Randall Cobb's Retirement Highlights His Subtle Greatness (And A Current Packers Comp) - Zone Coverage (2024)

On Thursday, long-time Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb announced his retirement. The 13-year slot receiver, who spent 10 of those seasons in Green Bay, decided to hang up the cleats after only catching five passes for 39 yards last season. Even though Cobb wasn’t productive in his final year, it does not diminish his success with the Packers.

Cobb never had elite numbers, but he was efficient. He had over 800 yards receiving in 2012, 2014, and 2015. It always seemed like he would make the big play in the clutch, even in games where he was not the primary target. Cobb was always at his best with the Chicago Bears.

The 2016 NFC Wild Card round against the New York Giants is the game that stands out the most in Cobb’s career. He tallied five receptions for 116 yards and three touchdowns in Green Bay’s 38-13 blowout of the Giants.

Cobb didn’t have many catches in this game. Davante Adams made eight grabs for 125 yards as the leading receiver. However, whenever he made a catch, he turned it into a big play.

The first one came at the end of the first half. With Green Bay leading 7-6, Aaron Rodgers launched a Hail Mary to try and extend the lead. Cobb made a sliding catch in the back of the end zone to give the Packers a touchdown and a 14-6 lead with no time remaining in the first half.

His next big play came late in the third quarter. Rodgers hit him on a post route, and he ran it 30 yards for the score to give the Packers a 21-13 lead.

Cobb’s last big play came halfway through the fourth quarter. Rodgers threw it toward the back of the end zone on a third-and-three from New York’s 16-yard line. Cobb went up and made a great hands play to reel in the catch and extend Green Bay’s lead 31-13. It proved to be the final dagger.

Cobb was vital to Green Bay’s offense in the 2010s. Due to his size and frame, he wouldn’t have been the most targeted receiver on the field, but he maximized his opportunities and turned them into big plays.

Every team would want him because he was so reliable. Cobb wasn’t selfish, never held out for a bigger contract, and was a great locker-room presence.

If there is anyone on today’s Packers whose play resembles his the most, it would be Bo Melton.

Cobb and Melton have similar physiques. Cobb is 5’10” and weighs around 190 lbs. Melton is 5’11” and weighs 189 lbs. Cobb was never too fast or quick, but he always ran his routes precisely and was physical with defenders.

Melton also had a rookie year similar to Cobb’s. In 2011, Cobb hauled in 25 receptions for 375 yards and one touchdown. Last year, Melton had 16 grabs for 218 yards and a score.

Cobb may have had nine more catches and 157 more yards, but they had similar yards-per-catch averages (Cobb had 15 yards/rec to Melton’s 13.6 yards/rec). The only difference between their rookie seasons is that Cobb had Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball in his career-best season, and Melton had Jordan Love in his first season as the starter.

Although Melton’s career may not turn out like Cobb’s, that highlights how successful Randall Cobb’s overall career was, given his physique and abilities.

Any player who could turn out to be like him will see similar success on the field because he did exactly what players are taught to do: bond with your teammates on and off the field to establish chemistry and give your maximum effort on every play. He followed these rules, and his career spoke for itself.