Remember this name when the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears for "Thursday Night Football": Randall Cobb.
The Packers have more familiar faces in Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley and Jordy Nelson. Oh, and there's that Aaron Rodgers guy. But it's Cobb who is the newest toy in coach Mike McCarthy's high-scoring offense.
The second-year receiver won the "NFL Play of the Year" award with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in his first professional game last season. He caught a 32-yard touchdown from Rodgers the same night despite running the wrong route. Cobb took over as the Packers' return man, but was the sixth option in the passing game.
That was 2011. Cobb is being moved all over the field in 2012 in an effort to get him the ball.
"That package provides some matchup problems," Cobb told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We don't know if any team is going to have an answer for it."
The entire idea is to get the 5-foot-10, 192-pounder in space against a mismatch. In Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, Cobb lined up in the backfield 20 times and at receiver 15 times. He caught nine balls for 77 yards, averaged 24.5 yards on three kickoff returns and had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. Called dump-offs and screens to Cobb are basically run plays in the Packers' offense. Veteran receiver Donald Driver played just three snaps as Cobb moved up the depth chart.
"You just have to understand the blocking of the O-line in run plays out of the backfield," Cobb said. "In pass protections, understand where the blitzes are coming from if I have to pick up the blitz. I'm a lot better at my route running now, so understanding how to run a route, nothing has changed. It's just out of the backfield."
Fantasy football note for those who care: Cobb has good value in point-per-reception leagues and those that score heavy for return yards.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
