Is It Time To Bench Donald Driver?

He’s still shifty, he’s still quick (not fast, but quick), and he’s still got some moves. I would like to put the spotlight on him and figure out why he hasn’t been getting these catches. I wouldn’t want to make a rash decision here. It’s best to pinpoint the reason and work off that. If I’m wrong about his quickness, then maybe. I think the team needs to look at Driver more and find out what’s going on.

Occasionally go through rough patches. The long catch in the 49ers game was the best effort i’ve seen a reciever put into a play in a while. Benching him would say that he’s done, and he’s not. Last year and in years past, we’ve used more of a slant game. This year, that has seem to gone by the wayside. I’d agree with Jabooty that this seems like a rash decision right now, needs more analysis

he’s a starter in my book
with jennings getting all the attention how many can go his way, there is still only one football

Is he fully recovered? Listen we need our best against the Pats and if that means playing Nelson or Jones than so be it.

Nah. The play against the 49ers showed that he still has it. Just doesn’t seem like he’s been targeted a whole lot, and when he is, it seems like it’s normally on a out route or slant route. I just think a lot of the offense has been deep stuff to Jennings, and when not him, Jones. I still think we look to go down field too much. If Flynn starts, I’m actually excited to see if we go back to that quick timing offense that used to be our bread and butter.

I was saying at the beginning of the year that the Packers needed to go w/ Jones and Nelson to give them a prime time shot as a starter… We need to find out what we have in them and if they can be considered a starter! Now that the season is practically over and Driver is struggling everyone is starting to call for the same thing! Driver faded badly down the stretch last year too… He no longer is able to play effectively every down of the game! He should be a #3 or #4 WR and give way to Jones, IMO. Jones is inconsistent, but w/ regular touches like he would get as a starter, he might shake off that inconsistency and become the player we have seen glimpses of.

The time has come, even if now is too late, to give Jones the job!!!

quick slant? It was his bread-and-butter, and I feel like I never see it anymore.

He’s become that quick slant guy. He needs a couple of deep routes and if he can’t run those it means he’s not healthy enough to be that second or third option.

That Lions game was a perfect example. The defenders knew where he was going to be, as in that end zone INT. You can’t put someone in a position where the defender can consistently jump the route and then blame the receiver. That’s pure play calling right there.

I honestly think it is more of MM’s play calling than anything. Has DD lost a step? Yes, i think so, but I still trust him more than inconsistent JJ out there. He is by far the unquestioned leader among the WR corp, and it it is because of him that the other WR’s have that no fear mentality, when running their routes. Maybe they should rotate a little more, but completely benching him would be unfair.

DD is, imo, a Green Bay Legend. Class act, very good hands, and an understanding of defenses and excelent route running makes up for his age and therefore loss of speed and agility. Keep in mind that he is coming off an injury, and he doesn’t look like he is 100% recovered. And yet, as much as it pains me….

DD should take a seat. Rogers is out, Grant is out, Finely is out, and most reasonable fans will agree that in terms of the playoffs, we are out. Let Nelson and Jones go up against some #1 and #2 CB, especially with some good defenses in NE, NY and those chicago guys. We need to see if either can be a potential #2 at least (Jennings is still young and not at the “diva” level of other recievers so TT should be able to lock him into a long and fairly reasonalbe deal.)

But this leaves me to wonder, if Rogers was being told to go to team meetings and film views, and Jenkins came back into a game were he broke his hand earlier this year, are the packers coaches or training staff rushing our guys back to get them onto the field? Everyone says that they want the players health to be priority, but w/ so many injuries, and then a buncha guys coming back and getting hurt again (Jenkins, Chillar, Rogers to mention a few) I have to at least speak up about my wonder.

They already sub in all our receivers anyway. “Benching” Driver wouldn’t mean he wouldn’t play, just that he wouldn’t start. I say leave him in. Partially because he’s a team leader and partially because he can still get it done. …he’s not in his prime anymore, obviously, but he’s not washed up or anything by any means.

There is no doubt that DD is having a down year, and I could definitely support getting Jones and Nelson a bit more playing time for the remainder of the year. But I would not do anything official with the depth chart that would signal the beginning of the end for Driver. If you look at older receivers in the league, like Derrick Mason, Ochocinco, TO, Hines Ward, and Reggie Wayne, there is no reason to think that Driver cannot bounce back and get his numbers up next year. It has been well-documented that he is one of the hardest working players in the league — a gym rat that also practices hard. I really believe the injury this season is the primary reason for his down year. His trend in recent years has only seen a slight reduction in his numbers, nothing that would predict this sort of drop off.

If he really is as terrible as Stroh says he is I guess I’m blinded my my fanhood because I don’t see it.