NFL
Green Bay's Good Catch
By Anthony Lopez
Aug 11, 2006, 20:04

While other teams went with high-profile receivers, the Packers may have added the steal of the draft in Jennings.

You see it in sports all the time. A highly touted player, physically gifted and shrouded with the collegiate accolades of big-school notoriety, drafted in the first round. The no-name kid from a smaller school meanwhile is equally gifted physically, but due to over-analysis by scouts, is drafted rounds later (i.e. Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens). Green Bay Packers’ wideout Greg Jennings is the latter.

A second-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, Jennings was not a hot commodity for many pro teams. He didn’t pack the big-name punch of Santonio Holmes, have the swagger and league pedigree carried by Sinorice Moss, or the physical readiness of Gators’ receiver Chad Jackson. However, since April, Jennings has become one of the most talked about rookies in all of the NFL.

At 5-foot-11 and 197 pounds, Jennings attended Western Michigan, where last season, he led the nation in yards-per-catch. Once a sought-out recruit that had Big Ten powers such as Wisconsin and Michigan knocking on the door, Jennings had yearned to play for the Wolverines and head coach Lloyd Carr. However, toward the end of his senior season, Michigan, for unexplained reasons, stopped their pursuit. In that time span other offers had been taken off the table, and the Michigan native was left with few options.

With no big-school avenues remaining, Jennings chose Western Michigan, where to his benefit, he was able to play early and began to master his craft. By the time he left, he was the Broncos’ all-time leader in touchdowns, yards, and catches. Weeks before the draft, Jennings made great strides at camps and combines. Unfortunately, Jennings’ size limited his list of potential suitors. The Packers, who put a higher value on Jennings’ intangibles than his physical drawbacks, nabbed him late in the second round with 52nd pick.

Since the beginning of training camp, Jennings has made the Packers look like geniuses as he has challenged veterans such as Rod Gardener and Robert Ferguson for the No. 2 receiver spot behind Donald Driver. Teammates and coaches have been in awe of his poise, field awareness, and swift transition into the West Coast offense, which Jennings has adapted to quite smoothly since he played under the West Coast system for four seasons in Kalamazoo.

Although training camp does not dictate regular-season success, Jennings’ impressive showing has guaranteed him playing time in a receiving corps that will try to offset the loss of pro-bowler Javon Walker, who was traded to Denver. Packers new head coach Mike McCarthy has worked the rookie through various looks, playing Jennings at all three receiver positions – from flanker, to slot, as well as split end. Running a 4.42 40, Jennings will be the key to opening up a Packer offense that struggled after Walker went down with an injury early last season. Quarterback Brett Favre, who enters his 16th and possibly final season, has been seen airing it out to the rookie all through camp. Favre has labeled Jennings “kind of a natural at what he does,” and has been impressed with the awareness the rookie has displayed. If things continue as they have been, Jennings may become the first rookie to start at receiver for the Packers since Sterling Sharpe did it in 1988.

With Holmes marred by his off-field issues, Jackson injured for most of training camp, and Moss hobbled by a quad strain, Jennings has broken out of the dark to become the most viable receiver prospect in his class. Following a 4-12 debacle last season, the Packers are banking on a lot of young talent and the gun-slinging mentality of their aging hero, Favre. However, if Jennings progresses as he has, the Packers will be well served in taking substance over style.

Anthony Lopez is a regular contributor to Atomic Sports Media. He can be reached at anthony.lopez@atomicsportsmedia.com.



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