Despite drops, Adams not hitting rookie wall

Throughout his rookie season, Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams' dependability has impressed teammates and coaches alike.

More than his 38 catches, 446 yards and three touchdowns, Adams has been reliable. He went nine straight games without a dropped pass this season, a streak that stretched from a September road game in Detroit to a November road game in Minnesota.

Lately, his hands have stopped automatically sticking to footballs like Velcro.

Adams has dropped four passes in the past four games, including two Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The most notable drop would have been a game-clinching touchdown near the end of Green Bay's win against the New England Patriots on Nov. 30. Meanwhile, Adams has gone five straight games without a touchdown.

McCarthy was asked Monday if his second-round receiver is hitting the proverbial rookie wall.

"Rookie wall? I would think with the CBA and this new schedule we're on, it doesn't exist," McCarthy said. "I think the education that's in place with today's rookies gives them the chance to get through that first year, which when you break it down, it's remarkable what a rookie goes through. He finishes his (college) season and he's training for the combine, and then he goes from the combine and then he's training for the draft, and then he gets drafted and he goes right through.

"So they really don't get a break for such an extended period of time. So it's only natural you think that they have the wall. I think it's important to realize that there's a lot of education that goes into that."

McCarthy didn't want to single Adams out for his dropped passes. Two weeks ago, he said, every Packers receiver struggled with drops against the Buffalo Bills. Of Adams' two drops Sunday, one came when free safety Dashon Goldson jarred the football loose with a hit to the ribs.

"I would call it more of a dislodged (ball) from the safety," McCarthy said. "That was a tough catch, and I think the other one just got on him a little quick. I think you have to look at each and every one of those, try to create those situations for him in the practice environment, and just make sure his confidence is where it needs to be. And, in my opinion, I think Davante is still a very confident young man."

-rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood