Article by Lee Scott
There is no offseason in today’s NFL, storylines run
straight through from the Super Bowl to Free Agency and then the Draft before
slowing slightly as the focus turns to contract renegotiations and then to
Training Camp before finally the new season is ready to start. Whilst it is
true that there is no shortage of news stories throughout the calendar year it
is still possible to split the NFL year in to two separate categories, from
September through to January we have game tape and statistical breakdowns of
each game and each play and the evidence lends weights to the judgements and
articles that are written. On the other hand from February to August is a time
for NFL fans to dream and project stardom and success on their franchises and
players as upside and potential suddenly become more important than established
statistical success, this year Packers fans are dreaming big on Davante Adams.
This will be Adams second season in the NFL having been
selected in the second round of the 2014 draft with the 53rd pick by
the Green Bay Packers following an impressive college career at Fresno State.
Under General Manager Ted Thompson the Packers have an established record of
picking well in the draft and if Adams first year in the league is anything to
go by he projects to be another success for the Packers. In his first year
Adams had an impressive rookie year with an above average stat line for a first
year wideout with 38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns. This only
tells part of the story however as Adams was targeted a total of 66 times by
Aaron Rodgers at the helm of the Packers offense. Getting 66 targets at all in
a side containing Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb as a first year player shows
that coaches and team mates alike believe in Adams. There were some games in
which Adams had to be patient as the gameplan kept the ball away from him but
there were two games in which his potential flashed for the world to see. In
November against the New England Patriots Adams was targeted 11 times with 6
receptions and 121 yards in a 26-21 win and then in the playoff match with the
Dallas Cowboys he was again targeted 11 times with 7 receptions for 117 yards
and a touchdown. In both of these games Adams showed above average awareness in
running his routes and creating separation from his man. If those games showed
clear potential and development though then what can we expect to see in the
upcoming season?
There is no doubt that Davante Adams is the third receiver
on the Packers roster with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb established as an
elite one and two ahead of him. There is also no chance at all that this is
going to change any time soon as only last year Nelson signed a 4 year contract
worth $39 million and this season Randall Cobb narrowly avoided being the star
attraction of free agency and signed his own 4 year deal worth $40 million.
This does not however mean that Adams will not see significant snaps in the
2015 season as the Packers will use Adams in ways to create matchup problems
for their opponents as they are lacking a genuine vertical threat at the tight
end position this will mean that Adams will see a lot of time lined up in the
slot where he can use his speed to create problems for opposing linebackers and
his size and awareness to overpower opposing nickel cornerbacks. At the same
time do not be surprised if we start to see Adams lining up outside as a second
receiver opposite Jordy Nelson, this will allow Randall Cobb to slide inside in
to the slot receivers role.
At 5ft 10 and 192lb Cobb is not quite undersized to
play on the outside but he will be able to make the most of his explosive cuts
and quick hands to cause havoc in the slot position whilst having Nelson and
Adams on the outside will ensure that teams have to respect their threat and
cannot overload the centre of the field to guard against Cobb on inside routes.
Further evidence that we can expect a more prominent role from Adams in the
forthcoming season has come from the quotes that have started to emerge from
the Packers camp.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has come out and said that “I think
that he has been tremendous throughout the OTA’s, and he’s got more in front of
him, too, so I think that’s what’s exciting. I think Davante has done a great
job in the strength and conditioning, he’s been really, really good throughout
this deal” It isn’t unusual for a head coach to be talking up players at this
stage of the process but that doesn’t tend to be the norm for the Packers who
pride themselves on expecting their young players to prove themselves before
they are given any sense of preferential treatment.
Perhaps more telling was the
quote from Quarterback Aaron Rodgers who said that “I think that Davante Adams
could be a star. He has all the makings athletically and intelligence-wise to
be a big time player” Rodgers is renowned for being a hard man to impress and
it certainly bodes well for Adams that he appears to have already won the trust
of the man that makes the Packers offense tick.
In terms of sophomore receivers within the NFL as a whole
you would have to place the likes of Odell Beckham of the New York Giants and
Brandin Cooks of the New Orleans Saints also posed to have strong years but you
could easily make a case for Davante Adams to be in the strongest system of all
and to be best placed to succeed within a system. There is no immediate
pressure to perform immediately but at the same time if either Nelson or
Cobb was to go down with an injury then Adams will be well placed to
take their snaps and targets. Don’t be surprised to see Davante Adams emerge as
a star in his own right after the 2015 season and don’t be surprised if Ted
Thompson is once again proven to have been right in the draft process.
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