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So PFT had an article about McCarthy's reaction to Driver not having a lot of output despite being a starter, and that got me thinking. So I thought I'd take a closer look.
Packer Receiving Stats
(Data from Pro-Football Reference.com)
I don't think anyone here is surprised that Driver isn't the #2 WR. There's been a debate going on over the offseason about how he'd be leap-frogged by either Jordy or Jones this year. What surprised me is just how far down the depth chart he is--in terms of production--despite being a starter (even if nominally). In any other city, the fans would be going nuts about getting someone productive in the starting line up. But not Green Bay (which I like). They can still give the respect of the position to Driver without sacrificing production.
Driver comes as the fifth most productive WR with one running back and one tight end producing more. He's actually tied with Cobb for the same number of receptions, but Cobb has almost 100 yards more on his receptions.
How many other teams can get away with starting a player who isn't producing without a backlash like Green Bay is? Berrian in Minnesota, Williams in Chicago? I like the makeup of this team that doesn't complain and still produces.
Plus, I think it's motivational for both Jordy and Jones. Or maybe not.
Packer Receiving Stats
Code:
Pos G GS Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Greg Jennings WR 5 5 29 448 15.4 4 49 5.8 89.6 J. Finley TE 5 5 22 301 13.7 3 39 4.4 60.2 Jordy Nelson wr 5 0 18 309 17.2 3 84 3.6 61.8 James Jones wr 5 0 14 228 16.3 2 70 2.8 45.6 James Starks rb 5 0 13 96 7.4 0 16 2.6 19.2 Randall Cobb wr 5 0 9 174 19.3 1 61 1.8 34.8 Donald Driver WR 5 5 9 76 8.4 1 16 1.8 15.2 John Kuhn fb 5 0 6 32 5.3 0 7 1.2 6.4 Ryan Grant RB 4 4 5 25 5.0 0 8 1.3 6.3 Tom Crabtree te 5 0 2 19 9.5 0 15 0.4 3.8 D.J. Williams wlb 3 0 1 7 7.0 0 7 0.3 2.3 Alex Green rb 3 0 1 6 6.0 0 6 0.3 2.0 Team Total 5 5 129 1721 13.3 14 84 25.8 344.2
I don't think anyone here is surprised that Driver isn't the #2 WR. There's been a debate going on over the offseason about how he'd be leap-frogged by either Jordy or Jones this year. What surprised me is just how far down the depth chart he is--in terms of production--despite being a starter (even if nominally). In any other city, the fans would be going nuts about getting someone productive in the starting line up. But not Green Bay (which I like). They can still give the respect of the position to Driver without sacrificing production.
Driver comes as the fifth most productive WR with one running back and one tight end producing more. He's actually tied with Cobb for the same number of receptions, but Cobb has almost 100 yards more on his receptions.
How many other teams can get away with starting a player who isn't producing without a backlash like Green Bay is? Berrian in Minnesota, Williams in Chicago? I like the makeup of this team that doesn't complain and still produces.
Plus, I think it's motivational for both Jordy and Jones. Or maybe not.
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