to answer while people Carry the G. But lets give it a go.....

"What would you have had Gute do after Rodgers was signed?" - Cold

The real question is.....
Why was Rodgers signed to all that money to begin with?
Who made that decision?
Why would Murphy sign off on that?
Why would the Packers tie their hands?
I thought Love was drafted for the future?
I thought they were moving on from Rodgers.
Giving Rodgers 150 million 9 months ago is moving on?
Let me guess....all that is Rodgers fault?

Someone riddle me.... why did Gute/Murphy give all that guaranteed money to Rodgers, tying up the future and increasing the dead cap money. Not to mention screwing Love in the process.

More interesting.......who is responsible for the Packers giving all that guaranteed money to Rodgers 9 months ago?

Is it....DARE I SAY...the Packers fault?
*****************
People can answer one of two ways....
1) Be an adult and write something of substance if you have a differing viewpoint.

2) Or gather all the intellect someone can muster, finish eating their cheetos, then giving a thumbs down.

Ya know....Carry The G.
***********************
Bonus thought.......

Some people wonder what Love has to offer after almost 3 seasons.
They think the Packers need to watch him play to determine what they have in Jordan Love.

Let me ask you this. would the Packers give Rodgers all that money if they were confident with Love as the starter?

The very fact that the Packers gave Rodgers 3 more years should at least clue people in on what they thought of Love.
.
Sincerely Cold......
I do appreciate the fact you at least have the ability to converse, that hasn't gone unnoticed.

0 points
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Nate-1980's picture

December 06, 2022 at 07:59 am

Since75 watch out if you speak the truth about our gm blatantly refusing to acquire and build an adequate wr room for a Super Bowl run, they’ will not like that truth around these parts.. Once Adams left and he sat on his hands in the beginning of FA we were fucked, but like Cory you guys got tricked by media bs.. The wr room not being good enough falls squarely on Gute, and before you say they don’t have the cap, they were going to sign Adams..

0 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 11:48 am

Silly me, i thought a competent GM could acquire some receiver talent over the course of 5 off seasons.

But hey, who cares, here's the 5 year extension you earned Gute.
*********
What would i have done if i was Gute?

Hmmm.....tough one
Well, ....i would have drafted a wide receiver/tight end every 3rd round for 5 drafts

I guarantee, i would have had better results.

1 points
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The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

December 03, 2022 at 09:24 pm

It started even before regular season. He started trashing the receivers in training camp.

2 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:40 am

Trashing? I missed that. I know that the media parses and analyzes his words and spins them to their own bias. But trashing seems to be an over assessment.

0 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 11:37 am

We all missed that Patrick.

Fiction abounds.

0 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 11:36 am

Generally speaking........I cant wait to watch "Packer fans" when the Packers don't have a HOF QB...(Return to reality).
i think that will be entertaining...no more being a spoiled Packer fan.

I can see about 50% of the Packer fan base under 45 years old, deserting the Packers without a HOF QB.

Just my .02

0 points
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jvole's picture

December 03, 2022 at 07:18 am

Yep Barnacle, you think for $50 mil our 'greatest of all time' 'super competitive' 'never had weapons or a defense' quarterback could show up and throw some balls to rookie receivers for a couple of weeks. Hell, he spends more time on podcasts than he does on non-mandatory camps.

24 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:06 am

Just throwing balls could be done by the juggs machine. And I could not care less what a grown man does in his spare time. I don’t pay attention to the Kardashians or the royals either. I see no benefit from non-mandatory camps for an older MVP quarterback.

-4 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:23 am

Favre never showed for the early, "voluntary " mini-camps. The CBA has restricted the amount of time coaches can spend developing their greenhorns.

-1 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:28 am

LOL....Don't pay attention to the....he-man Rodgers haters club.

A cute bunch of underachievers they are.

-6 points
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11Bravo1p's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:41 pm

Ad hominem insults aren’t an argument

3 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:19 pm

You do realize that a jugs machine is used to work in technique? It’s not actually a means to build rapport, timing, mutual understanding, as it’s not actually human or allowed to throw to you in a game.

Good grief. I read this thread thinking that the real issue is why Rodgers didn’t throw to them in camp and just see how worship blinds to the point of nonsense!

5 points
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pantz_bURp's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:34 pm

Cold, wait a minute sir...they made modifications to the jugs machine. The Jugs was able to roll it's eyes and chew out Coach LaF. And, it actually will be around to work on it's craft this off season. And another and, this Jugs was able to recruit more WRs since they wanted to play with and for it, not necessarily the Packers organization.

5 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:52 pm

I hear the new one can flap its arms at key moments though. Could be a Head Coach in waiting?

3 points
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The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

December 03, 2022 at 09:29 pm

Luxury model gives tear-filled halftime speeches too.

2 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:19 am

While I disagree, I still had to laugh.

0 points
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Boneman's picture

December 03, 2022 at 07:36 am

Love your articles Cory but can't fully buy this. There have been multiple issues plaguing this Packers team and the receiver issue is just one small part of it. I would argue that problems on the offensive line and the QB's thumb injury have been bigger issues. Other issues have included defensive meltdowns, uncomplimentary football, special teams gaffes and excessive penalties and these have all impacted the Packers performance as much as the receiver problem.
I feel that the "receiver problem" is far more a media fixation than a real cause of the Packers demise. I feel that this group is incredibly promising and will soon be considered a strength! This has just been a lost season with many reasons to point to which happens in sports. Next year will tell the tale for Matt LeFleur.

13 points
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Duneslick's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:05 pm

The article was about receivers not the reason for the packers demise. He thought they would be good enough in the preseason and admitted he was wrong

0 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 05:20 pm

The receiver problem is a media fixation?

Really?

Gute has been trying to find receivers since 2018.
I said, trying.......(and not real hard)

The fact we don't have a clear #1 and #2 receiver is because of...the media?

That's not Gute's fault, it's the damn media!?!?
Lol...i love you guys 🙄

WOW

-4 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 10:56 am

That damn media!!

I'll contribute another thumbs down before you children beat me to it 😮

-2 points
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Since'75's picture

December 04, 2022 at 10:57 am

There ya go!!

Now, how about a cookie?

Would you like that?

-1 points
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egbertsouse's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:03 am

6’5” and 200 would be fine for a point guard but Watson better get his butt in the weight room if he wants to play in more than 6 games a season.

4 points
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DoubleJ's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:59 am

He weighed 208 at the combine. However, I agree he needs to add a bit of weight. With his frame he could probably get to 215-225lbs without losing any speed or explosiveness.

2 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:56 am

Moss: 6'-3 5/8"....194 Lbs....34"-0 arms... 9-5/8 Mitts... 4.38 40 dash...117"-0 Broad Jump..

Watson: 6'-5" ......208 Lbs....32-1/2"arms..10-1/8 Mitts...4.36 40 dash...136"-0 broad jump

Draw your own conclusions. Moss put on weight as he matured as most young men do from 21-25yrs.

6 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:10 am

I agree Cory. And I would also add that, besides the receivers, the offensive line has not given Rodgers time to throw to them. I believe that if the offense was scoring then the defense would not be on the field facing long drives.

-2 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:58 am

It all starts up front. Both sides of the ball. It never changes...

2 points
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PatrickGB's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:53 pm

Very true

0 points
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mrtundra's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:46 am

One of the key takeaways from Davante getting traded was that Rodgers would have to throw to his other receivers. Something he would not do, too often, when Davante was here. I don't care what percentage of passes go to Lazard, or whomever. I think Rodgers was fixated on Davante, at times--and to the detriment of the team. Take the 49ers playoff game, for instance. Rodgers threw, incomplete, to a double covered Davante on the right side of the field when Equanimious St Brown had his man beat by a step down the left side of the field and Alan Lazard was open underneath the defensive coverage that would have moved the chains had he been thrown to and caught the ball. Now ,we are blessed with a bunch of young wide receivers, who will be around for a while, due to them being cheap. I'm talking Watson, Doubs and Toure here. Watkins is also cheap, as an FA. Watkin's woes come from, IMO, Rodgers's bad thumb overthrowing him or being way off, accuracy wise. Lazard came into camp as our "Number One WR." Extra coverage, by defenses, were in his future. Amari Rodgers was barely used as a WR on this team and was relegated to STs where he fell apart. Amari was a star WR, at Clemson, and could not get on the field as a WR here, mostly due to Cobb being brought back, by Rodgers, and playing the slot receiver spot that Amari would have played. Danny Davis, a Badger WR, was let go. I felt he would have been a better guy to have on STs, than Amari was. I think that with Love, as our QB, we will see our young WRs flourish more than they will with Rodgers as their QB. No disrespect to Rodgers, but I feel Love has more rapport with the young WRs, as he had been in camp and OTAs with them while Rodgers sat out.

8 points
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Since'61's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:50 am

Adams could be on his way to the NFL HOF depending on how well his remaining seasons work out in Vegas or even another team if he plays that long.

All-Pro HOF players are difficult to replace at any position. Bringing in young WRs is always going to be a difficult transition period because they are not only learning an NFL offense they are also adjusting to the speed at the NFL level and the are likely playing against more experienced,NFL, veteran DBs. Compound that with the numerous injuries among the Packers receiving corps this season and you have numerous challenges to overcome.

As per the norm for this season the Packers coaching staff particularly MLF made those challenges even worse by playing an injured QB when sitting him for 2-3 games may have allowed his thumb to heal. But no, MLF basically decided to weaken his best player by continuing to have him play through his injury when it was obviously debilitating his ability to throw accurately. Stupid is as stupid does yet again for the Packers in 2022. Not to mention the added benefit of enabling Love to develop with a few more games worth of snaps.

In the end it may not have mattered as the defense which on paper looked like at least top 10 defense has become a doormat for our opponents ground games and has had its own problems with injuries, coaching stupidity and tackling. Hopefully it has reached its nadir for the season against the Eagles last week but who knows.

Bottom line nothing has been good enough this season. The OL, the receivers, the QB, the defense have all gone downhill since 2021. Our RBs are the only exception. Jones has been outstanding again and Dillon in a somewhat lesser role can still do damage when the Packers run the ball from under center.

Bring on the 'Da Bears and look forward to better days in 2023. Thanks, Since '61

13 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:55 am

Well said. I’d add that the plan was evidenced by the practice routine in summer, which was heavily skewed to Love with the youth and Rodgers with Cobb, Watkins and Lazard (when healthy). LaFleur clearly planned on doing it with the vets. Doubs was reluctantly added but then primarily thrown near laterals if thrown to at all.

This season with this roster was never realistically likely to produce a contender, but we never even tried to work in the rookies. We instead preferred Winfree and Rodgers. We didn’t have the rookies work on specific roles, we trained them as back ups. It took us weeks to figure out that the one who missed camp isn’t a go route specialist but thrives on deep crossers (im sure the personnel guys knew that). A lack of thought and planning. Then again, for the second year running the whole team was woefully unprepared for the first game.

Whatever the choices creating this roster deserve, the handling of it by the coaches has been risible. I find it ironic that the reason Watson finally started getting targets was Rodgers realizing that LaFleur’s run and pass into the same areas 20 times a drive was a recipe for futility even more than throwing to rookies. Even then LaFleur tried to persist.

We were never going to contend with Cobb, Lazard and Watkins. That was pretty darn obvious. We still mess around. Toure barely gets snaps. Jones is hit and miss in terms of opportunities. Dillon has been misused and we really only saw Jones run true receiver routes regularly last week. The design of the off and preseason and the offense and personnel use resulting has been flat out rank. I can only assume that LaFkeyr and Murphy live in a cocoon formed by their own mutual affirmation.

This team started out with a deeply flawed vision of its own competitiveness and overlaid that with perhaps the worst strategy possible from LaFleur. That’s despite this draft having some hope of being stellar for offensive rookies—way over the level any team has a statistical probability of sustaining.

It’s no wonder we have had the season we have. The groundwork was laid in the spring and summer. It’s sad that the few glimmers on O in summer came from rookies and, in mid season, from the QB getting frustrated at the futility of his coach. The path here doesn’t get better by ignoring this. It gets better when we face the reality that this season was rooted in a horribly unrealistic self assessment overlaid with a terminally incapable Head Coach and staff.

5 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:21 am

It's refreshing to read some voice of reason.

Thanks '61

-3 points
1
4
Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:21 am

Who ever gave my compliment to '61 a "thumbs down" i hope you feel better.

Tell ya what, i'll even give it a thumbs down, so maybe you can feel twice as good.

Would you like that?

-3 points
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3
Since'61's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:07 pm

Since '75 - I appreciate your generous feedback. Thanks, Since '61

-1 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 05:39 pm

No need to mention it '61, but thank you.
Always respect, because you earn it with everything you write.

-2 points
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Handsback's picture

December 03, 2022 at 08:54 am

Cory, I think you made your point but its the wrong point to be made.
Yeah the receivers aren't what they have been in the past. The problem is the offense wasn't predicated on having a fleet of established wideouts. A strong running game, short passes to compliment it and set up the defense for an occasional long completion. That was MLF's offense vision. Unfortunately his offense isn't being run except for a few games that show what Green Bay could be verses what they have become.
Maybe Rodger's thumb, maybe he (Rodgers) never bought into it enough to develop it.
I don't know why the offense is so disjointed and losing a player like Adams never helps. I just think the offense doesn't need a premier WR in order to function correctly.
Again just my opinion.

6 points
8
2
Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:10 am

Yea...most Championship teams don't need/have a premier receiver.
Teach me more.

Is this predicated on having such a strong defense and running game?
Well, if it is, we should get those first, before we deplete the receiver room talent.

Please....join me in here right after the bear game as i'm going to be selling a bridge i own...you've maybe heard of it, the Mackinac Bridge?

-2 points
2
4
jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:26 am

Then they should have drafted a couple of TEs in the early rounds. Maybe line up in the T-formation as one team in the MN State High School Championship game last evening. Right out of the 1940's. The opponent had a pretty good passer and won the title 27-10.

0 points
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0
TarynsEyes's picture

December 03, 2022 at 09:58 am

“The moment Davante Adams was traded to Las Vegas on March 17,”

Really? LOL.

3 points
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1
LambeauPlain's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:16 am

In other news, Bakht is out again...this time with an appendectomy. The saga of the Snakebit Millionaire continues. Let's see what Tom can do. Maybe Yosh flips to the LT and Tom play RT.

Murphy sure knows how to invest franchise money for low ROI.

Second highest paid Defense in the NFL, highest paid LT, QB...obscene contracts for a 4-8 team.

4 points
4
0
13TimeChamps's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:34 am

While Rodgers' latest contract made no sense on a number of levels, that wasn't the case with Bakhtiari's contract. He was 29 at the time with no real injury history to speak of and was widely considered the best LT in the game. I'm not seeing how Murphy, or anyone else, could have foreseen the injuries that resulted in all the missed games.

5 points
6
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:44 am

I think LambeauPlain is just looking at the big picture, and i respect that.

He's looking at the return on investment.

Plus...the Packers have been spending most all their prime 1st round draft picks on defense the past 12 years, not to mention the free agent spending spree of 182 million (mostly on defense)..
Then we give up 363 yards rushing (in one game).....really?

Upper management has given us plenty of reasons to scratch our heads the past 32 months.

3 points
3
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:16 am

Kleen Haus.

1 points
1
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dobber's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:01 am

Most recently the Packers have left the line intact and just inserted Tom...I think that's what we see tomorrow against a Bears' defense that has only kept an opponent under 30 once, forced 3 TOs, and only sacked the QB 4 times in the five games since they started cleaning house on defense.

This will be a "battle" of two really bad defenses tomorrow....one's bad because it dealt away its playmakers. The other is bad because it can't make any plays.

5 points
5
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:10 am

The TO stats are enormously, depressing. Apparently, Barry signed a Non-Aggression Pact with the League...

5 points
5
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mnbadger's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:47 am

Barry coaches a "non-aggression" scheme better than any other DC still employed.
GPG!

4 points
4
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 01:11 pm

TOs typically require proximity to the ball or ball carrier

4 points
4
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Since'61's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:03 pm

It's Barry's version of the "No Tackle Defense". Thanks, Since '61

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 11:06 am

It is always a roll of the dice, but you generally sign a guy with All Pro credentials. His backup should have been a two pick in last year's draft. Read 'em and weep.

-1 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:32 pm

We had a perfectly good back up. Nijman proved very effective at LT. The problem was we didn’t have a replacement at RT when cap cuts and commitments kicked in.

4 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:12 pm

Use the two on Lucas and start him at RT. Nijman would start the year at LT while Bhak was in recovery, then he backs the left flank. The miasma and confusion with Hanson and Newman trying to get Rodgers killed would be moot.

0 points
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stockholder's picture

December 03, 2022 at 01:19 pm

I keep hoping Tom plays Center.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:06 pm

I would try to bag Schmitz from the Gophers and move Myers to LG. I think Jenkins walks, unless they tag him.

0 points
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Since'75's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:37 am

I like the article Cory, it was overdue, from anyone.
.
I said years ago before Lazard was the great hope of being a #1 receiver to replace Adams.
Even before.....Lazard and Allison were fighting it out to be receiver #2.

I said....Lazard is a "role player", same thing i said about MVS years later.
.
They've both proven me correct.

I'm going to disagree with Cory on one detail.

"The Packers have been chasing their tail ever since Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling left and it’s been like that all season." - Cory

My viewpoint is, the Packers have been chasing their tail ever since Gute showed Jordy the door.
It went off the rails a few days later when Gute signed Jimmy Graham to the largest tight end contract in the NFL
We all saw how that worked out.

Back when Jordy was a Packer..we had a #1 and #2 receiver.

After Jordy left, we just had a #1

Now it can be argued, we have neither (for now)

My point is, Gute has been trying to replace Jordy since 2018.
This receiver room didn't just fall apart now, with Adams gone.
It just made Gute look more incompetent than usual.

Apologies to all the "Gutey" lovers.
Feel free to be a man and give me a thumbs down. 🤪
But i'm just keepin it 💯

-1 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:38 pm

If anything the problem is he hasn’t been trying to replace Jordy, or any WR, unless you somehow count Rodgers. Jordy would not currently be playing anyway, so I doubt his release factors, but it certainly hasn’t led to a regular scramble to replace him. It’s pretty clear that that the team saw Adams as doing that. Then Adams didn’t come back. At least Gute salvaged something in Watson out of that mess. Ironically, maybe the next Jordy or better. One can hope.

2 points
2
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dobber's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:43 am

"I thought the Packers' receiving corps was fine when Davante Adams was traded. I was wrong. "

You were delusional, then, or your recollection of history is a mess. When they dealt Adams, they had an aging Cobb, and a couple scrubs of no particular importance under contract. Lazard was about to be tendered his RFA. Watkins wasn't signed until the middle of April. Tonyan was still only 6 months removed from an ACL tear and Deguara was still struggling to assert himself. The WR/TE positions were virtually bare. If you wanted to say that you had faith that they would fix the position, that's one thing--but what you've articulated was an amalgam of events that doesn't fit your thesis.

The Packers made their choice: they chose to pay big money and gamble that 12 would be able to elevate just about any set of pass catchers to keep defenses on their heels. They made lots of gambles on health, chemistry, performance, defense, STs--very few have panned out. 2022 has been a giant miscalculation--but when you spend a couple years hard up against the cap and commit to a spending structure that's going to keep you there, you're relying on gambles paying off: if not now, then in the near future.

When there are too many cooks in the kitchen getting in the way of a unified vision, it makes it even harder.

6 points
7
1
LeotisHarris's picture

December 03, 2022 at 01:16 pm

Well, crap! Seems emergency revisions of I Was Wrong: The Cory Jennerjohn Story are in order. Stop the presses!

4 points
4
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Nate-1980's picture

December 06, 2022 at 01:40 pm

I had no faith they’d get enough help at wr, and they relied on rookies and washed players and it failed.. What exactly is Gutes “ vision”, I’d love to know, seems rudderless to me..

0 points
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Heyward's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:00 pm

Relying on rookies is a great plan to win… in 2023 or 2024. To win this season, Gutekunst needed to do better than rookies and a broken-down Watkins. It’s crazy that Rodgers at 28 had so much more talent at receiver than Rodgers at 38. It’s the bizarro world of roster building.

2 points
4
2
13TimeChamps's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:42 pm

Rodgers at 28 wasn't eating up such a huge chunk of salary cap as Rodgers at 38 is, thus making it more difficult to surround him with that talent you speak of.

2 points
3
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 12:43 pm

It’s the bizarro world of bringing back Rodgers with a roster prepared for without him and burdened by a lot of dead cap. There’s your mystery.

As to why that made sense to Murphy? Better ask him, but he did predict another MVP season for Rodgers in February, when we had only Cobb and Lazard on the books and it seems already knew Adams was not interested. Perhaps that says all that needs to be said: Murphy was just deluded.

2 points
2
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stockholder's picture

December 03, 2022 at 01:12 pm

IMO.- Packers management made all the right moves with Adams.
From drafting him, Keeping him, paying him, and finally trading him.
I wouldn't have drafted him. TT was Right. I would have traded him sooner. TT was Right . I would have never paid him. TT was right.
I never thought of him as a Franchise player. Gute was right.
To take the picks. He's a WR not a QB.
Adams turned into everything Rodgers needed. And the Team needed. He did a great job for us.

2 points
2
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DragonSilk's picture

December 03, 2022 at 02:42 pm

Gute has been great, but he really screwed up letting MVS go. With Adams gone depending on rookies, an aging vet, (Cobb) and 1 good but not great vet, (Lazard) was stupid. MVS had finally caught on to the offense and was on the same page as #12. Doubs and Watson are going to a great tandem, but rookies almost always struggle to catch on and he should have known that.

0 points
1
1
13TimeChamps's picture

December 03, 2022 at 02:53 pm

MVS's catch totals with the Packers were 38/26/33/26. He had reached his ceiling and it wasn't a very high one. No way was GB going to pay him 10 million per year. It was the right move.

2 points
2
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jannes bjornson's picture

December 03, 2022 at 04:18 pm

Replacement Theory 101. Watson on line one.

1 points
1
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Coldworld's picture

December 03, 2022 at 05:12 pm

Unfortunately, we couldn’t pay him what he got after we signed Rodgers. We ended up with Watkins instead. I’d much rather have had MVS and Watson out there with Lazard and co than Watkins. Watson had a much higher upside but bunch those two, have MVS in a go and Watson crossing deep and Doubs crossing under or Lazard/Cobb sitting in empty space …. Or have one on each perimeter and then run seams.

0 points
1
1
13TimeChamps's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:58 am

MVS averaged 31rec/3TDs in his 4 years here. This year he has 31rec/1TD in KC. That's with 2 future HOF QBs throwing to him. I'm glad KC is paying him the 10 mil and not us.

1 points
1
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tommynak's picture

December 03, 2022 at 07:03 pm

I also believe that AR will play next year but I see nothing that indicates it will be in GB. The best thing for this organization is to move on from Rodgers now and get out from under as much as the absurd contract that this front office signed him to. I was a big proponent of moving him both of the last to offseasons, not because I am not a Rodgers fan as I have always been in his corner as the GBP QB. But when you have a chance to move a 37+ year old QB as they did the last 2 offseasons you don't hesitate for the health of your franchise. The only way I would have resigned AR was with a home team discount, but we know that is not who he is. If his true #1 goal was to win a SB here that is what he would have done & Adams would probably still be here also.

It's time to move on to Love & that should be happening this weekend in Chicago but Mr. Selfish won't step aside because we are not mathematically eliminated, don't know what math he is looking at but I will tell you right here the Packers are not in the hunt for any playoff spot.

The most obvious ideal landing spot for trading him is to his bay area home for his childhood dream of the SF Niners. We GB fans have to hope SF gets eliminated early in NFC playoffs as their roster is built to win now & Jimmy G not under any contract after this season & AR will give them 2 years in win mode now and they then turn to their #1 draft pick. We should be able to get a quality starter in return such as Bosa or Kittle and possible a 3rd round pick down the line. That would be more than enough compensation to get out of his contract as much as possibel.

As always Go Pack Go and I won't be missing a single snap rest of the season and get wait to see what the offseason brings.

0 points
1
1
Since'61's picture

December 03, 2022 at 10:39 pm

Murphy proclaimed "We're not idiots, Rodgers will be back" on January 26, 2022. Once Murphy made that comment he gave all of the negotiating leverage away to Rodgers and his agent. If I was Rodgers agent at the time I would have responded to Murphy with "Here's what it is going to cost you not to be an idiot." I would not be surprised if Rodger's agent used a similar tactic before Rodgers signed his extension on March 15, 2022. Not a very protracted negotiating period. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

December 04, 2022 at 08:03 am

Well if you want to cede ground to an agent in public, there is this on the Packers website as of February 5th this year:

“[W]e are significantly over the salary cap for next year, and will have to make many difficult decisions in order to get under the cap. A key factor will be whether Aaron Rodgers comes back for the 2022 season. Matt, Brian, executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball and I are all in agreement that we want Aaron to come back. He is likely to win his fourth league MVP, is the unquestioned leader of our team and is still playing at a high level at 38. Although we will face many challenges this offseason, I have tremendous confidence in Matt, Brian and Russ. I don't think anyone in the league knows the rules regarding the salary cap better than Russ. He will be our most valuable employee this offseason.”

Mark Murphy writing on Packers.com, posted

https://www.packers.com/news/mt5-a-great-opportunity-wasted

0 points
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canadapacker's picture

December 03, 2022 at 07:22 pm

As far as I am concerned - a whole bunch of navel gazing arm chair quarterbacking in this article and some of the responses. Of course we were going to be much worse as far as receivers were concerned losing two of the best in the league and replacing them with high draft picks. But and it is a big but and is the elephant in the room. Nobody predicted that the Oline would be so absolutely horrible. We supposedly had a great running back duo - who got continually stopped in the backfield on their runs because the Oline was in disarray - We couldnt run up the middle, do a sweep or protect the QB even on the short passes. We supposedly had a wide receiver vet who was trying to regain his obvious to all now is an overrated status and after a game 2 flash totally seems to be the same old walking bandaid. We had Lazard who also immediately was playing on one leg . So do I think that we could have adapted with the new receivers - as we have done that before with AR. But we never ever have had as porous Oline as they showed early this year - NO. So Cory you can blame the guys who are the receivers ( and there have been too many drops for sure) but the biggest and most debilitating issue has been the performance of an OLINE ( and of course Lafleurs not addressing it )- and remember that has effected many teams - just look at Steelers Colts and Jets ( at times). When we finally got the line settled/ going lately we ran the ball and opened up the passing game ( Helped that Dillon also improved lately) and we are better offensively. Now when you give up the ball and dont get it back for most of the quarter - that doesnt help the offense either.

1 points
2
1