Donald Driver

[bobblehead]

for anyone questioning DD's hands I have one thing to say:

ZERO: The number of dropped passes by DD in 2008!

64.3 - The % of targeted passes Don caught in 2008.

69.0 - The % of targeted passes Jones caught in 2008.

And if you are want to argue that Jones caught more dumpoffs and Don caught tougher passes, each one averaged 13.7 YPR last year. Each pass on average gained the same number of yards between the two players.

I'm not knocking JJ...as a matter of fact I was making a comment regarding dropped passes=ZERO. I love JJ, have said so many times. Openly said he is a better reciever than Jordy. % of targeted passes caught can be affected by many things besides the recievers ability, but I think you know this already. I'm not declariing JJ or DD a better reciever at this point, but simply saying DD's hands can't be argued as he dropped ZERO passes in '08.

[bobblehead]

The way people recall non statistic based football data is really weird. Instead of remembering minor parts of many plays, people tend to recall fairly vivid details of only a few, and base their evaluations of players almost solely on these few plays.

For example, I remember Reggie White as a Left DE for the time he launched Cris Carter about 8 yards upfield with one arm.

[pbmax]

The other thing that the % of targeted passes caught doesn't show (besides who was covering him and what type of coverage he had) ....

If I was the coach, I am not sure I would care about who was in coverage or what coverage was being played. To evaluate the player in a game setting, they will need to battle both elements and win their share, whether they are the No. 1 receiver or No. 3.

Absent specifics matchups coaches like or want to avoid, the offense has far less control over the coverage than anything else it does.

[bobblehead]

He used to wear those black neoprene looking forearm things and when they were wet he would fumble more....allegedly.

I've always thought that it was the fact that he always carried the ball in his left arm. Most RB's switch arms based on where the hit/pressure comes from. I always believed it led to an opportunity to dislodge the ball that didn't happen as often with most other RB's.

The neoprene vs. standard white pads were the second explanation offered by Sherman regarding how they were going to deal with the fumbles. Sherm felt he sweat too much for neoprene to be effective. I would hate to be the guy measuring that test.

Football Outsiders has 2009 Jennings at a catch rate of 75% and Driver at 57%. Jones not listed, not enough catches to make the list.

2008: GJ 57%, DD 64%, JN 61%, Jones 67%

2007: Jennings 63%, 67%, Jones 59%, RM 57%, KR 62%

2006: DD 53%, GJ 43%, RM 49%, KR 44%, RF 38%

These are all catch rates. The play by play does not count drops. I can't believe Driver had no drops last year, as we dropped passes in every game I can remember. but someone is going to have to comb through McGinn's season ending wrapup to find his numbers for drops.

2009 #'s probably aren't a very good guide. Jones and Jordy haven't yet caught any passes.

Anyway, I got McGinn's analysis bookmarked:

Donald Driver dropped seven of 113 (6.2%)

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/36986949.html

LIS though, there is a fundamental problem with the drop stat. It is a judgement call as to what is and isn't catchable, and it fails to take into account that some WR's are better than others at getting their hands to touch the ball, and there is a fairly significant difference. (for example, Chi's WR's, they don't get drops for the times the stopped on a route, but that still affects their catch %).

Dang, wish I had bookmarked the JS article I read that quoted zero for DD, but I believe in McGinn and will humbly stand corrected. I read that article the same day I posted the zero drops too.

[Waldo]

The other thing that the % of targeted passes caught doesn't show (besides who was covering him and what type of coverage he had) ....

If I was the coach, I am not sure I would care about who was in coverage or what coverage was being played. To evaluate the player in a game setting, they will need to battle both elements and win their share, whether they are the No. 1 receiver or No. 3.

Absent specifics matchups coaches like or want to avoid, the offense has far less control over the coverage than anything else it does.

Not to mention,

Packer fans in many respects still see football, defense especially though a Bob Sanders lens.

It isn't normal for a CB to cover a single WR all game. Most OC's are always looking for the defensive keys that will isolate their top WR's on a S, TE on a LB deep, etc...

Sure a guy may see better coverage most of the game, but the bulk of the passes most WR's get is when they are in favorable matchups or have clearly beaten their coverage.

In other words, items like catch %, YPR, and TD% are not overly affected by coverage.

A Vikings fan elsewhere has done a similar study of Brett's WR's in Mn, NY, and Chad's in Miami and we compared notes (I have GB WR data); contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that the QB has much, if any, impact on catch %, YPR, or TD%. Those items seem to follow the WR's and are not greatly influenced by the passer.

[MOBB DEEP]

LOVE this cat

[GrnBay007]

LOVE this cat

Nothing there NOT to love!! :P

[MOBB DEEP]

at least HE came to play!

[GrnBay007]

at least HE came to play!

He and Woodson.

[MOBB DEEP]

the man

[MOBB DEEP]

at least HE came to play!

He and Woodson.

Mos Def

[Gunakor]

Donald Driver is now just 9 catches away from setting the all time Packers receptions mark.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/61595322.html

Probably won't happen in St. Louis, but rather in Minnesota next week. Which is appropriate, since 99% of those receptions came off the arm of one Brett Favre. And the poor Vikings fans will once again see another Packer all-time record breaking celebration @ The Dump. How cool is that?!

[woodbuck27]

LOVE this cat

Nothing there NOT to love!! :P

Wow! DD gets 'diced and sliced' @ Packerrats.

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2009/09/24/1/

[Tony Oday]

Donald Driver is now just 9 catches away from setting the all time Packers receptions mark.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/61595322.html

Probably won't happen in St. Louis, but rather in Minnesota next week. Which is appropriate, since 99% of those receptions came off the arm of one Brett Favre. And the poor Vikings fans will once again see another Packer all-time record breaking celebration @ The Dump. How cool is that?!

I say just toss DD on Defense and Favre can throw him his all time packer reception breaker