Packers Question of the day - Can Davante Adams be a no. 1?
My apologies for the brief absence on Wednesday morning. I know you guys just missed me and my questions so damn much. Haha. Ha. Haha... Anyways.
After a stellar 2016 season thus far, Davante Adams has shown the progression that the Packers have been waiting two years to see. His routes are sharper, his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage at the snap is... well, explosive. He's becoming everything Ted Thompson has wanted him to be when he selected Adams in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
With Jordy Nelson at 31-years old and not getting any younger, can Adams someday soon be the Packers' number one receiver? Can he be the reliable outside threat for Aaron Rodgers for years to come, especially considering he's only 23-years old and still with much of his prime ahead of him?
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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].
Comments (32)
Handsback
December 01, 2016 at 09:22 am
The improvement from last year to this year is very impressive. Let's enjoy his performance before we crown him and move our expectations beyound realistic results.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
December 01, 2016 at 09:22 am
Doubtful. Solid #2.
Razer
December 01, 2016 at 12:17 pm
I agree, he can be a solid number two. He doesn't have the speed nor the physical toughness to be the top guy. Let's see how he does against Houston and Seattle where they will jam him at the line of scrimmage. I am hoping he proves me wrong.
Beep
December 01, 2016 at 03:45 pm
Agreed at this point. His big games this year have been against some dreadful CBs.
He really comes off as James Jones 2.0. Big build, from California, not overly speedy, madly inconsistent to start his career, and then becomes a solid #2-3.
Turophile
December 02, 2016 at 12:36 am
Yep, solid no.2. He doesn't have the deep speed to be a true no.1 Pairing him with a true no.1 with speed, will help him show at his best.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
December 02, 2016 at 05:29 am
A solid #2? Better than a dirty, wet #2!
rdent
December 01, 2016 at 09:36 am
This season isn't over yet and lets not forget how he started out this year,I along with a lot of us were wondering why he was on the field. Although his play has picked up as of late,we need to see Adams perform like this consistently through an entire season before making an assessment.
stockholder
December 01, 2016 at 12:29 pm
A Lot of us were wondering why he was on the field. Interesting. Now if you and I wondered why. Weren't the team players? This may have had something to do with Sittons release, and others. Favoritism was very obvious!
RCPackerFan
December 01, 2016 at 09:46 am
The number 1,2,3 thing I think can be based on how defenses play them. If the defense has their top CB following a specific WR, they view that WR as the number 1. If they put a safety over a specific WR doubling him up, that also says he is a number 1.
In the Packers offense there really isn't a true number 1,2,3 because they try to do match ups more then anything.
What I like about Adams emergence is it will give Nelson more opportunities. Teams can't focus just on 1 guy.
rdent
December 01, 2016 at 10:29 am
I agree RC,Adams emergence will help Cobb & Nelson and all the WR's.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 01, 2016 at 08:27 pm
I agree. I do think there is a difference between being a #1 WR and being the #1 WR on your team. If the defense feels it needs to double a WR, that is a pretty good indicator.
Off the top of my head, I could come up with my own suggestion as to what the definition of being A #1 WR means (but I am open to amendments or additions). A number 1 guy has to be able to stretch the field. He has to have reasonably good hands. He has to be willing to go over the middle. He has to be able to work the sidelines, and to help his QB out on scrabble drills. The most important thing though is simply the ability to get open due to his route running combined with his physical gifts on a consistent basis with the ability to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
December 02, 2016 at 12:44 pm
I could see Aaron Rodgers being pretty competitive and GOOD at practice doing the "Scrabble" drill. Hell, he kicked ass at Jeopardy!
EdsLaces
December 01, 2016 at 10:16 am
With the amount of targets he's been getting isnt he already our #1?
Ferrari Driver
December 01, 2016 at 10:39 am
I like what he has done the last couple of games, but I doubt that he will make an GM's mistake him for an A.J. Green or Julio Jones.
Guys like that are essentially limited to the top 10 in the draft class.
Jordy is 30 and will likely play out his contract and settle down on his farm.
It would be great to have a Beckum (without the garbage) for Rodgers to throw to while he is still elite.
bears suck forever
December 01, 2016 at 11:01 am
breaking news! The bears still suck.
dschwalm
December 02, 2016 at 11:18 am
Yep, but they can beat the Packers
cuervo
December 01, 2016 at 11:06 am
To answer the questions posed, no let's hope he's never our #1. He simply does not have the speed required to be a true #1. Solid #2 maybe. .....and that's if he can string together more than a couple games at a time. I will say his improvement this year is dramatic.
guzzi2000
December 01, 2016 at 11:08 am
I think he is number one this season on this team. Not sure he will be next year. I guess we will have to see if he shows up the rest of the season.
Razer
December 01, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Given what our offense has done these last two years, I don't think we should be WR ranking sensitive. We have a bunch of good receivers who can make plays - if they are used properly. When you don't see Montgomery for long stretches and see Richard Rodgers instead, you gotta wonder if we really know how to use the horsepower that is available in our top 4 WRs and maybe even the top 6 guys.
Christopher Gennaro
December 01, 2016 at 04:36 pm
great post, been thinking the same thing when the term number 1 wr comes up. i think most people here know we dont have a typical number 1, but our top three(four if ever used monty), are better then most. the problem was play calling and scheme, way too much zebra. finally your spot on with his over use of te position, we have no one to meet his system, and im not sure, but i think MM out thinks himself, if anything the colts game showed that.
Tundraboy
December 02, 2016 at 07:38 am
"When you don't see Montgomery for long stretches and see Richard Rodgers instead, you gotta wonder if we really know how to use the horsepower that is available in our top 4 WRs and maybe even the top 6 guys."
Couldn't agree more. If we do not see Montgomery and Cook more among some others and if we see RRodgers for more than a play or two, I'm going to scream.
Surely that is now apparent to the entire coaching staff as to what works and what doesn't with this roster.
egbertsouse
December 01, 2016 at 01:09 pm
I'm still not sold on Adams, he still disappears for entire games. A true No. 1 needs to make some plays even when doubled for most of the game like Jordy or Larry Fitzgerald in their primes.
I have refrained from calling him "Dropvante" as long as he continues to play well. Oops, sorry.
zoellner25
December 01, 2016 at 03:29 pm
We really do need a speed guy. Maybe Trevor Davis will be that guy next year, but right now we are have a slow WR core.
Christopher Gennaro
December 01, 2016 at 04:42 pm
even as decoy davis should be playing at least 25% of the plays. everyone says speed kills, so why not make the defense at least adjust. if we can get RR out there for more than 50% of the plays, the fact we cant find snaps for guys that defenses have to at least account for, is suicide or hubris.
Dzehren
December 01, 2016 at 10:41 pm
Rookie receivers rarely have year 1 impact in the NFL. See driver, jones, etc. Davis has been in the dog house since that punt return fumble VS Tennessee. That was a turning point in the game. But it probably didn't change the outcome. I like Davis and his speed and look to see him more in the final weeks this year and more next year.
Dzehren
December 01, 2016 at 06:25 pm
No way man. Get real. With out A-Rod he is a # 2-3
Bert
December 01, 2016 at 07:14 pm
The jury on Adams is still out but I am very encouraged by the returns this year. Let's see how the Seattle game goes in two weeks. Can Adams match up against Sherman and still allow Rodgers to use the whole field or does Sherman take Adams out of the game and limit Rodgers to half the field?
Since'61
December 01, 2016 at 08:30 pm
Adams has improved significantly over last 3-4 games. However, it's a little premature to state that he is a #1 receiver. He could evolve into a #1 if you base that upon number of targets. In any case the Packers need a game breaker WR like Julio Jones, OBJ or AJ Green. Combine a WR like them with D. Adams and Cook at TE and our passing game becomes deadly. There is still time this season for things to open up for Jordy if Adams continues his recent play and Cook emerges as a serious threat. I just don't know if Jordy will ever get his speed back but he remains a threat for defenses to respect. Thanks, Since '61
MarkinMadison
December 01, 2016 at 08:46 pm
If you are talking guy with true height and speed elite measurables then no. Jordy was that guy. I don't think Adams will ever be that guy. But I don't know that the Packers have to have a true #1.
Dzehren
December 01, 2016 at 09:34 pm
Cobb's 10Million salary is the real issue at hand. He unfortunately is having another pedestrian year for 10 MILLION. He barely gets separation in SINGLE coverage and drops to many passes. He reminds of Golden Tate.
Adams is not a number 1. See Julio, Odel, AJ Green, Antonio Brown- Just like Since 61 said.
Tundraboy
December 02, 2016 at 07:28 am
He could but he shouldn't. We need a tall wr, a faster game changing receiver.
Dzehren
December 02, 2016 at 10:07 am
You just described Jordy Nelson prior to ACL injury. He was a true #1.