Who Is Jordy Nelson?

Greetings, G-Force.

My wife & I just went for a Road Trip. We met friends & family in New Orleans to hit up Jazz Fest. Michael Franti does wonders for an individuals spirit. A* & I prefer to drive to this sort of thing. That way, you get to see more. And the dogs can come. Have you ever been through Mobile, AL? Have you ever eaten Crawfish in Gulfport, MS? Have you ever stopped in Kiln, MS? Maybe this would not interest you, but for me & my wife, these things brought tremendous joy.

I found it ironic that during the 1st Packers team gathering in the post-Favre era, I just happened to be in Kiln, MS where I met Deanna Favre's cousin. He was a bartender at the Broke Spoke. A* and I passed through for a pint and a picture of the Brett Favre statue. The buzz was real.

It was nice to return to Miami and know that there was a plethora of reading material at my disposal. At this stage, I've read almost none of it, but it's there for when I find the time. With that being said, Jordy Nelson has garnered enhanced interest for me.

Jordy Nelson will bring an upgrade to our offense. I believe he will do so this year. I'm confident that he will make an impact this year even if he catches only 30-35 balls. Nelson will be an option on 3rd down. He'll catch the ball in traffic. He'll fight for yardage.

Nelson will not start. He may not even play in our 3-wide sets. Regardless, he'll be on the field. And when the ball is thrown his way, he'll catch it.

I've compared his height and frame to superstar WR's. I did not do this because I believe he will be them rather I did such to give an idea of his size. What intrigues me is that when you look at Nelson, you see a guy that has a lot of room to grow. When he enters the Packers weight training program, this kids body is going to grow. While he's 217 lbs, he's still got fairly thin arms.

With Nelson, I expect consistency. Consistency from Day 1. I expect him to pick up the offense. I expect him to run his routes with precision. I expect him to perform each day and to improve mightily along the way.

In his senior year, Nelson had 122 catches. He also broke a number of Kansas State receiving records. Throughout the year, he was continuously a performer. Each game. He played against strong competition and in every game he had over 80 yards. Only once was he held below 90 and that was against San Jose St. Take a look:

Week 1 vs Auburn: Nelson had 9 catches for 90 yards.
Week 2 vs San Jose St: Nelson had 6 catches for 82 yards.
Week 3 vs Missouri State: Nelson had 15 catches for 209 yards and 1 TD.
Week 4 vs Texas: Nelson caught 12 balls for 116 yards and 1 TD.
Week 5 vs Kansas: Nelson lit up Aqib Talib for 10 catches and 137 yards. He also added a TD.
Week 6 vs Colorado: Nelson was held to 93 yards on 4 catches.
Week 7 vs Oklahoma State: Nelson lit up the pitch to the tune of 12 catches for 176 yards and 3 TD's.
Week 8 vs Baylor: Nelson added 8 catches for 105 yards and 1 TD.
Week 9 vs Iowa State: Nelson caught 14 balls for 214 yards and 1 TD.
Week 10 vs Nebraska: Nelson had 9 catches for 125 yards and 1 TD.
Week 11 vs Missouri: Nelson was limited to 94 yards and 1 TD on 8 catches.
Week 12 vs Fresno State: Nelson had 15 catches for 165 yards and 1 TD.

Oh, and don't be alarmed to see Nelson throw the football this year. He also chipped in by throwing the football last year.

True to his last name, Nelson was a "Man's Man."

In college, Nelson was a performer. I expected him to be around much later than when the Packers drafted him. I was surprised that he was our pick at that stage, but I'm happy to have him. He's a small town guy who seems to relish the opportunity to play in the NFL's smallest market. With that, I say, hey Jordy, let's enjoy the ride of your career together. I'll make trips to Tampa Bay and J'ville to see you play on the road this year. A* & I will travel by car. That way, we'll be able to see more. And, hopefully, it'll be highlighted by seeing you in the end zone.

Carry On,

Talkin' S-Mac.