Cory's Corner: Can't Defend Everyone
The Packers wide receiving corps is already one of the best in the league. That's scary news for opposing defenses.
Remember when everyone was concerned about the Packers wideouts?
How they needed to trade for a veteran or draft a wideout in the first round. After Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders in 2022 many weren’t sure who would carry the torch in Green Bay’s receiving room.
Well, it turns out the torch bearer seems to be anyone and everyone. This team can lean on just about anybody as a receiver. In the last three games, Bo Melton (105 yards), Jayden Reed (112) and Romeo Doubs (151) all broke the 100-yard receiving mark.
You know what stands out to me about those three? Melton was just signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Jan. 1 and already looks like a high draft pick. Christian Watson, the 34th overall pick in the 2022 draft, has only played in 10 games this year — and that includes 1 catch for 9 yards at Dallas in the NFC Wild Card Game by playing in 41 percent of the offensive snaps.
Last week, Reed only had three targets and didn’t get a reception, but the second round rookie has been a huge surprise with 12.4 yards per reception, a catch percentage of 68 and a team-leading 348 yards after the catch.
Then there’s Dontayvion Wicks. The fifth round rookie didn’t have his breakout game until Week 11 when he had 3 catches for 91 yards against the Chargers. Yet, he leads all wideouts with nine forced missed tackles. The wiry 6-foot-1, 206-pound receiver has proven that he’s dynamic and has acted like a seasoned pro.
I don’t think there are enough capable 49ers defensive backs that can stick and stay with this deep of a receiving corps. I’m not saying that the Packers are going to win going away because there are other factors that include quarterback pressures or drops.
The versatility of this team is truly remarkable. Any receiver can play anywhere and Reed or Watson can even take a handoff. There are so many ways that this group can beat you, it probably makes Packers coach Matt LaFleur smile deviously into the wee hours of the night. Most teams have one, maybe two solid cornerbacks. There’s no way that Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir or Isaiah Oliver will keep up with a crew that saw Watson practice in full this week. They are ranked 10th, 46th and 54th in coverage among all corners.
So stop doubting this position. The wide receiver position is just fine. In fact, it’s better than fine. By next October, you’re going to start hearing and seeing more comparisons to Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson — the four heralded horsemen from the 2010 season that turned into one of the best receiving quartets of all-time. This group could be that good. They have all the tools and most importantly, are selfless enough to put the team first.
So please stop the chatter about the Packers wide receiver’s inadequacy. This group has proven that it can not only succeed but it can succeed in a multitude of different ways.
That’s the blueprint for the Packers moving forward — keep the opponent guessing.
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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
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Comments (38)
PackEyedOptimist
January 20, 2024 at 06:28 am
The comparison is apt: Nelson = Watson, Jennings = Reed, Driver = Melton, Jones = Doubs, Wicks = Adams!? These guys might have more potential!
That doesn’t include the next few players on the roster who are better than the bottom was back then. (I’m still waiting for DuBose to get a chance to make HIS splash—LOVE his college tape).
Houndog
January 20, 2024 at 07:09 am
Optimist,
Admittedly I know nothing about Dubose, but as I stated below I keep hearing accolades about him.
Guessing I'll learn more next summer.
Cheddarhed
January 20, 2024 at 08:43 am
And Doubs
PackEyedOptimist
January 20, 2024 at 09:31 am
Wow, yes, I overlooked Doubs! (Just like Dallas did!)
I knew it felt weird when Melton was my fourth guy.
It should have been this:
Watson= Nelson
Reed = Jennings
Doubs = Jones
Melton = Driver
Wicks = Adams
🙂!!
SicSemperTyrannis
January 20, 2024 at 12:52 pm
The four horsemen of 2010 cannot do what these EIGHT can! With Simore Toure being #8.
I question who is at 100%? Even when he's decidedly less than that, JL should look at #11 as WR1. He gets open more often than anybody else. I can't believe he can possibly be at 100% today even though he's not on an injury report.
#9 really needs to be at 100% to deliver as only he can, but the MVS role works regardless.
Normally I would say Bo Melton should be kept in reserve as #9's substitute when he's out due to injury, but today there's no reason not to pull out all the stops. He might be the closest to 100% of these three speed guys?
Wicks drags multiple defenders down the field with him, the likes of which I don't remember ever seeing Davante Adams doing.
Grant DuBose is the likely substitute for Wicks when he's out due to injury; same speed, almost the same height and weight, both excel at contested catches. Should be an easy switch for JL to make and hit in stride.
We've gotten through 6, and haven't even mentioned Doubs yet?!? How many teams would have him as their undisputed #1? 4.47 speed, 6'2" 204, and "only " dominated Dallas.
Malik Heath! And I'm still not convinced they should give up on Simore Toure, although he was disappointing in his rare chances this season. His 4.43 speed is no joke, hopefully they get him turned around before TC. Gutey also added one more ...
#28 won't be catching anything with a club on his hand, but he's been an excellent pass catcher this season. Both he and #33 are legitimately part of the receiving core, as are #85 & 88. If Dillon can't carry today but can only block, MLF might call a better game?
Since'75
January 20, 2024 at 06:25 pm
Lol....that was good.
Nelson = Watson?
Driver = Melton?
Wicks = Adams?
Holy shit
Maybe MORE potential!!
Ok, i'm just gonna stop...lol
Since'75
January 20, 2024 at 06:59 pm
Ok...i'm going to mention something i wouldn't bring up because i didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
But since Nags brought it up recently on 'The Game', i'll just say it.
It's amazing to me how wide open the Packers receivers are.
I think it's because they have so many new ones, teams don't have a bead on what the Packers are doing.
Sure they see all the motion.
But this is new to everyone they play.
So what happens......Coordinators and their staffs start studying what their doing on offense and they (try) to make adjustments.
This isn't something new, this is an annual off season ritual.
But new offenses sometimes carry this advantage.
The Packers will look at their opponents tape for next season and do the same thing.
Sometimes they learn and have an answer, sometimes they don't.
McCarthy and Rodgers ran the same shit for a long time and just said, here's what we run...try to beat us.
Then it finally got way too stale, and the team suffered for it, that's why McCarthy was ultimately dismissed.
Credit to MLF, his staff, and the players, it works until somebody can stop it
Houndog
January 20, 2024 at 06:57 am
"please stop the chatter about the Packers wide receiver’s inadequacy"
Cory,
Not sure where you're finding it, but I haven't seen, heard, or read the type of chatter you're describing anywhere recently. The only negative 'anything' I've seen are people concerned about Watson being fragile, which to some degree is nearly undeniable at this time. Its at least a legitimate concern.
To the contrary, right here on CheeseheadTV I've seen nothing but positive comments and mostly excitement over them all, receivers, tight ends, and even Grant Dubose has gotten good comments.
Toure' did take a little abuse for his fumbled return a few weeks ago, but as was well deserved the coaches took their hits as well for that play.
I for one think the Packers are loaded, well stocked, whatever cliche' you want to use. I worry more about who they're going to lose 3-4 years from now, than I worry about their production for today's game.
To me its a given, someone will have a big day and that's a huge positive. Thanks to Jordan Love NOT playing favorites and for using them per MLF's design, it sure looks good at present
If it ain't one, its the other, someone always steps up!
You can't stop them all!
LambeauPlain
January 20, 2024 at 07:23 am
"please stop the chatter about the Packers wide receiver’s inadequacy"
That did not seem to fit in the article to me either, Houndog.
Who are these "nattering nabobs of negativity"? About the only "chatter" I can recall here is a few posters who constantly complain and find fault with Gutey and his Personnel Team for virtually any action they take.
For the most part, knowledgeable football fans would have to acknowledge the tremendous job the Packers have done in building a competitive team one year after the "post Rodgers era" through the draft within Cap Hades.
I don't know if the NFL gives "Personnel Manager of the Year". If they do, Gutey would be a hands down winner.
I also believe Gutey should be the heir apparent to Murphy when he retires. And to make the transition smooth, Gutey should be made the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers (aka Ron Wolf, TT) after the season and Mark can return to his Presidential role (aka Bob Harlan) for his last year.
NFLfan
January 20, 2024 at 08:11 am
There are too many under-performing first-round picks on Defense to crown Gutey.
Green Bay needs to get serious about creating a Defense which is on par with it's Offense.
LambeauPlain
January 20, 2024 at 08:20 am
I know, right? Those 8 first rounders and key FA pick ups, draft depth have all been duds...after being delivered to one of the most successful, creative, aggressive, sought-after DCs in the NFL. After all, Barry has a well earned reputation of building great defenses wherever he goes!
SMH.
Guam
January 20, 2024 at 08:24 am
We both responded at the same time LP and I like yours! I had a good laugh.
Guam
January 20, 2024 at 08:22 am
"There are too many underperforming first round picks on Defense,,,,,," Is the under performance due to the players or the scheme? It is hard to separate Joe Barry's scheme from the player's performance.
Regarding the missed draft choices, every GM has mistakes. It is pretty well documented that Gute is regarded as one of the top GMs by his peers. And that is a better criteria than your opinion or mine.
NFLfan
January 20, 2024 at 09:07 am
@Guam-
The Green Bay Defense is woefully under-performing and Gute chose most of them.
I'm a realist and if it takes the SF Niners to un-mask our D-so be it.
If Jaire & Savage have more take-aways, that does not cover-up our tackling issues, poor run D, etc.
LambeauPlain
January 20, 2024 at 09:33 am
"Woeful" underperformance is directly correlated to "woeful" coaching.
The trip from worst to first is a short journey in the parity driven NFL.
Amazing how, after a poor season and a coaching change, many NFL teams make the playoffs and play competitive football.
I note that the roster never gets fired before the quick turnaround.
Guam
January 20, 2024 at 09:51 am
NFLfan: Your comments are fair and I agree that the Packer defense has underperformed its talent (woeful may be a bit over top given their defensive rankings, but underperformed, definitely yes). However is it due to the talent or the coaching? Playing two DL on the goal line is a coaching issue; playing CBs seven yards off the line on a third and three is coaching; playing a passive zone almost ever down is coaching. Right now I can't separate the bad coaching from the players.
I think our defense has already been unmasked and I hope it gets us a new defensive coordinator. And then we will see either a very different defense or that the players are the problem.
Given that Gute has done so well in drafting for the offense, I find it hard to believe he is incompetent on the defensive side. That gives me hope that it is the DC and not the players. Time will tell.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 20, 2024 at 01:02 pm
That's not due to Gutey picking bad first rounders. The individual players are GREAT. Coaching turns them into a team, and most of the season their strengths have been carefully avoided.
Hopefully we don't see any of that nonsense today, and we do see AGNFB. I don't see any margin for error in this game. We've seen wins with points left off the scoreboard, I don't think our offense can get away with that today, either.
GPG!!
GregC
January 20, 2024 at 07:59 am
It's at least a couple weeks late to be saying that anyone is complaining about the Packers receivers. Probably more like half a season too late.
I remember the Packers saying that they had Jayden Reed timed way faster in the 40-yard-dash than anyone else did. Apparently the Packers were the ones who got it right. I also remember some people on this site saying that Dontayvion Wicks had Davante Adams-like movement skills when he was drafted. They turned out to be right too. (No one was saying he was as good as Adams, or even that he was going to be as good as Adams--just that he had that type of skill set.)
Bo Melton is harder to explain. He was a 7th-round draft pick for the Seahawks last year, and the Seahawks didn't feel strongly enough about him to keep him on the roster. Neither did the Packers, as he spent most of this year on the practice squad. Turns out that was only because they were so loaded at the position. Then there's Malik Heath, an undrafted player who plays like a vet. He was a healthy scratch last week because of all the talent in front of him. This really is an embarrassment of riches.
If Aaron Rodgers was still here, these guys would all be competing for snaps and targets with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and probably another Sammy Watkins-type veteran. In that scenario, some of our current receivers would've been cut and would now be on other teams' rosters or practice squads.
LambeauPlain
January 20, 2024 at 08:37 am
All good points...especially about Wicks.
Had the young man declared for the draft after his sensational Junior year, he may have been a late first rounder, certainly a day 2 pick.
Wicks is a prime example of Gutey and his Personnel team doing their research and finding diamonds in the rough. Reed is another...his trade downs from #45 still got him Reed at 50 and Wicks at 159 AND Brooks at 179!
Gutey moved down twice from 45 to get Reed, Wicks, and Brooks. That is sublime.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
January 20, 2024 at 05:02 pm
Thanks Greg!
That was me going on and on about Wicks. One of my pre-draft favorites and said he was worthy of a round 1, or round 2 pick.
GregC
January 20, 2024 at 05:32 pm
Good call on Wicks! He was hurt for most of training camp, but when he did play a little bit in preseason, he looked really good, and I started to get excited about him. So glad he got healthy, and when he did, he immediately started to get a lot of playing time.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
January 22, 2024 at 01:49 pm
Thanks!
Of course, there is so much unknown regarding Watson and his hamstrings, but I think it will be exciting how Wicks and Doubs in particular challenge each other next year because so much of their game & speed seem to emulate one another. What a nice problem for the Packers to have! Now throw in the completely unknown Dubose who appears to be healthy.
NFLfan
January 20, 2024 at 08:34 am
I think Aaron felt the need to carry the team for years and therefore needed @ least 2-3 seasoned receivers and a good O-line. D & ST
weren't going to help much.
He didn't seem to feel he had the time to deal with rookie receivers.
Jordan Love is under no pressure this year as no one expects too much.
Different time & circumstance.
Gman1976
January 20, 2024 at 09:38 am
I loved Rodgers, but most recognized that he shot himself in the foot by targeting 1 receiver, not going to OTAs, not putting the welcome mat out by practicing before training camp with new WRs, and not running MLF's offense. He was a great QB, but like the rest of us had flaws.
LambeauPlain
January 20, 2024 at 09:39 am
I feel Rodgers believed he ran the Offense. It is not up to him to determine the timetable required for him "get with the program."
Love not only embraced his coaching...he is thriving with it and the IOL concepts Rodgers disdained and mostly ignored.
croatpackfan
January 20, 2024 at 11:45 am
I think we should stop discussing about past. Just embrace what Packers (and we, Packers fans, together) had and move forward. Constantly bringing up FPQB sounds as you are some kind of provocateur.
Leave past in the past. I believe Packers learned what they need to avoid in the future from the past. For better or for worse.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 20, 2024 at 01:06 pm
Oh, it's for the better! We have clear and ample proof of that now 😎
Cheddarhed
January 20, 2024 at 08:46 am
And throw in Tucker and Musgrave into the mix.
PackEyedOptimist
January 20, 2024 at 09:33 am
I think Tucker is/will be better than any Packers TE of the past 60 years, and Musgrave will be EQUAL to any of them.
SicSemperTyrannis
January 20, 2024 at 01:09 pm
They're different now. I think they'll always be different. MLF's scheme can use them both, to good effect!
There are many other players Gutey drafted who are not being used as Gutey envisioned, but these two? It's better when GM and HC are in sync. Hopefully they work through that in the off-season.
TarynsEyes
January 20, 2024 at 09:51 am
The ceiling for this WR group was/is unknown, but the floor was easier to envision due to age. The ceiling for them is still an unknown, but I have never seen a group raise their floor in such a co-existing manner.
The expectation ceiling is really high, and the most important way to reach it is by continuing to raise the group floor. I think that floor gets raised again against SF today.
Packers 26 SF 24
A GB-DET NFCCG would be so awesome.
croatpackfan
January 20, 2024 at 11:50 am
TarynsEyes, remember at the beginning of the season all "big" NFL talking heads were pronauncing NFC North the weakest division in the NFL. GB-DET would be interesting, if for nothing else but for next season predictions...
GregC
January 20, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I would love to see that too, as I grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which is on the fault line between Packers and Lions fans. There are actually more Packers fans than Lions fans in the part of Michigan I grew up in.
NickPerry
January 20, 2024 at 10:30 am
"The versatility of this team is truly remarkable. Any receiver can play anywhere and Reed or Watson can even take a handoff. There are so many ways that this group can beat you"
It really is remarkable when you look at this group as a whole PLUS the TEs, Musgrave and Kraft. There's just so much you can do at any time with ANY combination of the group on the field. Defenses can't really be certain about anything or key in on something. It's ALL interchangeable. Throw in Aaron Jones and this group can beat anybody at anytime right now.
MooPack
January 20, 2024 at 10:33 am
Pretty good article over at Acme.
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2024/1/19/24044433/packers-wide-recei...
Teams that think they are going to rotate coverage to one receiver or another are going to get burned somewhere. Love and receivers progress has made this team dangerous to face.
MitchAnthony
January 20, 2024 at 01:31 pm
Before the season even started I may have thought that the upper management had set up Jordan Love for a little bit of a fail - so to speak. There was not going to be any veteran presence of WR to lean on, or for the younger receivers to lean on as well. As it turns out, such was not the case and maybe it turned out to be a very good thing. Jordan Love learned to go through his reads better and find his targets better. Having a vet may have caused some singular focus which would have hampered things.
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As a fan of the Packers for as long as I can remember I was also a fan of Brett the QB and Aaron the QB for all they did on the field and what they brought to the Packers for all those many years because I grew up watching the 70s and 80s as well. I didn't have as many sources of irritation that some seem to have with Rodgers as others still do. But one source of irritation I did have was constantly reading from writers and posters alike about - trust. Gawd I hated that. Therefore I'm glad now that there wasn't a veteran hanging around for Jordan Love to get a trust hang up with. Not having a Davante type receiver turned out to be a blessing.
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Mark Daniels has been covering the Packers for decades and I was listening to him earlier this week and the topic came up about the, Rodgers changing plays and not running Matt's offense. Daniels said it did happen but didn't happen as much as everyone thought it did. When Matt came in new there was some compromise that they were going to run things that both were comfortable with, so yes there was a some ad-lib that would happen but it wasn't the total takeover that some believe. I tend to believe Mark Daniels as he's been in that locker room for decades. Hey, those first three seasons had 13 wins each in the regular season, so there's that, right? Last year when Watson and Doubs were drafted they did get the ball thrown their way and they also dropped a bunch of them as well and they still got the ball thrown to them as the year went on. They got better and the other guy has moved on.
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I'm very happy that the receiver room has been so totally rebuilt. I'm also very happy that the scouting and talent acquisition has really stepped up compared to what it was just a few seasons ago when they were trying to stack the room with J'mon, EqStB, and MVS and Jace at TE when they were just so close. I hope this mining gold is now going to be the norm and not just a happy accident and they go back to finding coal. Maybe BG has now grown into his role and his staff is much better going forward.
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The new receiver room right now looks like a very good problem to have. Just who does a defense decide to key on? Are you going to double team this guy, and open up that guy? Are you going to try and take the top off and open up the tight ends? Yeah, this is a really good problem to have.
Packerpasty
January 20, 2024 at 02:57 pm
What "chatter"...you making stuff up again?? I havent read anything lately but praise about the young WR group...
ricky
January 20, 2024 at 03:31 pm
When I read the headline: "Can't Cover Everyone", I honestly didn't know if you were writing about the Packers or 49'ers. Then I read that the WR's have stepped up, and there is no true "#1" wide receiver on the team. Instead, if you're open, the ball is coming your way. But the 49'ers also have a lot of offensive weapons. So, the result could well be which defense is more effective in at least slowing down the other offense. So, though I remain very cautiously optimistic about the Packers chances, the idea of relying on a Barry designed defense to make adjustments as necessary doesn't appeal to me. Still, I'll remain hopeful.