Packers Switch Khalil Jones To Safety

by Brandon on May 6, 2010 12:01 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

One story I didn't write about was the Green Bay Packers decision to switch wide receiver Khalil Jones to safety in last weekend's rookie orientation camp. From Greg Bedard at JSOnline.com:

"He's got a lot of football in him," Thompson said. "He's got really good size, good strength and he can run fast. The pro (personnel) guys worked him out after practice as a defensive back and thought there was something there."

Jones was signed last December to the practice squad and I noted at the time that his contributions in college were primarily on special teams. This will be a hard roster spot for Jones to win with the selection of S Morgan Burnett in the 3rd round. But a couple players have kept their places on the team last season (Jarrett Bush, Derrick Martin) in large part because of their perceived value on special teams. I'm sure last week's signing of former Packer S Charlie Peprah was in large part to see if he could help out on special teams.

I'm not sure where it matters he plays next season, but if Jones can help improve a previously awful special teams unit then he deserves to stick at either position.

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It's probably a better shot than WR

Safety will be a tough go as Brandon pointed out, but that’s got to be better than trying to catch on at WR. If Swain comes back healthy then the five making the team should be a done deal. If he’s still banged up, then there may be a spot, but it would still be a long shot.

by PackApologist on May 6, 2010 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

WR is too deep at this point.

Too many proven guys, too many guys TRYING to prove themselves, i.e., James Jones and Jordy Nelson.

I agree, it would be easier for move Jones to safety.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 6, 2010 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

prove

Jones and Nelson havn’t been given the chance to prove themselves… Until DD and Jones and Nelson compete equally for the WR job opposite Jennings, we’ll never really know what they can do. And w/ the emergence of Finley, DD is now the #3 recieving option. Hopefully Jones or Nelson can beat DD out for the starting WR job this season. Driver is in the final year of his contract and this is the season to find out if either can be productive!!! I think Nelson will be that guy…

by Strohman on May 6, 2010 8:13 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Jones or Nelson beating out Driver as a starting WR?

There not even competing. There is no way Driver won’t be a starter.

by Yankees10 on May 6, 2010 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Donald Driver was at the top of his game last year

Watch this for proof (it starts out with the 90yd td from the 2007 NFC CG, but 3 more catches from last year follow)

Greg Jennings and Donald Driver were basically the 1 and 1a receivers last year. He had nearly 400 more yards than the Packers’ 3rd-most productive receiver (Jermichael Finley).

Donald Driver 2009 highlights
Greg Jennings 2009 highlights (caution NSFW lyrics)
and Charles Woodson 2009 highlights because why not? (somehow missing that awesome shoestring tackle against the Ravens, though)

by DaveInTucson on May 6, 2010 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Down the stretch

Driver last year, down the stretch (wks 13-17) had games of
3-31 yds 1TD
2-11 yds 0
3-76 yds 0
3-33 yds 0
6-65 yds 0 vs AZ backups
4-43 yds 0 playoffs

Jennings by contrast has 29-521 yds and 2TD’s in the same stretch… That would be DOUBLE the yardage!!! Not exactly the games of a 1a Wr are they?! He’s slowing down and since he’s in the final year of his contract, Jones and Nelson should be given the opportunity to show if they can take over for him… If not for the Cards game, Jennings was far more productive DOWN THE STRETCH, than Driver. He’s still good early in the season, but he wears out late!

by Strohman on May 6, 2010 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions

OK, so DD tailed off some at the end of the season. So much so, by the end of the regular season, Jennings totaled 52 whole yards more than Driver.

You might also mention DD had 6 TD catches in the regular season, most of any receiver (James Jones and Jermichael Finley had 5, Jennings had 4). Rodgers likes to spread the ball around in the end zone, and that’s a good thing.

So yeah, DD is getting on toward the end of his career, but he’s still very productive especially while he’s playing along side someone like Jennings. And the fact is, Jones and Nelson together barely had 70% of Driver’s receiving yards last year. He’s not going anywhere before that changes.

by DaveInTucson on May 7, 2010 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions

The point Strohman was making is that Driver tails off at the end of the season due to age. True Driver may have finished with 52 yards less than Jennings at the end of the regular season, but over the last 6 games played, Jennings doubled his production. Strohman concedes that Driver is godd earlier in the season. So, you have to ask yourself, would Jones or Nelson post the same or better stats if they were starting in DD’s place? Would a younger player be able to finish the year as strong as they started it?

by bpjensen on May 7, 2010 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions

#1 WR

You also have to remember that Jennings is the #1 WR now… So it is Jennings that sees all the double teams, not Driver!!! Jennings being double along w/ the corresponding single coverage on Driver and Driver still couldn’t match Jennings. By the end of the year, when Finley started to draw attention, Driver was seeing the nickel CB most of the time w/ Jennings and Finley drawing all the attention. Yet Driver still didn’t put up very good numbers, even w/ seeing the #3 CB on the opposing team!

Please don’t mistake this as saying I don’t like Driver… I do.. I respect him as a player and a consumate TEAMmate… But facts don’t lie… He has started his decline and being in the final year of his contract, the Packers need to find out if Jones or Nelson can take over for him NOW, not later!!! Jones and Nelson just haven’t been given the opportunities that Driver has had. THat needs to change now.

by Strohman on May 7, 2010 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

just a thought but if driver was posting big numbers early in the season i’m sure defensive coordinators probably began to put more emphasis on stopping him later in the season, giving jennings more oppurtunities…age could be a factor too, who really knows?

by CJ B on May 7, 2010 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Gotta disagree here man. He started off the year tremendously but declined as the year went on. He had some crucial drops against the Steelers and the Ravens (plus a fumble). It kind of seemed like he struggled in the cold which was scary to see.

by packallday555 on May 7, 2010 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

competing

THats the problem… IMO, NOW is the time to let them all compete for the starting WR job. We need to find out if the successor is on the roster NOW, not when DD retires or signs w/ another team!!! He’s in the last year of his contract and has slowed down down the stretch the past 2 seasons!!! Let Jones, Nelson and Driver compete for the job!!!

by Strohman on May 6, 2010 8:39 PM CDT reply actions

No

Driver is a starter and thats how it should be

by Yankees10 on May 7, 2010 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

eh if he deserves to start he’ll beat those guys out…competition would be good. I am with Stroh on this one I think!

by TrevorR on May 7, 2010 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

i believe

any of the wr’s can put up thesame numbers as driver or jennings. if we started nelson and jones—-imo—there wouldn’t be that much of a drop off. rodgers will put it in there alls you have to do is catch it.

jennings 68 catches for 1,100 yards and 4 td’s is quite pedestrian for this day and age of the pass first nfl.
i think jones or nelson would put up similar numbers if they started all year at wr. rodgers will make them look good with his accuracy.

by hermitcrab on May 7, 2010 12:47 AM CDT reply actions

any of the wr’s can put up thesame numbers as driver or jennings. if we started nelson and jones—-imo—there wouldn’t be that much of a drop off. rodgers will put it in there alls you have to do is catch it.

Your probably right. I think Jennings is better then all of our other guys but yeah, for the most, I’d agree. I’ve always the Qb makes the WR. (See: Sidney Rice with Brett Favre.) No doubt the WR has to have talent but it helps when your Qb can squeeze the ball into places you would have never imagined he could.

I still think Jennings pedestrian season last year was due to the OL in the first half of the season and MM’s play-calling. Too many deep routes with not enough time to execute them. I guess we’ll see this next year though.

by packallday555 on May 7, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, then there are guys like Roddy White...

And Roddy put together a pretty good 2007 season with no bonafide QB. When Matt Ryan came along in 2008, White was able to be an effective downfield receiver, as well as a do-everything wide receiver.

Some guys put up inexplicable stats. Joey Galloway ran fly routes for several years in Tampa Bay, and I believe he had several 1,000+ receiving yard seasons. That’s what you need from your wide receivers: the ability to help any quarterback, at any time, in any situation.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 7, 2010 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions