Packers Land RB AVG 4.8 Yards Per Carry

[Brandon494]

No offense but I could care less what some nameless personnel guys think. Hes an undrafted rookie who barely averaged 4 yards per carry in the Pac-10. What I expect is trade some draft picks and go get a running back. Doesnt have to be a flashy back. Broncos went out and got Laurence Maroney for a 4th round pick and also picked up a 6th rounder in the deal.

If a team like the Broncos who don't plan to even make the playoffs can go out and trade for a RB when their starter is only out for 4-5 weeks why can't the Packers? We are a Super Bowl pick this season and lost our starting RB for the season and currently only have one RB active. I know a lot of you guys like Kuhn because hes a high effort guy but Jackson and Kuhn make up the worst rushing tandem in the league.

I had high hopes for Starks but only as a 3rd down back. He might still show something but he hasnt had full contact in also 2 years and is also injury prone. All Im saying is even if you have to overpay alittle go out and find us a running back. We might be ok right now but come around november/december we are going to need a running game.

You keep bringing up the undrafted status of players, as if that necessarily means they can't possibly be as good or better than a drafted player.

Just looking at RBs, Ryan Grant was undrafted, as was Willie Parker and Priest Holmes. I'll take a new version of Grant, Parker or Holmes. Perhaps Nance really is a better option than Maroney, the has-beens that are available, and the backs other teams might be willing to trade.

What makes Starks "injury prone"? Just because he missed his Senior year? He played 36 games the three years before that. It seems like any player injured as a Senior is "injury prone" but not if they miss their sophmore or Junior years. Maybe he will be, but we don't know that yet for sure.

You really can't compare Nance to those running backs just because they were undrafted. Maybe he does turn into the next Grant but I'm not trying to risk a trip to the big game on a undrafted rookie being a hidden gem. Just trade draft picks and pick up someone that has had starting experience.

As for Starks he might not be injury prone but he still hasnt played in a live game in also 2 years. Then again maybe the coaches know something we don't and believe James is as good as any RB the can get right now. I was high on the guy when we drafted him, hopefully he can have a season like Grant in 07.

[mission]

Imagine we had a guy who was actually fast.

The line does ok at times, I see some decent holes out there -- imagine a real fucking gamebreaker out there.

Man, this team could be ridiculous. We aren't right now.

[MJZiggy]

Imagine we had a guy who was actually fast.

The line does ok at times, I see some decent holes out there -- imagine a real fucking gamebreaker out there.

Man, this team could be ridiculous. We aren't right now.

I disagree. The Packers are completely ridiculous right now.

[mission]

Imagine we had a guy who was actually fast.

The line does ok at times, I see some decent holes out there -- imagine a real fucking gamebreaker out there.

Man, this team could be ridiculous. We aren't right now.

I disagree. The Packers are completely ridiculous right now.

We have a different understanding of the word 'ridiculous'

(and think we agree)

[Patler]

You really can't compare Nance to those running backs just because they were undrafted. Maybe he does turn into the next Grant but I'm not trying to risk a trip to the big game on a undrafted rookie being a hidden gem. Just trade draft picks and pick up someone that has had starting experience.

As for Starks he might not be injury prone but he still hasnt played in a live game in also 2 years. Then again maybe the coaches know something we don't and believe James is as good as any RB the can get right now. I was high on the guy when we drafted him, hopefully he can have a season like Grant in 07.

I'm not comparing Nance to the others. Nance has proven nothing as of yet. However, I AM suggesting that you shouldn't continually dismiss players who were not drafted.

Saying; "Just trade draft picks and pick up someone that has had starting experience." makes it sound much simpler than I suspect it really is. Who is that player, and will he really help? Samkon Gado has starting experience and is probably available. How many draft picks and in what rounds should the Packers be willing to give up? Anything that it takes?

Starks is the same as Nance. Nothing for sure at all. But at least the staff did have him in the camps before training camp, so hopefully have a feel for what he can do. I'm looking forward to his debut, because a lot of evaluations sound good.

[imscott72]

The run game worked late in the game, but it really hurt us up to that point. This game showed by we can't rely on the pass game all season. When it doesn't work the defense is on the field way too much. How long are we going to stick with Tausch and Clifton and their weak run blocking skills?

[NewsBruin]

Honestly, I'm not enamored with many of the "available" running backs. Starting experience doesn't mean a whole lot to me if a guy can't stay healthy or distinguish himself from the pack (Maroney, Maroney, Maroney).

With their short shelf life, running backs end up costing you for the miles earned on someone else's payroll. For someone who's had a starting role, they're usually overvalued. For someone really worth the trade, they're just too expensive. I would not want to give a 1-3 round pick for someone with less than 3 seasons' worth of current-level production left.

From what's been reported, TT has been stoned on at least two backs (Marshawn Lynch and Denver's Andre Brown). He's signed someone who was reported as one of the best practice backs and has another available in week 7. I'm not happy with Kuhn as our Option 1, but for 2 more weeks, it's okay. I don't think TT's not trying on that position.

I think there were some things Ted's sat too pat on (d-backs, o-backs, O-line coaching), but I think it's under the premise of not blowing up one part of the team to salvage another. Well, other than O-line coaching, which is a huge part of the running game.

[bobblehead]

Kuhn looked pretty good again today, shoving it down the throat of a Lion defense stacked against the run. It' s been a long time since the Packers ran 6 and a half minutes off the clock to close out a game.

he just drops his head and runs as hard as he can at the hole. no screwing around, no dancing. just a bruising running back.

i would like to see a different main running back, then use kuhn as the thunder/3rd down back

I actually disagree with this. I think he has very good vision and actually finds the hole....what he lacks is burst to the hole or he would be very good. As it is, he finds it and doesn't get negative runs....I'm ok with that for now.

[packerbacker1234]

All I know is this - when we needed to absolutely eat clock against a defense with what I would argue is one of the best front 4 in the game, let alone a decent LB core for stopping the run - with everyone stacked against the run...

Kuhn got the call 7 times and just rammed it down their throat. He then hit the hole and made a beautiful jumping lunge on his final run to ensure the victory.

I understand if Kuhn can't be an everydown back, but man, that was just beautiful bruising running. I see no reason we can't do that at least one other drive a game - just try to ram him down their throats.

Why not? I don't think he can take the punishment like "the bus" could and do it for 20 to 25 carries, but 15 ove rthe course of two drives a game? Sure.

[Cheesehead Craig]

On that last drive, let's not give all the praise to Kuhn. The OL finally had some good run blocking and frankly Kuhn had some good sized holes to run through. On 2 of those runs he wasn't even hit until he was 4-5 yds downfield.

[Scott Campbell]

On that last drive, let's not give all the praise to Kuhn. The OL finally had some good run blocking and frankly Kuhn had some good sized holes to run through. On 2 of those runs he wasn't even hit until he was 4-5 yds downfield.

The safeties were playing up to stop the run. And Kuhn and the OL kept moving the chains and running clock. It was a thing of beauty.

[Smidgeon]

Honestly, I'm not enamored with many of the "available" running backs. Starting experience doesn't mean a whole lot to me if a guy can't stay healthy or distinguish himself from the pack (Maroney, Maroney, Maroney).

With their short shelf life, running backs end up costing you for the miles earned on someone else's payroll. For someone who's had a starting role, they're usually overvalued. For someone really worth the trade, they're just too expensive. I would not want to give a 1-3 round pick for someone with less than 3 seasons' worth of current-level production left.

From what's been reported, TT has been stoned on at least two backs (Marshawn Lynch and Denver's Andre Brown). He's signed someone who was reported as one of the best practice backs and has another available in week 7. I'm not happy with Kuhn as our Option 1, but for 2 more weeks, it's okay. I don't think TT's not trying on that position.

I think there were some things Ted's sat too pat on (d-backs, o-backs, O-line coaching), but I think it's under the premise of not blowing up one part of the team to salvage another. Well, other than O-line coaching, which is a huge part of the running game.

That's McCarthy's hire.

[SkinBasket]

On that last drive, let's not give all the praise to Kuhn. The OL finally had some good run blocking and frankly Kuhn had some good sized holes to run through. On 2 of those runs he wasn't even hit until he was 4-5 yds downfield.

So.... are you fellas suggesting the O-line doesn't block as hard for a faster running back - like Jackson? Or was it coincidence that the line suddenly blocked better at the end of the game against a very fresh defense? Or are you full of poop?

[pbmax]

On that last drive, let's not give all the praise to Kuhn. The OL finally had some good run blocking and frankly Kuhn had some good sized holes to run through. On 2 of those runs he wasn't even hit until he was 4-5 yds downfield.

So.... are you fellas suggesting the O-line doesn't block as hard for a faster running back - like Jackson? Or was it coincidence that the line suddenly blocked better at the end of the game against a very fresh defense? Or are you full of poop?

They also seemed to run a different set of plays for Kuhn, I assume to play to his strengths. But it could very well be he simply ran better. The center of that line blocks well going straight forward. Colledge and Sitton looked great. Even Clifton got a key block on the run to the offense's left.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I'd rather go with the younger legs of Nance and Starks once he returns than spend important draft picks on someone who is washed up.