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Nelson to TE? What?
YardBarker got the bright idea to give Packers CB Jarrett Bush a YardBarker account. Nothing beats a third- or fourth-string CB blogging on his opinion. In a piece entitled “Green Bay’s Draft” Bush wrote:
So we first started off drafting a WR, but I think we might move him to tight end because we need one. Jordy Nelson is 6′2 220 lbs. I don’t know, that’s pretty big, but if he stays at WR then we will be a pretty physical team at that position. We also picked up Brian Brohm from Louisville, so I will have many opportunities to be a living hell being around the ball trying to pick off his balls. And we ended up picking a corner in the final 2nd round… but let it be known he better be ready to compete… Patrick Lee from Auburn, let’s get ready to RUMBLE!!!!!!
My first reaction was, “What are you on, Sir Bush?” Why would the Packers convert their first pick in the draft to wide receiver when they drafted a tight end a few picks later? Jermichael Finley is a freak athlete and definitely has potential. If they did convert Nelson to tight end, he would be a freak with his size and speed. However, converting Nelson to tight end would be a big mistake.
Let’s look a the Packers stable of wide receivers right now: Donald Driver is 6′2″, 190; Greg Jennings is 5′11″, 197; James Jones is 6′1″, 212; Ruvell Martin is 6′4″, 215. The only other wide receiver listed at over 6′1″ is Jake Allen, an undrafted free agent from Mississippi College, who is listed at 6′4″, 190. Nelson is listed at 6′3″, 217. We all saw what happened in the NFC Championship Game when the Packers played the New York Giants. The smaller possession receivers of the Packers were rendered useless by the conditions while Plaxico Burress had a monster game.
Remember when I was pushing for the Packers to draft James Hardy? The Packers need that big threat to offset the smaller targets. The Packers have been waiting for Martin to become that guy, but Ruvell has only shown flashes of brilliance. Plus, he dropped a big pass in that Championship Game. Nelson will provide that big threat, and with the release of Koren Robinson, he has the opportunity to become the fourth wide receiver right away.
I am not saying he should never be seen at tight end; it would create mismatches against overmatched linebackers. It just would not be best for the tight end. Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey are the top two tight ends as of right now, and Finley can challenge Humphrey for the number two spot. Also on the roster are Joey Haynos, from Maryland, who happens to be 6′8″, and Mike Peterson, a rookie from Northwest Missouri State. Adding Nelson to that mix would create a logjam and stunt Nelson’s growth as a player.
Nelson ain’t broke. So don’t fix him.
I don’t think size matters so much at WR, but I agree that Nelson playing tight end makes no sense. The Packers already have a pretty good receiving TE in Donald Lee, and Finley was known as a good receiving TE at Texas. If anything the Packers need a very big physical blocking tight end. Jordy Nelson may be a great blocking WR, but not a TE. I can’t ever see him taking on big defensive ends in pass protection.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pmI went to Kansas St. and have seen Jordy play almost every game. I can tell you there is no way he will play TE because he can easily be a #2 or #3 WR in this league. He can actually return punts/kicks too so I would see him more as a returner than moving to TE.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pmWe had 5 good WR’s, it just seemed like a waste to get another. I understand the drafting of Nelson a bit better now that we cut Koren due to knee problems. But DD, GJ, JJ, RM, and KR was money all year long. And aside from Driver and Robinson, the other 3 guys were young and had great potential. Ive come to realize though, that everyone Ted Thompson drafts will evantually turn to gold.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:03 pm