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Good point on the need for a sixth receiver for our 5 wide set. Look at it this way, I doubt many teams use a five receiver set as often as the Packers have last year. I think it is more common for an offense to use three receivers. However, these teams also have a fourth and fifth receiver, even if they rarely use them. The same can be said about our receiving core. Mike McCarthy likes having five receivers on the field at the same time, so we need a sixth and maybe a seventh so that McCarthy can still use this type of package if or when a player goes down. Also, McCarthy can rotate players in and keep his receivers fresh.
Think about the options McCarthy has now for the passing game: he could use formations with his two pass-catching tight ends (Donald Lee and Jermichael Finley) or he could insert a receiver suitable for the type of plays he designs. Then we have Ryan Grant for draw plays and screens, which could throw off the opponents' defenses. There can even be opportunities for trick plays. I think the drafting of Finley and Jordy Nelson will be important to our offense and open up opportunities for Aaron Rodgers and McCarthy. We have so many talented receivers (including our tight ends) and all of them can gain yards after short passes. If I were an opponent against the Packers this year, I wouldn't focus only on stopping Grant and challenging Rodgers. With this talent, the passing game can be a concern.
I do think that Jordy Nelson is necessary and not a wasted pick. Not only does his character make him a good choice over some of the "me" receivers (Did you read new Titans' receiver Lavelle Hawkins claims? "I can pretty much do it all. I would say I'm a combination of Terrell Owens, slash Anquan Boldin, slash Chad Johnson, slash Steve Smith." What an ego), but he clearly fits the form of the receiver this team needs. And to all of those fans who insist we have all the receivers we need, did you forget that Greg Jennings was injured in both of his first two seasons and has a history of injury problems? Do you realize that Koren Robinson is replaceable, especially considering he didn't add much to the offense? Donald Driver is getting older as well and we will need his eventual replacement. Just the mere fact that our receivers are so physical makes injuries more likely.
Have we forgotten the 4-12 season when almost all our starting receivers were injured? I doubt Ted Thompson did, which is probably part of the reason why he bolstered the receiving core with young talent. I think Nelson will be a good pick and I could see him playing this season. Ruvell Martin might not even be around much longer. But seriously, to all you doubters, do you really think that we have the best possible receivers in our five wide set? Don't you see the potential to become better?
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