Jermichael Finley: Wide Receiver

by Brandon on Dec 17, 2009 11:06 PM CST in Green Bay Packers Analysis Comment 15 comments

A couple days ago I accidentally said WR Patrick Williams is the Green Bay Packers' No. 6 wide receiver. I corrected myself (he's only No. 5), but on second though it might have been a freudian slip. From Tom Silverstein at JSOnline.com:

Over the course of the last four games - all victories - Finley has been the target of more Aaron Rodgers passes than anybody else, including the top four receivers. Finley has been targeted 31 times compared with Greg Jennings' 28, Donald Driver's 26, James Jones' 12 and Jordy Nelson's four...

The gradual shift to a Finley-centric offense clearly has puzzled the team's wide receivers, who are used to being Rodgers' favorite targets...

He lined up all over the field, including in the slot or out wide with three receivers, and continually got favorably matchups on smaller, slower defensive backs.

Finley still does some things like a tight end. He might line up alongside a tackle on a running play, or stop in the backfield when he goes in motion to stay in as an extra blocker. But I usually notice him when he's lined up wide, or running a crossing route, like a wide receiver. When TE Donald Lee or TE Spencer Havner are catching passes, they are usually a check down receiver in the middle or out in the flat. Usually a tight end is drawing a linebacker in coverage, but as Tom Silverstein said, TE Jermichael Finley is often finding himself matched up against defensive backs. Which is what usually happens to a wide receiver.

Tom Silverstein went on to say that WR Greg Jennings and WR James Jones "were careful with their words" which isn't surprising. At least for Jones, he probably doesn't want to admit that Finley has moved ahead of him on the depth chart.

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether this is a good thing. According to Football Outsiders, Finley has been more productive than Jones this season. Moving Finley ahead of Jones is probably an improvement. But I wonder if WR Jordy Nelson would be even better in Finley's role if given the chance?

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I wouldn't

complain about having another weapon. I mean, who would not want a potential Antonio Gates on their team. I am not saying he is all that yet, but the potential almost has to be explored. I think Jordy and Jones are under uttilized though. Course our play calling creativity could use some help in terms of WR screens since they are pretty good at yards after catch. for some reason Jennings just doesn’t seem to be the same this year, I don’t know if it is because defenses are keying in on him or what. There seems to be an increase in drops. But as far as having a tight end to take pressure off, I don’t see how that is a bad thing

by GBfan73 on Dec 18, 2009 12:54 AM CST reply actions

We did way too many WR screens in the first couple months of the season

I’m sick of WR screens, they just never worked. Now they are used sparingly and they are effective because it is no longer expected anymore. I’m glad that adjustment was made in our play calling.

by Jabooty on Dec 18, 2009 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

for some reason Jennings just doesn’t seem to be the same this year, I don’t know if it is because defenses are keying in on him or what.

Defenses have been keying on him. He gets bracketed a lot, which is essentially a Cb shade one side of him, and a safety shading the other side of him. This happened a lot in the beginning of the year but hasn’t happened as much because of what Driver has been able to do. I think Jennings is still in the top 10 in receiving yards in the league, along with Driver, which is pretty impressive.

The slant game is our biggest weapon and was something we didn’t start utilizing until week 6 against the Cowboys. That has helped our passing game and now the emergence of Finley has helped it even more. It’s kind of like a pick your poison type deal with us now. Who do teams want to double team or take away? Finley? Jennings? Driver? And when teams are concentrating on those guys, guys like Jones and Nelson will come up with some plays.

by packallday555 on Dec 18, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

what

is this pick on Chris day?? Jeezus, it’s not like Im out of line. Quoting me. My point is alot of recivers get bracketed and that is not uncommon. But that much money and being 20th YES 20th in the league with 855 yrds 3 TDs .That is not top 10. Driver is 19th with 887 and 6TD. Im GLAD Finley is getting the ball. The article made a reference of Jordy Nelson in Finley’s role—- The packers are a much better team when Finley is in the game is my point. My point on play calling—— the quote above was : “The gradual shift to a Finley-centric offense clearly has puzzled the team’s wide receivers, who are used to being Rodgers’ favorite targets…”
Yes, this IS play calling because a coach can do things to get the ball to receivers go wiki a “tunnel screen” JaBooty and you"ll find the packers don’t run anything close to that. I think maybe I am being to sensitive though, I have alot of purple relatives calling me and talking smack

by GBfan73 on Dec 19, 2009 1:15 AM CST up reply actions

Haha sorry turd

I wasn’t trying to pick on you. You just said “I don’t know if teams are keying on Jennings or not” so I thought I would tell you that they certainly are. The WR corps is just so deep that really Rodgers doesn’t have to really on just 1 or 2 WR’s.

6TD. Im GLAD Finley is getting the ball. The article made a reference of Jordy Nelson in Finley’s role—- The packers are a much better team when Finley is in the game is my point.

That’s a good point and I agree.

by packallday555 on Dec 19, 2009 1:31 AM CST up reply actions

Blimey

Calm down petal, he was only replying to your post.

by rudi on Dec 19, 2009 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

There has been too much heat on Jennings this season

If he gets 1,000 yards (which he’s on pace for) that’s more than good enough for the team. Fantasy football be damned, Jennings is doing his job. As far as Finley goes, he’s too much of a size/speed combination to be coverable so I would say it’s a good ida to get him the ball as much as possible. Our offense has been superior with him as a primary pass catcher honestly.

by Donald Driver on Dec 18, 2009 2:55 AM CST reply actions

It's hard to knock the play calling

when they are moving him around to create and are getting mis-matches. That is what it is all about.

I would have like to seen, and thought I would Jones or Jordy take the next step. Maybe a few more looks would help, they both have been good, but not enough in my opinion to rate more looks.

Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?

by BleedsbluinMI on Dec 18, 2009 7:55 AM CST reply actions

Meh, da know

Jennings has been a disappointment in the area that he hasn’t had a lot of knock em dead 60 yard touchdown receptions, but the guy is getting better and better within the 20’s. He’s become a much better route runner this year. His drops generally come from him and Rodgers being off on timing patterns and what not.

As for Finely, the cat is outa this world. If he’s open, throw it to him. It doesn’t bother me even a little, even if Jordy and James get pushed back a little. I think they would do just fine in his position (in the slot, on the edge), but I don’t think they create the obvious mismatch that he does and that’s the deal breaker. Whenever Jermicheal is lined up on the edge with a corner on him and we’re on the goal line, you know all they have to do is throw it high and he can go up and get it.

by Smeefers on Dec 18, 2009 8:35 AM CST reply actions

Finley needs to be our primarly target in the Red Zone

I was complaining about the release of Ruvell Martin for a couple months because we no longer had a big target in the end zone like we did with Martin. With Finley stepping up, we need to get him more involved in the red zone, not just stretching the field on long sustaning drives. Finley is our biggest target, so we need to take advantage of that. We do need a tall WR though, hopefully there’s one in the middle of the draft.

Speedy guys will give you big plays and march your offense down the field, but the bigger guys are the ones that get touchdowns.

by Jabooty on Dec 18, 2009 9:42 AM CST reply actions

He’s starting to become it. He had 2 redzone TD’s against the Ravens, and I think the fade we threw to him is the first fade I’ve seen in 2-3 years. This will also open up Jennings and Driver running their slant routes, IMO.

by packallday555 on Dec 18, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

Martin?

Since when was R. Martin EVER a threat in the red zone?! Correct me if I’m wrong, but you can count on one hand the number of TD’s he had in his Packer career. If he was any kinda threat in the red zone the coachs would have been finding a way to get him in the game in that area, kinda like they are now w/ Finley!!!

Just cuz he was 6’4 and 220 doesn’t mean he ever played to that size! In fact I don’t think he played any bigger than about 5’10… Heck Jennings does a much better job at 5’11 at out jumping and out positioning DB’s in playing the ball!!

by Strohman on Dec 19, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions