Green Bay Packers: Week 10 ‘Silver Linings’
By Jamie Wright
Green Bay Packers wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson celebrate. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – the best duo in football?
I don’t care who says otherwise … Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson make up THE BEST wide receiver duo in the league right now.
You could make an argument for Roddy White/Julio Jones. You could make an argument for Brandon Marshall/Alshon Jeffrey. You could make an argument for Calvin Johnson/Golden Tate.
I mean … you could. But I really wouldn’t recommend it.
Nelson and Cobb are tearing it up, this year. After a rocky start for Randall Cobb and an “embarrassing” outing in Detroit in week three, he has really been unstoppable.
Overall, Cobb is one of the most dangerous slot receivers in the NFL. Rodgers has frequently been able to set Cobb up on a leading route up the seam or slant across midfield, and watch it go to the house.
Defenses cannot afford to double-team Jordy Nelson for too long during the night, as Cobb will quickly emerge and take over a game.
However, it wouldn’t be prudent to match Nelson up one-on-one on the outside. I don’t know if you’re aware but, he’s been known to outrun DB’s for 70-plus-yard touchdowns.
So, what do you do if you’re a defense preparing to meet two of the league’s deadliest offensive weapons, in tandem?
Pray.
Cobb had an amazing one-handed leaping TD grab in Sunday night’s contest, Aaron Rodgers’ sixth TD pass of the first half (and the game). There was great coverage on that play; but the Bears DB’s couldn’t contain him.
Rodgers put the ball RIGHT where only Cobb could get it and had faith that Randall was going to make the grab, however impossible it looked.
It made NFL AM’s #1 play of week 10 Tuesday morning. It was an amazing catch. Jordy Nelson getting blown coverage on a 76-yard touchdown and then creeping past the corner and the safety into the corner of the end zone – he toe-tapped for another amazing grab on an Aaron Rodgers scramble.
It’s hard to play these two because Rodgers is so deadly outside of the pocket; he forces opposing defenses to lock down this dynamic duo for longer than is humanly possible.
That’s why they are SO good.