Mooch used to be a Packers coach you know? dont think he was a Wisconsin native, but from Michigan
I am by no means trying to play both sides here, but.....
I love and respect what DD has done for the packers. I also respect the history of the packers and those who helped mold this team into the storied franchise they are today. I think it is hard to compare someone from generations past to a more current player. I am also NOT being a racist in what I am about to say. If Hutson was playing on a basically all white team and being that the run game was the bread and butter, the other team would have been playing to stop the run and not be playing as much pass coverage. Hutson was athletic for the era he played in and more athletic than the other guys he faced, but if he were to be playing in todays day and age he would be covered like a blanket by the speedy and aggressive DB's in the league. If a black guy like Revis were to cover Hutson, he would be absolutely astonished and frustrated that he couldn't get open and by the aggressive type coverage that WR's have to face today. Yes, in the past you had to worry about getting your head taken off by a defender, but then again the pass game was not as relavent back then. I bet casey hayward could even cover some of the pasts best WR's and he a rookie.
Love DD and what he has done for us, Love Hutson for what he gave us in the past and what name he helped make for the team.
He played in an era when passing was not nearly as prolific. So, passing was not as expected. Couple that with Don's physical size, speed, and athleticism and you have one HELL of a weapon. Also, when you think about how many games Don played in, it really shows just how special he was.
In this era that Donald Driver is playing in, passing is much, much more common place. There are more receivers to spread the ball around to (especially on our team.) and defenders are a TON more athletic. Even more so than most receivers I would bet. That is why Donald has less to show for his 200 games. HOWEVER, he is the Packers' all time leading receiver. That says a lot in and of it self.
I was just watching "The History of the Green Bay Packers" DVD, great disc..get it if you don't have it.
Curly Lambeau went down to scout the rose bowl one year. The practices were closed , but he climbed a fench to watch Alabama. This was before scouting was anything really. He may have been the first coach to travel any real distance to scout a player. That's where he first saw Don Hutson. After the Rose Bowl Lambeau timed Hudson in the 100 yard dash as that was the distance at the time.
Lambeau timed Hutson running the 100 yard dash in 9.7 seconds..
Not sure how true it is, but this forum talks about his 100 yard dash time
http://packerrats.com/archive/index.php/t-789.html
Olympic times
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tfn/archive/results.jsp?sex=M&disciplineId=1&id=1
9.6 to 9.8
So Hutson was just as fast as Olympic runners
Those look like 100 meter times, where 9.7 makes you a world elite sprinter. Here are top 100 yard dash times, a distance that has not been run at elite levels for quite some time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_yard_dash
Still, 9.7 in the 100 yard dash is VERY FAST, and from the clips I'd say that was possible for Hutson. There are probably not a dozen players in today's game who could match it. Bob Hayes held the world record at 9.1; Bo Jackson reportedly ran 9.3; O.J. Simpson 9.4; Lance Alworth 9.6.
I'm a little skeptical of translating that 9.7 to a 40 time, not knowing Hutson's start speed vs. closing speed, but you'd expect it to be in the 4.3's, give or take a bit.
I’ll post this again just so there is no misunderstanding: I love Donald Driver’s contributions to the Green Bay Packers. I just recognize he’s at the end of his great career.
- - - - - -
This is “piling on” at this point but I’m very happy to see Packers fans give the great Don Hutson his due. Six years ago, Cold Hard Football Facts picked who they consider the “greatest football team ever assembled”. What made their effort different is they restricted themselves to picking only 11 players. Of course Don Hutson was one of the 11. A lot of players played on both sides of the ball at the time Hutson played and as HardRightEdge mentioned, Hutson wasn’t an exception. But he didn’t just play DB, he was damn good on the other side of the ball, too. Here’s what CHFF had to say about him:
“No receiver in history – not even Jerry Rice – dominated the position like Don Hutson. He was also a stellar defensive back and a clear choice to make any superstar team, including our All-Time 11, where he shreds defenses at wide receiver and shuts down opposing offenses at cornerback.
…
Hutson's signature campaign was 1942, when – in an 11-game season – he intercepted seven passes and hauled in a Ruthian 74 receptions for 1,211 yards (16.4 YPC) and 17 TDs. Projected over a 16-game season, that's one of the greatest receiving seasons ever: 108 catches for 1,761 yards and 25 TDs.”
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/all-time-11-the-greatest-football-team-ever-assembled/5442/
I think you have to understand that Driver meets absolutely none of the more important factors/criteria the Pro Football Hall Of Fame voters typically use when discussing possible candidates.Here is my take on Donald Driver and the NFL HOF: I think he makes it in. Why? Well, look at some PACKERS who are in the HOF who's numbers aren't really all that comparable to some other folks who are in the HOF.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT BELITTLING THESE AMAZING PLAYERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR WHO THEY ARE AS PEOPLE!*
Bart Starr: His numbers are fairly mediocre, but he is in the HOF because he is a 2 time Super Bowl champion, 2 time Super Bowl MVP, and Lombardi's top gunner.
Paul Hornung: Again, not stellar numbers, and he got into some hot water for betting on games I do believe. However, he wa very much an effective hybrid player.
Those are just two guys off of the top of my head, and only for our team. I am sure there are more people in the HOF who's numbers aren't amazing but they get in because of what they meant to their game, era, and team. I think Donald Driver means a WHOLE lot to the Packers organization, and by more than what he does in the field.
Also, this season he has 2 TDs out of how many receptions? Maybe 6? 8? How many times has he been targeted? 10 at best? 12? Not too shabby. Also, in the Seattle game he BARELY missed a 3rd (would have been his 2nd at the time.) TD catch. It sailed over his head. He jumped to snag it, but it was off his finger tips even at the pinnacle of his jump.
There is no doubt that Don Hutson was a special player. 99 TD receptions in an era of smash mouth football.
I’ll post this again just so there is no misunderstanding: I love Donald Driver’s contributions to the Green Bay Packers. I just recognize he’s at the end of his great career.
- - - - - -
This is “piling on” at this point but I’m very happy to see Packers fans give the great Don Hutson his due. Six years ago, Cold Hard Football Facts picked who they consider the “greatest football team ever assembled”. What made their effort different is they restricted themselves to picking only 11 players. Of course Don Hutson was one of the 11. A lot of players played on both sides of the ball at the time Hutson played and as HardRightEdge mentioned, Hutson wasn’t an exception. But he didn’t just play DB, he was damn good on the other side of the ball, too. Here’s what CHFF had to say about him:
“No receiver in history – not even Jerry Rice – dominated the position like Don Hutson. He was also a stellar defensive back and a clear choice to make any superstar team, including our All-Time 11, where he shreds defenses at wide receiver and shuts down opposing offenses at cornerback.
…
Hutson's signature campaign was 1942, when – in an 11-game season – he intercepted seven passes and hauled in a Ruthian 74 receptions for 1,211 yards (16.4 YPC) and 17 TDs. Projected over a 16-game season, that's one of the greatest receiving seasons ever: 108 catches for 1,761 yards and 25 TDs.”
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/all-time-11-the-greatest-football-team-ever-assembled/5442/