The Lass Word: Rookie Receivers Get a Pass, For Now
Explosive potential is worth the wait.
By KenLass
You never lose a game because of just one thing. The Green Bay Packers season opening loss to the Vikings was the result of several breakdowns by many different units and individuals. But the iconic image of the game that will endure in the hearts and minds of Packers fans is Christian Watson dropping that wide open long bomb on the very first offensive play. It was a sure 75 yard touchdown and we would like to think it might have changed the course of the game.
When you rewatch the play, you can see Watson turn his head downfield just as the ball is arriving. He committed the cardinal sin of not looking the ball all the way into his arms. He was already picturing himself in the end zone. It was a rookie mistake, and judging by the reaction of his coaches and teammates, it was quickly forgiven and forgotten.
“Any time you have an opening play like that, it’s how do you respond”, Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “I never got the feeling, just looking at him during the course of the game, that it was weighing on him. He flipped the script pretty quickly. That’s what you have to do in this league and I was proud of him for that.”
Immediately after the dop, the TV cameras focused on the reaction of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was surprisingly stoic. “You knew there were going to be growing pains. This is real football”, Rodgers said afterward. “It’s different when it’s for real.”
There is good reason for this patience and understanding. As you rewatch the play a few times, once you get over seeing the ball sailing right through the rookie’s hands, you notice something else. You notice that the second round draft pick blew past all pro defensive back Patrick Peterson like he was stuck in mud. Even after the Viking secondary reacted and gave chase, Watson was pulling away from them in the open field. That kind of explosion is rare. Even the hard-to-please Rodgers was impressed. “I thought Christian ran a great route” he said. “This kid can really fly. Let’s give him a chance”.
It didn’t take long for Watson to get another chance. In the second quarter, he was given the ball on a receiver reverse. Defensive lineman DJ Wonnum was trying to hold the edge. But Watson burst into high gear, outran the would-be tackler easily, and turned the corner for a seven yard gain. In the fourth quarter, he caught a short ball in the flat and accelerated down field for a nine yard pick-up. Granted, at that point in the game the Vikings defense was laying back, but the big play potential of the former North Dakota State star is easy to see.
One of the knocks on Watson going into the draft was a penchant for drops. That’s not uncommon. Remember Marques Valdes-Scantling? He had some notorious drops in his early Packer days, but he worked on the problem, and turned himself into a player good enough to earn a nice payday in the free agent market with Kansas City. Davante Adams had some terrible drops in his first couple of years. You can teach a player to use better fundamentals to catch the ball. You can’t teach the kind of explosive speed Watson possesses. That’s a gift from God.
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are exciting young prospects who could one day form one of the best receiver combinations in the league. But it will be a process. The Packers need them to develop sooner than later. Rodgers summed it up best when he said “We’ve got to have patience with those guys. They’re young. They haven’t been in the fire. But that patience will be thinner as the season goes on.”
They may not mature in time to help get the Packers to the playoffs this year, but I feel good about the future of the receiver position on this team.
GAME PREDICTION
Like the Vikings, the Bears are full of the adrenalin and energy of a new coaching staff. They upset the 49ers in a driving rainstorm last Sunday. They will come into Lambeau full of themselves and fired up to make a statement on prime time national TV. Justin Fields looks improved. But they don’t have a receiver like Justin Jefferson, and they don’t have a running back like Dalvin Cook. The Green Bay defense will show up this time. Packers 21 Bears 10.
Surprise hero of the game: Zach Tom
Upset special of the week: Chargers over Chiefs
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (31)
Lphill
September 15, 2022 at 03:40 pm
I don’t think 21 to 10 will ease anyones pain . 31 to 10 then maybe .
Tundraboy
September 17, 2022 at 10:00 pm
I'm thinking 48-10 is in order here!
splitpea1
September 15, 2022 at 03:45 pm
"They may not mature in time to help get the Packers to the playoffs this year...." Well, expectations have certainly fallen off a cliff here, haven't they? Come on, it's just one game!
I do think the young receivers will mature, and when your starting veterans combine for 5 catches and 32 yards, you don't have much to lose by accelerating the rookie maturation process.
Leatherhead
September 15, 2022 at 11:25 pm
Yes. It's just one game. And the offense was bad and we had some problems with blocking. It's one game.
The Packers need to do what they do....keep the ball in the hands of Jones and Dillon. Get the ball out of Rodgers hands quickly. Move the chains, eat the clock, and put points on the board. That's what they've done for three years, and that's what they'll do this year.
The young receivers will keep getting better all year long and they'll all have some great and horrible plays. It's a long season. They have to stay healthy, they have to show they can get their guy blocked, they have to show they can run the correct route, they have to show they can get open, and they have to show they can catch it. There's a lot more to this than just making a nice catch.
TarynsEyes
September 15, 2022 at 04:17 pm
"When you rewatch the play, you can see Watson turn his head downfield just as the ball is arriving. He committed the cardinal sin of not looking the ball all the way into his arms. He was already picturing himself in the end zone."
BINGO!!!
Never underestimate the power of the 'Blink of an Eye'. Makes things you think you saw, disappear quicker than what you thought you saw.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 16, 2022 at 12:42 pm
LOL and right on, but your comment made me think of my current financial portfolio.
NoNonsense
September 15, 2022 at 05:02 pm
Christian has some big mitts, if you look at the moment the ball hits his hands they are flat and maybe a little too far apart. If he curled his hands or fingers up a little bit that ball probably sticks right to his hands. He has to learn how to catch the ball with his fingertips instead of a flat hand.
I have the solution though. I remember watching Terrel Owens work on this exact thing and what he did was cut a tennis ball in half, then he would somehow glue the cut side of the ball to his gloves so the dome of the ball would make him have to catch the football with his fingers tips not his palms. If the football gets to the tennis ball it's gonna be hard to catch it or hold onto it. I think it's brilliant.
Remember when they put boxing gloves on Ahmad Carroll in practice to stop him from grabbing receivers way back when. That's drastic but sometimes necessary to create good practice habits.
I only wish I could get this information to Watson or the coaches so all the receivers can use it. Who's got a line to these guys and can you pass on the message please.
Coldworld
September 15, 2022 at 06:26 pm
It proved Caroll could grab with gloves.
LLCHESTY
September 16, 2022 at 12:42 am
🤣
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 16, 2022 at 12:49 pm
I hate to even think of that wasted 1st round draft choice, Ahmed Carroll. Not only was he a bust he wasn't a good person, or teammate. Not a Packer player and just a very bad draft choice.
Does everyone recall him earning the nickname 'Highway 28'? LOL!
or that he attacked 2004 third-round pick Joey Thomas who played the same position from behind after a team meeting? Just one of those really bad draft choices back in the day.
pack69go
September 16, 2022 at 05:39 pm
Could it possibly be that taking his eyes off the ball affected his had placement when trying to catch the ball? I think it may have?
Ritzy
September 15, 2022 at 08:35 pm
Maybe we should get T.O. to come to Green Bay to work his cut tennis ball magic with the rookie wideouts. It couldn't hurt.
T7Steve
September 16, 2022 at 08:10 am
Yes. I remember the coaches yelling all the time.... "Thumbs Out! Thumbs Out!"
wildbill
September 15, 2022 at 05:38 pm
Peterson hasn’t made a pro bowl since 2018, when he does that to Alexander, in practice, give me a call
pack69go
September 16, 2022 at 05:40 pm
He did!
stockholder
September 15, 2022 at 05:50 pm
Watson and Doubs are exciting. But Toure should not be swept under the rug. Especially since he did so well in pre-season.
Coldworld
September 15, 2022 at 06:33 pm
Speed and agility plus the ability to get open is something one has to have on the field. It’s not like the existing veterans are obvious team leaders. This isn’t a veteran corps like we have at times had where we’ve 3 established, durable guys who can all regularly contribute. This is an old Cobb, a guy who looked just as old in Watkins and Lazard, who’s looking to be a starting yards guy for the first time.
Get the youth out there with Lazard or mail it in. Watkins can’t be much worse but how much better can he be? If it’s not a lot then just go with Doubs, Watson, Lazard and Toure with Cobb for a few key plays. They may drop some but they might also put up some yards and stretch the field.
LLCHESTY
September 16, 2022 at 12:54 am
We'll see how things look for them at the end of the year but things are trending well for all 3. Doubs had 48 total yards and Watson put a couple things on tape that DCs are going to sit up and take notice of. Hopefully Toure gets some time as they move into the 2nd half of the season.
They'll most likely lose at least one veteran WR next year, probably two, so I already figured they'd be drafting at least one more next year. The way things are going I don't think it will need to be early. Maybe if Lazard leaves but if it's Cobb and/or Watkins grabbing a 4th rounder and maybe one late would work.
jannesbjornson
September 15, 2022 at 08:01 pm
All Three have to be in the Game Plan. I would still try to trade for another TE. Stasis and glacial movement from the brain-trust should be shown the door. I would have gone right back to Watson, on the next play, deep route from the left hash where the sun is not mirrored in his eyes from the stealth-shaped, Shipwreck of a stadium.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 16, 2022 at 12:52 pm
SH,
I believe these three are going to become very GOOD WR's with a couple of them possibly becoming exceptional. The latter is to be determined but the talent is there for it. I would still like to see them draft a day 2 WR in 2023 to compliment these young WR's.
Right now it appears the Packers biggest needs in 2023 draft are Edge, OT, Safety, and TE, but another WR would be very welcomed.
CoachJV
September 15, 2022 at 06:52 pm
I think the 2 Rooks will come on pretty good by mid season. If Watson can get over the drops, he'll be a weapon for sure. Once he catches one or two of those for big TD's, he'll draw a lot of Safety help. Doubs is sneaky... kinda like Cobb was early in his career. He might actually take that slot role from Cobb someday.
but I don't write off the Veterans just yet... I have a feeling that Watkins is going to turn on the juice just about the time teams start writing him off. Lazard will continue to dig out the hard stuff like he always has... Cobb will be Cobb.
Coldworld
September 15, 2022 at 09:17 pm
Watkins not turning on the juice (if there is any left) would be extra unwise for a guy in the threshold of departing the league if he doesn’t put something together here. One game can be misleading, but that one game was hugely unimpressive.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 16, 2022 at 12:57 pm
I just am not seeing it in Watkins CW. Move over and let Doubs & Watson spread their wings. Better now than latter!
LambeauPlain
September 15, 2022 at 07:06 pm
I think I read Watson was a decent blocker. If so, that will get him on the field too...especially when/if the team of AJ and AJD gets more touches in runs and short passing attack.
Lazard is a sublime blocker...and if Watson can hone this part of his game, they could really help the RB attack.
Ritzy
September 15, 2022 at 07:19 pm
It will be really interesting to see if Rodgers goes to Watson early on Sunday night, or at all. If Lazard plays, I don't want it to become the Rodgers to Lazard show to the detriment to developing cohesion with the rookies. Rodgers says he has to be patient with the rookies. Let's hope Rodgers lives up to his word.
Coldworld
September 15, 2022 at 09:21 pm
Like any receiver, we need to be going to them regularly, not once a quarter. Get them into the game and establish them as a threat and this change the D.
MooPack
September 15, 2022 at 10:20 pm
I think Watson, Doubs, and Toure are the future WR at this time. I still think they will eventually surprise. This could be a very good WR class if given the opportunity. I was very high on Watson and still believe he will be special. I also thought Toure was going to be a good pick up late. I liked Doubs coming out, but mid round picks are such are hard thing to predict. Glad he is more polished than many teams realized. Mistakes? Sure, but he's going to get better. They all need to be trusted more. Maturity will come with more chances. I think we can see the potential. I believe it will pay off. I'm hopeful the Packers will see it as well.
As for the rest.
I've always liked Lazard. He's that steady receiver that will do his best and the little things to prove himself. Good blocker, of course, but very underrated catcher. I don't get it sometimes. He's open, pass him the ball. Not a typical WR1 and maybe not a WR2, but who cares, he can moves the chains. Is he going to greatly improve the passing game on his return? No, but will be more reliable until the rookies get up to speed.
Watkins. Not sure yet. Is he that receiver that was worthy of high 1st round pick or a bust? Probably neither, but I don't think anyone thought he'd be the ultimate answer anyway. He's a stop gap. Nothing more. He won't be here next year. Nothing wrong with that. All teams have that need.
Cobb? Who doesn't like Cobb. Great team leader. I'd love if he still had the youth to compete, but we know that's past. Still, he's a smart player and an AR safety blanket. He wouldn't be here otherwise. I think he can still make a play or two a game, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking he is going to be more than that. He's here this year for that leadership, but gone next year.
Amari Rodgers? I know people want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I don't see it. Packers and fans don't want to admit another 3rd round bust. It's absurd, isn't it? What is it about the 3rd round picks? I don't know. Sorry to say it isn't going to happen this time either. He may be here next year, but it's contract driven, nothing more.
I know, first game blah, blah, blah. I get it. We'll see if the Packers prove me wrong. My bet is they don't.
On to the next game. I don't care who gets the glory. Beat the Bears!
T7Steve
September 16, 2022 at 08:25 am
When the Packers get to the 3rd round (usually the tail end) they seem to switch modes.
Instead of getting someone who slipped down from the 2nd round they get someone who might not be there by the time they get to pick in the 4th round. It seems like their elevation pick.
Doofapotamus
September 15, 2022 at 11:25 pm
I miss the 2020 GB offense, so perfectly built and balanced between run and pass. They ran to set up the pass and as soon as the pass was covered they ran again. The play action succession rate from that year was absolutely ridiculous and it's part of the reason Bobby Tonyan got as many TD's as he did. We need to bring some of that back. We need to get the line healthy again to provide stable blocking for the RB's to find the gaping holes again and ample blocking time for Rodgers to find the open guy. Even more so that he's working with rookies now.
PatrickGB
September 16, 2022 at 08:05 am
What I would like to see is a true slot WR. AmRodgers doesn’t have the skills and Cobb is past his prime. Without bringing anyone in, my guess is that Doubs is a good bet to fill that role. He is smooth and deceptive in his routes. Those are traits that could work as a slot WR.
Tundraboy
September 17, 2022 at 10:09 pm
Yes, and eventually get Toure involved outside. Lazard Watson and Toure, Doubs/ Sammy for everything else. At least I'm hoping.