1) Introduction: After something of a coming out party last season, Boykin was expected to take another step forward this season and supplant James Jones as the number three receiver on the team. Boykin was part of the reason the Packers felt comfortable in letting Jones walk.
2) Profile:
Jarrett Boykin
- Age: 25
- Born: 11/4/89 in Chattanooga, TN
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 218
- College: Virginia Tech
- Rookie Year: 2012
- NFL Experience: 3 years
3) Expectations coming into the season: The expectation for Boykin was to turn into a key part of the offense and be a real mismatch threat as the number three receiver going up against lesser secondary opponents.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: The only way Boykin had any highlights this season was if he went to the salon and got them before the game, this was a terribly disappointing season for Boykin. Even the highlights he received at the salon wouldn’t be as low of a low-light as this entire season was for Boykin. Maybe the lowest of the low-lights for Boykin was that he had as many drops this season (3) as he did catches. In all seriousness though, Boykin did force a fumble (some would call it a blocked punt) against Chicago on a nice play to get to the punter, proving to be his only real contribution this season.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Complete offensive ineffectiveness rendered the supposed number three receiver on the team to nothing more than special teams duty and a few plays a game on offense each game after week two. With as many drops (3) as catches on the season and as many missed tackles (2) as made tackles on special teams… his impact was minimal and not necessarily positive on the field. Offensively Boykin ended the season with only three catches on twelve targets for 23 yards and no touchdowns.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Boykin only played in 15 offensive snaps in the two playoff games and did not get targeted on any of them. He also missed a tackle on special teams in both games. The playoffs were nothing more than a showcase for how far Boykin had fallen in 2014 on the Packers depth chart.
7) Intangibles: Boykin is still a talented receiver, but he has physical limitations with his speed. He’s not as physically gifted as Davante Adams, but both are bigger and more physical receivers, something the Packers could use. However Boykin doesn’t have near the ceiling of Adams. By all accounts Boykin is a hard worker and the team likes him, so he will likely have to accept a role as the fourth receiver for the meantime if he stays with the team.
Season Report Card (Player Grades):
(F) Level of expectations met during the season
(D-) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(F) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: F
——————Mike Reuter lives in the Twin Cities and is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas. He is a mobile tech enthusiast, a 19 year Gopher Football season ticket holder and a huge Packers fan. Mike is a writer with AllGreenBayPackers.com and you can follow him on twitter at @uofmike.
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How can one have so much potential and completely lay an egg and go backwards?
Boykin ran a 4.74 forty time coming out. Maybe he ran faster for GB. Speed limitations is one of those euphemisms for slow as molasses.
Agree with the comments and grades. Amusing aspects to the article. I give the writing a grade of JJ.
Changed my mind. I give the writing a JJ+.
It is pretty obvious this writer does not watch tape. Boykin was one of the worst STeams players on the worse STeams in the NFL. Watch him avoid getting in the way of people in Buffalo. Watch him avoid blocking on Hyde’s Td. watch him short arm the on side kick v detroit.
Maybe he just doesn’t like cold weather and white people and wants out of Green Bay?