Lazard & Cobb Have Been Steady Options in Higher Leverage Situations

Without Davante Adams, there are many questions surrounding this Green Bay Packers wide receiver position, but perhaps none bigger than who is going to be this team’s bucket-getter?

It’s third and six, and the Packers need a first down to prevent their drive from stalling out at midfield. Who is going to emerge as that go-to guy for Aaron Rodgers?

Well, truthfully, there likely isn’t one answer as there has been in years past. Rather, it’s going to vary week to week and even series to series, depending on what the matchups look like and who has the hot hand.

However, just because Adams is gone does not mean that this receiver room is void of playmaking options in those high leverage situations either. In fact, both Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have been quite effective on third downs and in the red zone for the Packers, where they clearly have the trust of Rodgers.

Over the last three seasons, Lazard on third or fourth downs, has caught 70% of his 53 targets and is averaging an impressive 15.9 yards per catch with eight touchdowns. Of his 37 receptions, 35 have gone for a first down. Meanwhile, in the red zone, he has caught 14 of 23 pass attempts for eight touchdowns.

“He’s been making those contested catches. The more you do that, the more opportunities you get,” Rodgers said via Packers Wire last season.

During Cobb’s first season back with the team, he would catch 12 of his 17 third down targets and gained 10 first downs along with averaging 16.9 yards per catch. Then inside the 20-yard line, all four of his receptions went for six. 

“I pride myself in being a third-down guy throughout my career” Cobb said via Packers News, “I don’t know where I rank, or where I am, but I think I do have a lot of catches on third down. That’s kind of the money down. We always talk about keeping the chains moving, and that’s a very important down for our offense to be able to stay on the field and put points on the board.” 

Now, the two big questions facing Lazard and Cobb — even with their past success in these higher leverage situations — is can they still remain highly effective with what is likely to be many more opportunities? And can they still produce at a high level with more of the attention on them now that Adams is in Las Vegas?

In part, it’s going to be up to Matt LaFleur’s receiver-friendly system to help get each of them into space and Rodgers continuing to play at a high level.

Ultimately, only time will reveal the answers to those questions, but the Packers do have two players in that receiver room who have been efficient in moving the chains in the past.

Neither Cobb nor Lazard certainly isn’t Davante Adams — duh — but they know LaFleur’s system, have a strong rapport with Rodgers, and have been successful in these higher leverage situations in the past. All of which is a recipe for them to continue being successful on third downs and in the red zone.