Donald Driver

[RashanGary]

He's earning more playing time and more targets. The idea was to phase him out, but he's earning his way back on the field. Finley and Jones are showing over and over that they're not quite in tune with AR. Driver is making plays every chance he gets.

I'm a big "youth" wins football games guy, but Driver is outplaying Finley and Jones right now with his opportunities. We can all sit and say, "well, Finley had some tough drops" Nelson has had tough catches. Jennings and Driver have too. . . . It's no excuse. Driver is playing like he belongs on the field.

Our coaches seem true to the, "play the guys who are earning it" philosophy. I expect more Driver and less Jones. If Finley at WR means Driver is off the field, he needs to be back at TE a lot more.

We did push #4 out a year too early, but there were other reasons for that. It's not time to push 80 aside. He's proving that every chance he gets.

[channtheman]

Meh, I think it's Driver's last year as a Packer. He may very well go play 2-3 more years elsewhere similar to how Jerry Rice jumped around at the end of his career. I just don't see him playing for us next year.

[pittstang5]

When the going gets rough, imo, Driver is the go to guy as evident yesterday. I'd love to see him play more, especially on Thursday. He has owned the Lions in years past when playing in Detroit. I just hope he has a little more left in the tank for Thursday.

[bobblehead]

Double D is one of my all time favorites, but I do think he is in his last year. He MIGHT last one more if he takes a pay cut and no one emerges that the coaches want to develope, but I'm betting against it at this point....he does still look quick as a dart though.

[RashanGary]

I don't know what they'll do next year. For right now, he's earned his way on the field. To me, he's done more with his chances than Finley or Jones.

As in tune as Aaron Rodgers is with his game right now, the fine details in chemistry make a lot of difference. There are subtle route adjustments on many plays. If AR doesn't know where you're going to be, he's not going to trust throwing it. For example, Finley was running that crosser/slant route (whatever it was) I have no idea why he was looking over his inside shoulder when the DB was behind him. Clearly AR would throw away from the DB leverage. Nelson, Driver and Jennings get it. Driver needs to play more right now. Finley needs to play TE. He's sucking ass at WR.

[Brandon494]

Finley is one of the most skilled pass catching tight ends in football, no matter what the numbers tell you. We get your point that you don't like him, it's no need to keep creating these threads just to make your point. DD is on his last leg and we have his replacement in Cobb while there are only 3-5 guys in the NFL who can replace Finley.

[gbgary]

i believe this will be his last year...but him coming back for one more wouldn't surprise me.

[Bossman641]

Complete overreaction. I love driver but he has been mostly invisible this year and has more than his share of drops. Not sure why jones and finley get ripped every time they have a bad game.

[Packgator]

The idea was to phase him out, but he's earning his way back on the field.

Who's "idea" was this? Driver is 3rd amoung Packers WR's in receptions with 22. Which is probably right about what they were looking for from him after 10 games. For what its worth...I'd say Drivers season is going pretty much as planned.

[denverYooper]

Driver made a huge difference yesterday with some outstanding 3rd down play.

I think he will stick around for one more Superbowl win and then think about retiring. And I hope that is the way it plays out.

[Guiness]

I don't know about next season either, but you go with the guys who give you the most right now, and right now that seems to me to be Driver. If the coaches feel the same way, and Rodgers finds him, he'll get those balls. I'm not sure where Finley fits into this discussion? I guess because Finley should be making catches over the middle, which is where DD makes his living?

[Gunakor]

there are only 3-5 guys in the NFL who can replace Finley.

Unless Andrew Quarless and Tom Crabtree are 2 of the 5 guys you're thinking of I don't buy your statement. Those 2 guys replaced Finley just fine last season. Each are wearing rings as proof. Neither can do what Finley does, true, but this offense doesn't need Finley to do what Finley does either. Finley would be more irreplaceable if he played on an offense that truly needed him. We don't.

[Brandon494]

Unless Andrew Quarless and Tom Crabtree are 2 of the 5 guys you're thinking of I don't buy your statement. Those 2 guys replaced Finley just fine last season. Each are wearing rings as proof. Neither can do what Finley does, true, but this offense doesn't need Finley to do what Finley does either. Finley would be more irreplaceable if he played on an offense that truly needed him. We don't.

Yea because we all know that Quarless and Crabtree require double teams from defenses. There is a reason why you always see Jordy Nelson in single coverage with no safety help. You really trying to compare Quarless and Crabtree to Finley? I guess Bush could replace Woodson too, I mean he has a ring to prove it. I agree we don't truly need Finley but with him we are the best offensive team in the league with all the match-up problems we give to the opposing defense with him.

[Gunakor]

Yea because we all know that Quarless and Crabtree require double teams from defenses. There is a reason why you always see Jordy Nelson in single coverage with no safety help. You really trying to compare Quarless and Crabtree to Finley? I guess Bush could replace Woodson too, I mean he has a ring to prove it. I agree we don't truly need Finley but with him we are the best offensive team in the league with all the match-up problems we give to the opposing defense with him.

No, I'm not trying to compare anybody. The point is that we don't need an elite pass catching TE to win with this offense, so Finley can be replaced by just about anybody. If Finley played on another team, perhaps your original comment would have been more accurate. You said only 3-5 guys in the NFL can replace him, when Quarless and Crabtree replaced him just fine one season ago. I know you like him and all, but we really don't need him to win. That's what the ring says.

[mmmdk]

DD > JJ