While everyone else continues to salivate over potential free-agents, I continue my two-a-day grade series for the 2009 Green Bay Packers season. Next up, Cullen Jenkins and Greg Jennings.
Again, stats help but these grades are from a fan’s perspective only. Film is great, but how many times did a player leave you hoarse from cheering? How about from yelling? Did the perspiration match the expectation? Here’s my opinion.
Cullen Jenkins
As I am sure many of you can, I still remember that empty feeling in 2008 after Cullen Jenkins went down. The guy was an animal in the whole four games he got to play, and was probably on pace to set some records. When he got injured I was crushed. I am a big Jenkins fan while also being all too familiar with the outcomes of injuries on the defensive line.
As Packer fans, it seems that ever since Joe Johnson came into town, we expect our injured defensive lineman to go down and stay down. Sprinkle in a little Justin Harrell and the assumption becomes almost automatic. That’s exactly what I thought when Jenkins went to IR last year.
Done.
That being as it is, I expected to get little or nothing out of Cullen in going into 2009. He certainly exceeded expectations.
I give Cullen huge bonus points for getting healthy and staying healthy. At the beginning of the season it looked as if he had started right where he had left off. He performed admirably in the new defense, for the most part holding his own against the run. For the most of the year his motor was always running, and he got to the quarterback as much, if not more, than anyone with a hand on the ground.
Unfortunately for Cullen, I think his health and willingness to play, ultimately caused him to wear out down the stretch. Perhaps it was a result of the time off, or perhaps the coaches were forced to play Cullen a little more than they wanted. Either way, I think you saw Jenkins lose a little bit of that punch near the season’s end.
What I like about Jenkins is that he appears humble. He never gets much play on the air or in print, and he seems fine with that. This lack of attention also makes Cullen one the most underrated defensive lineman in football. I think if he stays healthy, that all could change next season.
Slight subtraction for not having a solid nickname yet.
B
Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings was slowly becoming a living legend around here at the end of 2008. In fact, I believe that people were even swearing to not support the team if Mr. Jennings did not receive a new contract immediately. I’ll be the first admit that I am one of them. Around these parts it’s no secret that “We Love Greg Jennings.” I was happy with the enormous contract and having Greg Jennings for the next half a decade is going to be awesome.
Unlike Cullen, my expectations for Greg Jennings this season were quite high. As the second highest paid receiver in the NFL, Jennings would finally get his chance to show that he belonged on the list of “elite” wideouts.
I payed extra close attention to Jennings this year, but solely for personal reasons. I’m pretty sure it was Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal who in a round about way told me I was kind of a pussy for overlooking Jennings’ tendency to drop the ball, while in the same breath praising Mr. Aaron Nagler for being so objective. Since I couldn’t really tell Bedard to shut the hell up, I decided I would watch and see what happened.
I hate to admit it, but Jennings really let me down pretty much across the board. He dropped some passes (although less than last year, and alot less than others), Donald Driver completely outplayed him for the first two-thirds of the season, and off the field you barely got anything from the guy. Nothing for the papers, nothing for the fans, just nothing.
We all know Greg has skills. His route running is amazing, and some of the grabs he made this season, most notably a couple endzone catches on the quick out, were spectacular. He was able to run after the catch, and made some big plays down the stretch. As far as being dominant… not so much.
If you ask anyone to name the top five wideouts in the league, Greg Jennings does not make that list nine times out of ten right now. Nor should he at this point. He was practically invisible for most of the season, and hardly brought fear to the heart of the opponent. Barring his one fire and brimstone speech during the Cardinals game, you just never saw Greg Jennings exhibit any type of killer instinct.
Greg Jennings is awesome, but there is nothing I hate more than a guy not playing to his potential, especially when that guy is a cornerstone of the team. Throw in the fact that he completely ignores his fans and his fan site, and it leaves a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth. If you want us to support your foundation and buy your sweatshirts Greg, you better be willing to throw your fans a bone once in awhile. It’s just proper manners.
Truth be told, Greg Jennings had an average year at best. His big play production didn’t rise, and he was outplayed by other receivers on more than one occasion. I expect Greg to dominate. He has the potential, and he certainly has the contract. Greg Jennings should be taking over games right along side the Randy Moss’s and Reggie Wayne’s.
He’s not.
C
Who is up next?
13 - People Actually Wrote Something Here
jeremiah Said,
good job on both. although i might give greg a C-, just because he SHOULD have done so much better. lets hope a solid OT pairing early in the season next year helps him find his stride a little earlier than week 13…
i vote collins and…..collins annnnnnddd……..JOSH SITTON!
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 11:46 am
PackersRS Said,Alex, Big Sexy not good enough???
“Perhaps it was a result of the time off, or perhaps the coaches were forced to play Cullen a little more than they wanted.”
Thinking about your text, I believe if Pickett had not missed so many games, we would’ve gotten a lot more pressure on Kurt Warner.
Remember, Raji was a key rotational player. He kept all the DL fresh. When he was forced to play NT all the time, Capers was forced to use Wynn in that position. Given Wynn’s ineffectiveness, the DL ended up rotating a lot less, thus wearing down during the final stretch.
Another reason I believe TT will mantain both Jolly and Pickett. Specially Pickett, given Jolly’s inability to generate any kind of pass rush. Yeah, I said it.
[Reply]
Alex
Twitter: packerslounge
Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 11:57 am
I forgot about Big Sexy. It kind of freaks me out.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 11:54 am
IronMan Said,I was just as disappointed in Greg as anyone else. He dropped to many passes, seemed to be going through the motions at times, and complained way too much to the officials. He came up big in the playoff game, but where was that the rest of the year?
Plus, he still hasn’t confirmed my friend request on Facebook.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 12:36 pm
IronMan Said,BTW, I give Greg a C+. Would bump him up to B- if he would add me on Facebook!
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Aaron Nagler Said,Just pitch perfect on Jennings. Kudos.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Max Said,Really like Jenkins, guys got a lot of power and never gives up. In the 4-3 he might have been more of the run-stuffing sack guy people (myself included) wanted. In the 3-4 he has to be more humble, take up blockers and get what he can, giving more opportunities to Clay and Nick/A.J. However I think after his initial criticism of Capers’ 3-4 he’s more in-tune with the realities of a 3-4 DE and how to help the team out (not that Jenkins doesn’t make some important plays).
Jennings had one of those seasons where you think “what the hell happened to him?”, however he made it to 1,000 yards receiving and did have some good catches, he just never became the Fitzgerald type we hoped for. Here’s hoping this spurs him on for next season.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Asshalo Said,Grading your grade of Jenkins: C-. he deserves at least a B+
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Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Steve in Mpls Said,I certainly believe that Greg is in the top seven receivers in either conference. His only downfall is the fan popularity of Driver. And Donald is fantastic in his own right. (although I
could do without the fumbles, which I’ve never seen before.) The Packers have always been
blessed with superior wideouts, tightends, and running backs. The defense has always
been suspect, barring 96-97. Superior players at the majority of positions, but constantly
missing the few to make it whole. I pray to all things holy, (i.e. the Saints) to stomp those
filthy Queens on Sunday. Although I believe in the NFC NORTH, after the Pack’s cheap loss
to the redbirds, I must make a stand. I’m not bellyache’ in about the Refs, or anything else.
My complaint is that we have to wait so long till next season.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Greg C. Said,I totally agree on Cullen Jenkins. He did wear down toward the end. If only he had wrapped up on Roethlisberger on that final drive by the Steelers…. Unfortunately, that play sort of defined the season for him. He became Mr. Almost-but-not-quite. Johnny Jolly outshone him toward the end. But I think Jenkins will have an awesome season in 2010.
I agree on the analysis of Greg Jennings, but I still give him a B, because I grade on performance compared to other players rather than on expectations. Jennings is still the player that other teams are afraid of. Next year he should continue to benefit from the Finley effect, as he did toward the end of this season. Finley is really starting to suck up the coverage now, leaving more space for Jennings to do his thing.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Steve in Mpls Said,Finley is one of the best picks in Packer history. Forget Jackson, Chumura, Franks and drop
the ball when It’s in your gut Lee, this dude will be a superstar. Also, these hand guys need
to forget about the traitor and expect a perfect ball. Not a bullet that breaks your fingers.
[Reply]
Max Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:45 am
Agree about Donald Lee, the guy stinks. Since Favre left he’s been so inconsistent it’s a joke.
[Reply]
Posted on January 21st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Packers Daily Links 1.22.10 - Railbird Central Said,[...] "I hate to admit it, but Jennings really let me down pretty much across the board," writes Tallitsch. "He dropped some passes (although less than last year, and alot less than others), Donald [...]
Posted on January 22nd, 2010 at 7:43 am
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