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Multitalented Cobb working hard to fit in with Packers

By Tyler Dunne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel –

GREEN BAY, Wis. — About 20 hours of coursework stand between Randall Cobb and a college degree. He’s not going to shove the books aside now. The Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver wants to be the first person in his immediate family to earn a diploma.

“It’s a personal thing for me,” he said.

On the Packers’ off-day Sunday, Cobb planned to study for his test in Early Childhood Development with Mental Disorders, a class he has an “A” in. He took a class last summer, too. Nothing new. Cobb has no problem welcoming more responsibilities. On the field, he’s asked to do a little bit of everything.

As a rookie last season, Cobb woke up a comatose return game. Now a more mature route-runner, the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Cobb may be forcing himself into Green Bay’s offense.

Coach Mike McCarthy and the Packers must decide exactly how much they can add to Cobb’s job description — and how much they can feature him within the offense. This training camp, Cobb is trying to find a niche.

He returns kicks. He catches passes. And last season, Cobb even appeared in the backfield, a twist the Packers have experimented with at training camp.

It’s a lot to handle. Sometimes, Cobb does wish he could zero in at wide receiver and master one, specific role.

“You do,” Cobb said, “but at the same time there are pros and cons to it. I mean, focusing in on one thing, I wouldn’t be able to show talents in other areas. But showing talents and being very versatile, you can’t master one thing. So it’s all about trying to build that talent and that skill through all the different things all together.”

So this is the challenge. Cobb’s talent, 0-to-60 speed and potential within McCarthy’s offense are unquestioned. But are the Packers spreading him to thin?

On Friday, Cobb hauled in a deep, over-the-shoulder 60-yard reception from Aaron Rodgers with cornerback Tramon Williams in tight coverage. Already smooth in the slot, the vertical shot stood out. And Saturday — with the pads on — he had a pair of drops. In a blitz drill, Cobb had a step on linebacker Nick Perry over the middle and dropped the ball. And in one-on-ones with defensive backs, he dropped another.

Cobb, who frequently popped into coaches meetings at Kentucky, believes he can juggle it all.

“I don’t know what it is,” Cobb said. “My coaches always said I had some kind of ‘it’ factor back in college and high school. I just pick up stuff. I hold onto it and try to leave it in my memory. Whatever I’m doing, I just remember those things.”

In 2011, every Packers receiver played at least 200 more snaps than Cobb, according to Pro Football Focus. To get onto the field more, he needed to sharpen his route-running. It’s what fuels Green Bay’s offense. Receivers must deceptively sell each route, an acquired skill that separates Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Rodgers feasts on confused, cement-footed defensive backs with back-shoulder throws and other route adjustments.

A trust is necessary. Cobb hopes he’s getting there.

Last year, Cobb didn’t even see the playbook until the first day of training camp because of the lockout. His first NFL touchdown catch, in the season opener, came on a botched route. As a rookie, he caught 25 passes for 375 yards. In Green Bay with teammates and Lexington by himself, Cobb focused on his routes. Through organized team activities, minicamp and training camp — “knock on wood,” Cobb says — he hasn’t run a wrong route yet.

Now, it’s hard to imagine Cobb remaining at the bottom of the receiver totem pole.

Creativity must reign.

“It’s going to be hard because there’s a lot of talent on this team,” wideout James Jones said. “But we’ve done it year in and year out and we have a lot of different schemes, a lot of different plays going in, different personnel. So it should be good. The ball should get spread around and everybody should have their share of opportunities to make plays.”

Added McCarthy, “(Cobb) is a versatile player and it’s important to always try to create schemes where you’re giving people the opportunity to make plays.”

Mistakes stick with him. The communications and leadership development major knows those two drops Saturday will be on his mind until the Packers are back Monday, even as he studies Sunday.

Coaches are demanding a lot out of Cobb right now. Maybe it’s not quite a flashback to Kentucky, where Cobb had 122 pass attempts, 228 carries and 144 receptions. But wearing a flat-brimmed, camouflaged cap Saturday, Cobb smiled.

He’ll find a hidden role in this offense at some point.

“Whether my workload’s big or small,” Cobb said, “I’m going to do whatever I can to take advantage of my opportunities.”

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