Ryan Grant's work ethic

[CaptainKickass]

Cool article from Sports Illustrated about Grant, and how his father factored into his becoming an athlete. Good read.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_lawrence/07/09/grant/index.html?eref=T1

[bobblehead]

not a bad read. I still think they overpaid him, but hopefully he is healthy and back in '07 form this year.

[Merlin]

Grant is no AP but he is still a solid back. My worries are the offensive line and if we will once again have to sit through yet another "offensive" performance by them for something like the 4-5th year in a row. We were lucky Rodgers wasn't hurt worse last season, let's hope "another year under their belt" will be the charm (again).

[CaptainKickass]

Grant is indeed more than servicable at RB. But I agree that the OL is a big question mark.

I'm quite perplexed at the fact that we have outstanding corners/good secondary, outstanding receivers, the LB corps that we have, decent fullbacks etc...

BUT - the Offensive and Defensive Lines have arguably been questionable throughout TT's tenure. Maybe the D-line changes this year as we seem to be loaded on paper - but I don't think anyone can judge that until the games are played.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this is the year the OL "finally" gels, becomes cohesive, finds their groove, or whatever.

.

[MichiganPackerFan]

Ryan Grant is only as good as his O-Line. Two seasons ago, he was excellent at following his blocking and accelerating once a hole was opened for him. His longer runs usually resulted from the OL or FB getting a good seal at the second level and allowing him to burst through a hole. I've never seen him create much of anything by himself. He is completely overpaid. I would like to see more of the younger, scrappier kids and see if they've got a couple strong seasons in them. The lifespan of a RB is pretty short and fresh legs matter. All that said, I still think Grant can still perform better than he did in 2008, but it will require much better play from the O-line. Someone who can use the O-line is still better than someone who can't puts his head down and runs into the D-line...

[CaptainKickass]

I'm wondering how much of a part this work ethic played in him getting that new contract? I wish there was a metric for NFL players "work ethic" so we could compare some players to other players. Obviously coaches want the players with the best work ethic to set a standard with the team etc etc.

[Deputy Nutz]

Ryan Grant is only as good as his O-Line. Two seasons ago, he was excellent at following his blocking and accelerating once a hole was opened for him. His longer runs usually resulted from the OL or FB getting a good seal at the second level and allowing him to burst through a hole. I've never seen him create much of anything by himself. He is completely overpaid. I would like to see more of the younger, scrappier kids and see if they've got a couple strong seasons in them. The lifespan of a RB is pretty short and fresh legs matter. All that said, I still think Grant can still perform better than he did in 2008, but it will require much better play from the O-line. Someone who can use the O-line is still better than someone who can't puts his head down and runs into the D-line...

If your the same dude from back in the JSO day, welcome to Packerrats!!! The mexican would be happy to see you around, to bad he is not here to see you. We kicked him out.

[Merlin]

The switch the 3-4 should help our DL issues, although it creates a host of other ones. I am glad we have Capers running the show on defense because the guy is a good coach and if anyone can make this work he can. The OL? Tauscher is probably done since they haven't signed him yet and show no signs of doing so (won't be ready till mid season anyway), Clifton is more then likely in his last year since it's his contract year, everyone thinks Wells stinks (I think he's ok), Spitz might be a better option @ Center but he stinks anywhere else, Colledge showed some promise but hasn't shown he is a starter. Other then that, it's kind of a craps shoot what to do. I guess after the past 4 seasons of the OL either being mediocre or outright sucking, I can't seem to get excited about this bunch coming into the 2009 Season.

[CaptainKickass]

The switch the 3-4 should help our DL issues, although it creates a host of other ones. I am glad we have Capers running the show on defense because the guy is a good coach and if anyone can make this work he can. The OL? Tauscher is probably done since they haven't signed him yet and show no signs of doing so (won't be ready till mid season anyway), Clifton is more then likely in his last year since it's his contract year, everyone thinks Wells stinks (I think he's ok), Spitz might be a better option @ Center but he stinks anywhere else, Colledge showed some promise but hasn't shown he is a starter. Other then that, it's kind of a craps shoot what to do. I guess after the past 4 seasons of the OL either being mediocre or outright sucking, I can't seem to get excited about this bunch coming into the 2009 Season.

So maybe the Pack needs to hire Ryan Grant's dad to whoop some ass and really motivate them linemen!

[MichiganPackerFan]

If your the same dude from back in the JSO day, welcome to Packerrats!!! The mexican would be happy to see you around, to bad he is not here to see you. We kicked him out.

The one and same (for better or worse). Matteo got booted? I'd love to here what people have been up to for the last couple of years and how the forum has progressed. Looks like in my absence I've lost some forum privileges (I take blame for that). Can't remember, aside from MTP, who were the founders of PR? Whatever happened to JSO? Too polluted?

[CaptainKickass]

If your the same dude from back in the JSO day, welcome to Packerrats!!! The mexican would be happy to see you around, to bad he is not here to see you. We kicked him out.

The one and same (for better or worse). Matteo got booted? I'd love to here what people have been up to for the last couple of years and how the forum has progressed. Looks like in my absence I've lost some forum privileges (I take blame for that). Can't remember, aside from MTP, who were the founders of PR? Whatever happened to JSO? Too polluted?

In a nutshell -

There's a "core" group here that ...shall we say - mass exodus-ed from JSO and ended up here for several reasons. MTP has been replaced by the omnipotent entity known as "ADMINISTRATOR" (Pretty menacing name wouldn't you agree?)

I'll let everyone else fill you in on the details - because I frankly don't remember you from JSO. But welcome here anyway, even tho your name says you've been around here since 2006.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I'm gathering from some past threads was that the Mexican was actually MTP himself? Always dug that cat! Did Texas ever make it over here or is he still stuck in that FYI thread on JSO?

[Bretsky]

I'm gathering from some past threads was that the Mexican was actually MTP himself? Always dug that cat! Did Texas ever make it over here or is he still stuck in that FYI thread on JSO?

Hey Michigan,

Nice to see ya again !!!

Welcome

[MichiganPackerFan]

Thanks Bretsky!

Just reading a few old threads to see what I've been missing. What the hell happened to this place? I know when I took a leave from JSO, the regulars were getting along pretty well. A couple of newbies came along that were a regular pain in the ass. While the regulars didn't always agree or even get along, we'd make a couple of Yo Mamma jokes and move on. (Except for that damn FYI thread!!!)

I know I had a lot of fun on that (hoping to get back into it!) and drank WAY too many beers on the weekends (You always called me out on that one!!!)

Feels rather weird only having a two digit post number on here, but I'm grateful that enough of you have remembered me in a good, if not alcohol blurry ; ) light!

[CaptainKickass]

Hey Michigan -

Check this thread for the dramatic low-down from the poster named Jack's Smirking Revenge. His take on why he left JSO and what happened between there and here:

http://www.packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=152

Cheers!