Inside the hot start to Romeo Doubs’ rookie season for Packers
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he believes rookie receiver Romeo Doubs is “not even close to his ceiling” and has “a ton of potential” after watching him catch eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown during a breakout performance in his first NFL start on Sunday.
Doubs, a summer star of training camp, “earned” the opportunity to play 55 snaps against the Buccaneers.
“He made the most of his snaps yesterday. He did an outstanding job,” LaFleur said Monday. “He was a guy who showed up consistently being able to separate versus man coverage that we were getting.”
Doubs scored his first NFL touchdown in the first quarter and also extended his streak of games with at least one catch of 20 yards to three to start his career.
How good has the fourth-round pick been so far despite playing only 38 snaps per game?
Through three weeks, Doubs has a team-high 14 catches for 137 yards. He ranks first among rookie receivers in catch percentage (87.5), yards after the catch (87) and passer rating when targeted (123.2), fourth in receptions and receiving yards, and sixth in yards per route run (1.90).
The only three rookie receivers ahead of him in catches and yards are first-round picks – Drake London, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
Doubs was the 132nd overall pick.
“He’s got the body-movement skills. He’s got the explosiveness. He plays on his insteps, gets both feet in the ground, and that allows him to get off bump coverage. The game is certainly not too big for him,” LaFleur said. “You feel it every time we go out there, he’s a guy who is showing more and more confidence. That’s a big part of playing up to your potential, and this is a kid that’s got a ton of potential. We’re excited about him.”
LaFleur talks about Doubs like he’s the next great wide receiver find in Green Bay.
The rookie will continue to get opportunities with Sammy Watkins on injured reserve. In a month’s time, it might be tough for Watkins to get back on the field in a meaningful way.
“These next few weeks will be critical to his growth. Having the majority of the snaps playing the X,” LaFleur said.
The Packers play the New England Patriots, New York Giants and New York Giants over the next three weeks.
The Packers don’t just have to play Doubs out wide. LaFleur praised his versatility, too.
“That’s the beauty with him,” LaFleur said. He’s not just an outside receiver, you can put him in the slot, he has that versatility. He knows our concepts, he cares about the game, and he gives great effort each and every day.”
Doubs has played 95 snaps out wide and 20 in the slot, per PFF, so this isn’t just coach speak.
With 14 catches in three games, Doubs is on pace to catch almost 80 passes in 17 games. It would be a rare season for a rookie picked in the fourth round or later, as Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Co. pointed out here.
He’s making impact plays, too.
Against the Bears in Week 2, Doubs turned a 2nd-and-28 play into a 20-yard gain on a well-executed receiver screen. The Packers converted the ensuing third down and eventually scored a touchdown. Both LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers called it the most important play of the game.
On Sunday, Doubs caught two passes on in-breaking routes off run-action for 36 yards. Rodgers praised his ability to pluck the ball out of the air with strong hands. Doubs also made good on an RPO opportunity from Rodgers on third down to score his first touchdown, and he later turned two short passes into the flat into productive gains by flashing his athleticism and speed around the corner.
The flashes are real. The potential is real. It’s early, and LaFleur and Rodgers know more growing pains are to come, but Doubs has a unique combination: Obvious talent, and real opportunity. The two are coming together to create a special start to the rookie’s first season in Green Bay.
