When we – by “we” I mean fans and the media who cover the team – talked about the Green Bay Packers’ offensive weapons before the season started, who did we talk about?
We talked about Greg Jennings and how he was going to take his place amongst the elite wideouts in the league.
We talked about James Jones and Jordy Nelson and how they were going to both breakout at the No. 3 and No. 4 wideout spots, respectively.
We talked about tight end Jermichael Finley and how he’d become the X factor this team had lacked, particularly in the red zone.
You know who we didn’t talk about?
Donald Driver.
Well, we did, but it was more in terms of saying things like, “He’s probably on the decline, but he’s still got another solid year or two in him before he’s gone.”
Looks like we were all dead wrong.
While Jennings, Jones, Nelson and Finley are all struggling to various degrees, Driver – at the ripe old age of 34 – is thriving.
Driver leads the team in receptions (14), yards (233) and receiving touchdowns (two). There’s no question he’s still this team’s No. 1 receiver, in my mind.
That he’s still got it was clear throughout Sunday’s 36-17 win over the St. Louis Rams.
Driver had four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in the game (plus one rush for 13 yards). But it was more than just the numbers. Driver showed he can still run, find open spaces and, most importantly, catch with the best of them.
His 46-yard catch down the left sideline in the second quarter was a perfect example. Driver, while being interferred with, was still able to come down with an amazing one-handed snag. He even borrowed a bit from Super Bowl hero David Tyree by pinning the ball to his helmet to fully secure the pass.
It was the type of play only a talented, mature veteran could make.
Still, for the past few years, I’d kind of been wondering when Driver would run out of gas. After all, he’s never been the biggest receiver, physically, and, as fast as he is, it seemed like he’d lose a step as the time went by.
After watching him through these first three games, though, I’m done wondering about Driver. He can still bring it.
And he does it all with a smile on his face and a post-first down shoulder shake that is as cool as any celebration I can think of.
-Chris Lempesis
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