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**TennesseePackerBacker** · 03-15-2008, 03:25 PM

No way Parker is top 10, Maroney, Jacobs, Grant, and L. Johnson are all better.

**Bretsky** · 03-15-2008, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by TennesseePackerBacker

No way Parker is top 10, Maroney, Jacobs, Grant, and L. Johnson are all better.

Parker seems to be one of those often overlooked guys; he tore it up last year. So how high would you rate Grant ?

**MJZiggy** · 03-15-2008, 03:31 PM

I think Grant is an exceptional back--he has vision, speed and timing. He has a feel for where the hole is, beyond where it's supposed to be and some pretty sweet moves.

We did better with our 6th than NO did with their first.

**TennesseePackerBacker** · 03-15-2008, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by Bretsky

Originally posted by TennesseePackerBacker

No way Parker is top 10, Maroney, Jacobs, Grant, and L. Johnson are all better.

Parker seems to be one of those often overlooked guys; he tore it up last year. So how high would you rate Grant ?

More needs to be seen obviously, but i think you hit it on the head with 11-14.

Give Grant last year's Pittsburgh line and I think he might've done better than Parker actually.

**DannoMac21** · 03-15-2008, 04:50 PM

Re: HOW GOOD IS RYAN GRANT ?

Originally posted by Bretsky

LET'S GET TO SOME DEEP FOOTBALL TALK

He was wonderful for Green Bay last season once he was given his shot. Some compared him to Dorsey Levins right off the bat.

Some still feel that is valid, but Grant looks to be faster and better.

Some think he was a product of teams having to focus on an effective pass first offense led by a great season by Brett Favre

Some feel like he is on the verge of stardom.
Give your take.

I looked over each team and tried to look at comparable running backs to Ryan Grant and list them. RB's not listed I'd clearly rate Grant over right now. Here is what I came up with. Let me know if I clearly missed any

Addai, Jones Drew, Maroney, Lynch, L Johnson, Willie Parker, La Tomlinson
M Barber, A Peterson, B Jacobs, M Westbrook, F Gore, S Jackson, Portis

At this point I'd probably rate the following RB's to be better than Grant

L Tomlinson
A Peterson
J Addai
M Jones Drew
W Parker
M Barber
M Westbrook
F Gore
S Jackson
C Portis

That would put Ryan Grant in the 11-14 range (great for a 6th round pick)
along with Brandon Jacobs, Lawrence Maroney, Lynch, and Larry Johnson

To me Lynch is probably 14th and I'm not sure about the other three.

No way Clinton Portis or Maurice Jones-Drew are better than Grant, absolutely no way.

**Harlan Huckleby** · 03-15-2008, 04:54 PM

I'm still skeptical. I wonder if increased scouting will expose his limited running style.

At worst he will still be pretty good. Not sure if he will remain #1 back for several years.

**DonHutson** · 03-15-2008, 05:01 PM

I think he's a very good fit for the system. He hits the hole and finds the cutback lane. I think he benefitted from the OL playing much more consistently in the second half. Jackson looked much better in the last few games than he did at the start, largely due to better blocking.

I think he probably looks faster than he really is because the misdirection gives him a bit of a head start.

He seems durable so far, but that's through half a season. He hasn't offered much as a receiver. He puts the ball on the ground not quite to the extent that its a major problem, but he needs to watch that. He exhibited great mental toughness in the Seattle game, and he comes across as a good teammate. I don't recall him allowing Favre to get smacked around too often as a pass blocker.

All in all, he's very productive in the Green Bay offense. He's a great example of Ted investing wisely on a cheap player who fits the system. I don't know where to rank him in a general sense, but he's probably a better fit for us than some "better" backs would be.

Having said all that, I'd love to find a complimentary RB that can offer some of the skills that Grant lacks - mainly receiving and elite speed. If Felix Jones was sitting there and #30, he and Grant would be dynamic.

**Joemailman** · 03-15-2008, 05:10 PM

One thing that impressed me about him was that even on days where he wasn't finding much running room, he still managed to break off a long run (until the NFC Title Game when he didn't get the ball much).

The immediate improvement in the Packer running game when he was inserted in the starting lineup was so striking that he has to be considered pretty good. To be elite, he'll have to improve his pass-receiving skills.

**BallHawk** · 03-15-2008, 05:49 PM

Parker is a top 5 back, IMO. He doesn't get the press of other backs, but he racks up yards like the best of them.

**Scott Campbell** · 03-15-2008, 07:18 PM

Re: HOW GOOD IS RYAN GRANT ?

Originally posted by Bretsky

L Tomlinson
A Peterson
J Addai
M Westbrook

After these 4 I think its too close to call, and Grant could fit into that bunch. Unless I was watching a mirage last season.

**ND72** · 03-15-2008, 07:37 PM

I would put Grant top 15, like #15, but not top 10. I saw someone put Grant ahead of Parker....no. Right now I would say we have the 2nd best RB in the North, and MAYBE the #7-9 RB in the NFC. I would put Portis, Westbrook, Barber, Peterson, Jackson, and Gore are all easily better than Grant in the NFC. After that, I'd say the Giants RB corps are better, and even potentially Edge is still better than Grant, but probably not.

In the AFC, Johnson, LT, Addai, Fred Taylor AND Jones Drew, Parker, McGahee, R. Johnson, & Lynch are all better than Grant.

So officially I would rank him, in my opinion, #17 in the NFL.

Personally, I still think he's only gonna be a 1-2 year guy. His running style will damage him. I hope he does well and lasts longer, but I'm still skeptical.

**3irty1** · 03-15-2008, 09:28 PM

The best backs in the league are versatile like Westbrook or Tomlinson. They can play much longer and be an entire offense on their own. This is what Bush is supposed to be and what McFadden will be.

Grant is not one of those guys you can line up anywhere and can run routes like a receiver, but he seems to be as effective a runner as anyone else in the league. He's fast, he's decisive and he's got good instincts.

**wist43** · 03-16-2008, 07:23 AM

I don't put him anywhere yet...

He only played in what??? 8/9 games???

To be ranked among the top 10/15 players at a given position I think you have to prove it over at least a couple of seasons... there are always guys that flash ability, but either can't take the pounding or don't have what it takes intestinally to succeed over the long haul.

Beyond that, Grant does have an upright running style that has exposed him to some pretty good shots in the limited amount of time that we've seen him - those kinds of hits add up and take a toll. His running style is a concern.

Haven't looked at his number of fumbles... the two in the Seattle game stand out, but since all ended happily there, they are all but forgotten. Still, I'm not to the point where I completely trust him.

He still needs a lot of work in the passing game and blitz pick-up; however, even with a lot of reps I doubt he'll ever be a natural in the passing game.

Those things said, he did show good vision, good burst, good instincts, and long speed. He also ran tough.

Bottom line: If he can effectively lower his pad level, show improvement in the passing game and blitz pick-up, prove it over the course of a full season, and stay healthy - then we can begin to talk about ranking him.

**Freak Out** · 03-16-2008, 11:51 AM

Grant has shown that he has potential in the type of offense M3 runs but 08/09 will give us a better picture of his long term role in GB. Is he that much better than the other RBs on the roster or are they they that bad? We saw that he can do it in the zone scheme when they give him the chance...but if Rogers stinks it up can Grant carry the load? Color me puce.

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