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Re: Walker
That was my thought exactly. If you look back at the 2004 commentary from coaches, they even metioned several times that the Packer passing game would be even more unstoppable if they could send Walker across the middle like they did with Driver. Some seem to equate being big with being good in the middle where you know you will get drilled when making the catch. Driver has shown a willingness to do it, Walker did not for the Packers.
I argued long and hard on JSO even BEFORE the 2005 season that Walker still had something to prove. He essentially had two seasons in 2004, the first half and the second half. Driver was the proven receiver, Walker had shown inconsistency in routes and in catching the ball. At the start of the season, Driver was the one teams concentrated on while they dared Walker to make plays. He did, and the emphasis shifted to a more balanced respect from defenses for the two Packer receivers.
Walker, games 1-8 of 2004 - 46 rec., 17.02yds./rec., 7 TDs
Walker, games 9-16 of 2004-43 rec., 13.9yds/rec., 5 TDs
In the first half of the season, Walker had 4 games of 100+ yards; in the second half of the season he had just one game with 100+ yards, and that came against Tennessee when he had 11 receptions. If you take that away from his second half season, in the remaining 7 games he had 32 receptions for 447 yards.
In my evaluation Walker has shown that he commands respect from the defense. The question now is when they give him that respect or attention can he still perform like an elite receiver? The truly great receivers are able to rack up the stats almost regardless of what the defense does. Walker has yet to show that. He very well might do it. He certainly has the physical tools to do it. In my book he did not yet prove that in 2004. What he did prove is that left alone he is a great receiver. In the second half he was "only" very good when the defenses started respecting his ability.
Originally posted by mraynrand
I argued long and hard on JSO even BEFORE the 2005 season that Walker still had something to prove. He essentially had two seasons in 2004, the first half and the second half. Driver was the proven receiver, Walker had shown inconsistency in routes and in catching the ball. At the start of the season, Driver was the one teams concentrated on while they dared Walker to make plays. He did, and the emphasis shifted to a more balanced respect from defenses for the two Packer receivers.
Walker, games 1-8 of 2004 - 46 rec., 17.02yds./rec., 7 TDs
Walker, games 9-16 of 2004-43 rec., 13.9yds/rec., 5 TDs
In the first half of the season, Walker had 4 games of 100+ yards; in the second half of the season he had just one game with 100+ yards, and that came against Tennessee when he had 11 receptions. If you take that away from his second half season, in the remaining 7 games he had 32 receptions for 447 yards.
In my evaluation Walker has shown that he commands respect from the defense. The question now is when they give him that respect or attention can he still perform like an elite receiver? The truly great receivers are able to rack up the stats almost regardless of what the defense does. Walker has yet to show that. He very well might do it. He certainly has the physical tools to do it. In my book he did not yet prove that in 2004. What he did prove is that left alone he is a great receiver. In the second half he was "only" very good when the defenses started respecting his ability.
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