Packers ST Coordinator Slocum: Boykin's "Forced Fumble" A Blocked Punt in My Opinion

Packers Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Slocum thinks Jarret Boykin's forced fumble from yesterday should've been considered a blocked punt.

The unusual play featured Boykin somehow kicking the ball before Bears' Punter Pat O'Donnell did, resulting in a turnover. Boykin never touched it with his hands, technically taking the block factor out of his effort.

Nonetheless, Slocum isn't having it. Here's his full quote, courtesy of ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky:

"In my opinion, it's a blocked punt. We're moving forward. Whatever they want to do statistically, they can do. We'll go in the room Wednesday and say, 'Great job on the blocked punt, now let's get ready for the Eagles.'" 

Adams Likely Out This Week With Groin Injury

Packers Wide Receiver Jarret Boykin will likely miss this week's game against the Dolphins with a groin injury, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports. 

Boykin, the team's #3, hasn't played since Week 2's contest against the Jets, being replaced by Davante Adams since then.

He hasn't practiced the last two days.

If he is out, Demovsky writes, it's possible he'll be the only one, as team Defensive End Datone Jones is currently feeling better. According to Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Jones is "in a day-to-day category" right now, a fact that can only improve the defense during these next three matchups.

Where Did All Of Aaron Rodgers's Weapons Go?

Over the past few seasons, QB Aaron Rodgers has been pretty consistent about spreading the ball around. Last season, WR Jordy Nelson led the team with 126 targets (22% of all pass attempts) with WR James Jones second at 16%. It's a little harder to rank TE and the other WR position because Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley each missed 10 games, but WR Jarrett Boykin was targeted on 14% of pass attempts and Finley and TE Andrew Quarless combined were targeted 15%.

I'd expect the top two receivers (Nelson and Cobb) to be targeted on 20-25% of pass attempts, the number three wide receiver at 15-20%, and the number one tight end at about 15%. But that's not at all what's happened so far this season.

Coming into this season, Boykin was expected to be the number three WR and he's only been targeted three times in two games (one reception). The starting TE, Richard Rodgers, hasn't been targeted a single time. Instead, 30 of 75 pass attempts (40%) have been thrown to Nelson. That might not seem like such a bad idea, targeting their best receiver 40% of the time (Cobb's at 20%), but Aaron Rodgers's yards per game are at 242.5 in 2014 (down from 268.8 in 2013) and RB Eddie Lacy's per game yardage is half of what he had in 2013. The offense hasn't been as effective when they can only count on Nelson for yards and Cobb for touchdown receptions.

I don't know why Boykin or Richard Rodgers have been invisible in the first two games, but rookie WR Davante Adams did emerge against the Jets with 5 receptions on 7 targets. Adams played little against the Seahawks in Week 1 (no targets) but if he kept up his Week 2 usage over the course of the entire season, he would receive about 20% of all pass attempt. That's the usage I was expecting from their number three receiver. Maybe Boykin is better suited as the number four receiver and Adams will move ahead of him shortly.

Whatever happens, the Packers have to find away to get more receivers involved in the offense.

Rookie WR Davante Adams makes a splash in home opener. Read more: http://t.co/TUUUKzwqRi #NYJvsGB pic.twitter.com/y2LJbZuiL2
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2014

Packers 2014: Realistic Projections for Receivers

In the past few years, the Packers have parted ways with four of their top receivers (Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jermichael Finley). Despite all those changes, QB Aaron Rodgers consistently targets the same positions in the passing game no matter who's on the field alongside him.

A lot of different receivers will be involved, but the top three wide receivers will be targeted between 90-125 times with about 100 targets to tight ends. The number four wide receiver should be targeted about 50 times and the top running back will see another 50 (44 to Lacy in 2013). The total pass attempts should be around 550, so that leaves the final 50 for a collection of occasional targets like John Kuhn and Ryan Taylor.

Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Nelson led the team with 126 targets last season, but assuming Cobb stays healthy in 2014, Nelson won't repeat that high mark. 100 to 110 targets is more realistic, and using a slightly high 70% catch rate (Cobb was over 80% in his rookie season but under 70% last season), that's 70 to 80 receptions. That's not going to lead the league in receptions for either of them (the 2013 league leader, Pierre Garcon, was targeted 184 times in 2013). It could lead to another 1000 yard and double digit touchdown season for Nelson (Cobb's never reached either mark in a single season). They could be the two most efficient receivers in the NFL next season, but neither one should be considered as a 1st round fantasy draft option.

Jarrett Boykin. He seems to be a shoe-in for the James Jones role of trying to sneak into single coverage along the sidelines, which should be good for 90-100 targets in 2014. His 59% catch rate in 2013 is a concern, but hopefully it has to do with the fact that he was most active while Rodgers was hurt last season (Boykin barely played on offense until the Packers released Jeremy Ross in late September). The coaches love him, but I'm not completely sold on him yet.

Davante Adams showing his catching ability with pass from Matt Flynn across middle. I think he can make an impact as rookie. #Packers
— Mike Vandermause (@MikeVandermause) June 10, 2014

I'm really intrigued by the battle among the group of receivers at the bottom of the depth chart, but those guys are going to have no impact on the offense once the regular season roles around (barring injury). And all of them are going to be hard pressed to beat out Davante Adams after the Packers just used a 2nd round pick to acquire him. Cobb only had 31 targets during his 2011 rookie season, but the receiving corps was deeper that year, and I'd expect Adams should expect closer to 50 targets in 2014. The only thing holding him back is that the Packers don't spend the entire game lining up with four wide outs. When he does get on the field, he's always going to see single coverage, which is what Rodgers wants to see. He's going to be a very tempting target.

Insert name of a tight end here. I guess Colt Lyerla and Richard Rodgers both have chances to earn playing time, but they're both going to have a tough time getting past Andrew Quarless because they still have a lot to learn. In the meantime, Quarless doesn't have much of a ceiling, but he was targeted 54 times despite only starting for half the season and being pretty useless as a weapon. He'll get 70 targets if he starts 16 games, and he'll earn more if he can show some of the promise he had before he injured his knee in 2011.

Boykin Wants to Become a Household Name in 2014

Packers WR Jarrett Boykin wants to become a household name in 2014, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tyler Dunne reports.

Boykin, who burst onto the NFL scene last season after Randall Cobb got hurt, is apparently planning to be more aggressive this year, or, as he put it, "be a dog."

In 2013, Boykin was overall solid for the Pack, something that'd probably be good enough come September, as Cobb will no longer be hurt.

Still, a little improvement on his behalf wouldn't hurt anything, especially since Green Bay's upcoming schedule (which includes matchups with the Patriots, Panthers, Seahawks, and Saints) is pretty hard.