Finley No Longer Looks Special (Michael Rodney)

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Finley No Longer Looks Special
packerupdate
by Michael Rodney on Saturday, October 6th, 2012

While most fans and members of the media have been focusing on Jermichael Finley’s drops for the past 21 games, I’m more concerned about his decreased athleticism. Ever since injuring his right knee against the Washington Redskins nearly two years ago, the fifth-year tight end from the University of Texas hasn’t looked anything like the physical freak who dominated defenses late in 2009 and early in 2010.

Finley is still a good athlete, but he’s not separating from defenders the way he did prior to the injury. I first noticed this last summer. Players he was leaving in the dust a year earlier were able to stay close and contest passes. That disturbing trend is continuing. Finley was targeted a total of 16 times against the 49ers and the Bears. After re-watching both games, I counted only a handful of times when Finley provided quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a sizable window. The majority of the throws were into tight spaces.continue

Interesting observations and matches up with Finley not getting much after the catch

quote:
evansilva
#Packers TE Jermichael Finley has gone 23 games without hitting 90 receiving yards.

10/6/121:26 PM

Original Post

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FandameMember

Four years ago Finley was a physical freak who caught a lot of defenses by surprise. Now almost every team has one or two like him, and defenses are learning how to neutralize them with LBs who are mirror images or big safeties who can run with them. What's more worrisome are Finley's drops. That I think is more mental, for whatever reason. If he cleans up the drops, and he can get on the same page with Rodgers so there's mutual trust there, Finley can still be pretty darn effective.

10/6/121:42 PM

mr21mr21Member

Just noticed Finley has $3.5 million roster bonus due in March. Nice job by TT to only give him a cap friendly 2 year deal earlier this year.

10/6/121:59 PM

HenryYou rang?

Bye.

10/6/122:11 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

on DJ Williams not getting suited up last week:

quote:
Tight end D.J. Williams was active in four of the last five games a year ago and the first three this year before being inactive against New Orleans behind backups Ryan Taylor and Crabtree.

"He needs to improve some things in special teams," Fontenot said. “We felt he hadn’t contributed enough or to his capabilities in special teams. That was the bottom line.” -jsonline

10/6/122:23 PM

FreeSafetyI wonder what the poor people are doing?

That is disappointing to hear about Williams.

Even without Finley this offense would still be in good shape with Williams, Quarless and Crabtree.

10/6/123:09 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Gifted but inconsistent Finley remains an enigma
packersnews.com
Written by Pete Dougherty om Friday, October 5th, 2012

One scout this week said teams still have been paying extra attention to Finley this season, though not as much as in the past. Defenses have have been doubling him with a safety in the red zone but less so on the rest of the field.

snip

(Packers TE Coach Jerry) Fontenot says the emphasis with Finley is re-sighting, that is, making sure he gets his head back to quarterback Aaron Rodgers on time on every route, because even when he thinks the coverage suggests the throw will go elsewhere, he still might get the ball.

“We keep emphasizing you always have to be ready for the football,” Fontenot said.

Said another source: “When he gets his head around quick, he’s unbelievable.”
continue

This 5 page article is well worth the click imo.

10/6/123:31 PM

Orlando WolfMember

Never been much of a fan of Finley because of his "me first" attitude, however last week he looked to be coming back to somewhat of a threat at TE. Hope he gets there.

10/6/123:47 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
dj45williams
not a fan of Indy. Tried to watch a game at the hotel bar. Kicked me out cause I had no i.d. Then got security called for playing piano

knucklehead

10/6/124:43 PM

TschmackMember

If that is a legit DJ tweet that is hilarious. Is he related to Brent Fullwood?

10/6/124:46 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

That's 100% him. His account is verified by twitter.

10/6/124:57 PM

bubbleboy789Member

I like Finley. He thinks he's something that he's not but I still like him. I suppose the 2009 Wild Card Game v. Arizona is my main reason. Still, he hasn't played like that since then and it's awfully frustrating.

Not sure what's wrong with him. But if he doesn't pick it up I know TT is more than happy to let him go considering DJ is quite capable of stepping in.

10/6/126:34 PM

packerboiI lick rainbows

At this point, I think TT will be ready to move on if he has lackluster season or even does "just ok".

Thompson has a long history of finding very good WR's and made a great value pick when he got JerMichael in the 3rd. He can do it again.

Im not necessarily writing him off but I'm also tired of the excuses he makes for himself as to why he isn't performing like he did in 2010.

10/6/126:55 PM

Tequila_MonsterMember

He'll go to the Vikings and kill us twice a year.

10/8/129:06 AM

Pikes PeakMember

quote:
Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He'll go to the Vikings and kill us twice a year.

They prefer their ex Packers to be a bit older.....

10/8/129:10 AM

LarseeBearMember

Ponder's a better leader. Best leader he's ever played with. Best team he's ever played with.

10/8/129:10 AM

Grave DiggerMember

I'm honestly still surprised Drew Rosenhaus isn't representing Finley. That guy did wonders for TO. TGIF needs STFU or GTFO.

10/8/129:21 AM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

This team won a Super Bowl WOF. WF this team doesn't look very good.

10/8/129:54 AM

mr21mr21Member

quote:
Originally posted by Grave Digger:
I'm honestly still surprised Drew Rosenhaus isn't representing Finley. That guy did wonders for TO. TGIF needs STFU or GTFO.

That sure doesn't sound very optimistic...

10/8/122:12 PM

GoallineLarge Antenna

quote:
Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
He'll go to the Vikings and kill us twice a year.

Why? Rudolph is better than Finley.

10/8/124:12 PM

Pikes PeakMember

Bring back Bubba!

10/8/124:18 PM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

are the coaches morons?

Or is Finley still the best option at TE on the team (regardless of how that fits qualitatively).

10/8/124:39 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

They don't want to be wrong. DJ Williams looked ok yesterday. As I stated earlier, they didn't need Finley to win a Super Bowl.

10/8/127:00 PM

johnnie grayMember

but we did need greg jennings

10/8/127:01 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

I'd go with Crabtree and Taylor.

10/8/127:19 PM

GoallineLarge Antenna

quote:
Originally posted by GBFanForLife:
They don't want to be wrong. DJ Williams looked ok yesterday.

He dropped a ball.

10/8/127:43 PM

Ghost of LambeauMember

I am not sure why people are wondering when Finley will quit dropping the ball. That is what he did in college and that is what he is doing in the pros.

DJ Williams just looks like he naturally catches the ball. That is part of the reasson he won the John Mackey Award in college. He just needs more snaps to progress.

Quarless is a guy who we are missing. He turned into a nice blocker and although not an elite reciever at the pro level, he provided another big target. Call him a functional reciever. He was Penn States career leader for TE receptions.

10/8/128:02 PM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

I agree we miss Q, and your description of his is spot on.

10/8/128:43 PM

danhandyMember

quote:
Originally posted by Goalline:
quote:
Originally posted by GBFanForLife:
They don't want to be wrong. DJ Williams looked ok yesterday.

He dropped a ball.

That was hardley a drop. Another bad pass by Rodgers high and Williams could only get one hand up to the pass.

10/9/1212:42 PM

Orlando WolfMember

What's quarless status? Realize he is pup but haven't heard a peep.

10/9/1212:57 PM

SepMember

I like Quarless even less than Finley.

Time to give D.J. a longer look.

10/9/121:09 PM

GoallineLarge Antenna

quote:
Originally posted by danhandy:
That was hardley a drop. Another bad pass by Rodgers high and Williams could only get one hand up to the pass.

Perhaps. I was too pissed to inspect the replays.

10/9/121:14 PM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

quote:
Originally posted by danhandy:
That was hardley a drop. Another bad pass by Rodgers high and Williams could only get one hand up to the pass.

let the DJ Williams mythology begin.

I hope all AR's bad passes hit receivers in the hands.

DJ and Fin dropped catchable balls, call a spade a spade (I'll concede Fin's was worse cause it was in his hands in the EZ + the potential first down he dropped). Jordy apparently dropped one as well, I just don't recall that one.

I'm not saying DJ can't grow into a really good TE, but he is getting a lot of "back up QB" respect around here. If he gets Fin's reps, he needs to kick it up (and if not, Fin needs to talk with his hands more).

10/9/121:19 PM