Why? To me it is an awesome thought that such an unheralded player could make such a big contribution in only his first regular season on the roster.
The advantage Driver brings to the table that I think is exceedingly rare is his willingness to go over the middle and make those terrifying catches in heavy traffic, even when he knows he is going to get crunched from two directions at once. He also has the ability to fight for that extra yard or two without losing the ball, which not even some of the elite running backs and receivers in this game seem to be able to do consistently.
I don't understand the nostalgia for the status quo. I am always rooting for new guys to overtake the older ones, because that means the team is getting better, and more importantly, that the potential for success is being perpetuated. Teams that rely on contributions from longterm players edging past their prime end up stagnant and decrepit.
Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel
I'm getting a little tired of how carelessly "nostalgia" is being thrown around on these boards. I don't think I'm being nostalgic at all. Driver knows this offense as well as any player on the team because he's played through its evolution. I believe he can still play at a high level.
Green Bay will once again churn out one of the youngest rosters in the league. This is a franchise that does an incredible job of building through the draft. You already know all that, so why any trepidation about becoming stagnant? When you have a roster where you can just about count the 30 year-old+ guys on one hand (Woodson, Clifton, Driver, Pickett, maybe Wells -- not sure how old he is) there is little danger that we're on our way to the All Geriatric Nostalgia Squad. Did I miss anybody over 30? There might be a few more guys, but I think my point is still clear.
Now, if West wins a spot on the roster by beating out a guy like Driver, then so be it. I'm also for whatever is best for the team (and that includes, for instance, someone like Starks supplanting Grant as the starting RB if it's merited). But "hoping" Driver gets beat out to make room for a young guy seems antithetical to winning. I'm not hoping for a young team; I'm hoping for a great team. When Driver starts to truly show his age, I'll be on board for his departure. It will make me a bit sad when he goes -- nostalgic even. I felt the same way when Harris was let go. I felt the same way when Barnett was released. But at the end of the day I didn't lose any sleep, because I'm excited about guys like Shields and Bishop.
I'll argue anyone that Driver's "breaking down" from last year (as nerdbutt put it) had everything to do with a nagging quadriceps injury and not a decline in ability. We all remember that TD against the Niners. If DD is healthy this year, he'll be a nice contributor. A lot is made about his position on the depth chart, but methinks it a rather shallow analysis (for those that argue about his #2 status) because Green Bay's offense is so multiple that guys like Jordy Nelson can get you 10 catches for a billion yards in the Super Bowl.
William Henderson didn't have to run people over. His preferred method was levitation.
"I'm a reasonable man, get off my case."