3 rushes for 52 yards

[woodbuck27]

Posted August 13, 2006

Davenport earns start

By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com

SAN DIEGO — Najeh Davenport started at halfback ahead of Samkon Gado and Noah Herron on Saturday night in the Packers' exhibition opener against San Diego.

Ahman Green almost surely will be the starter this season when he gets healthy, but he didn't suit up Saturday night after just returning to a limited practice regimen last week. He's coming back from a torn quadriceps tendon.

In the meantime, Davenport, Gado and Herron are battling for the Nos. 2 and 3 jobs behind Green, though there's also the chance the Packers will keep all four of them on their final roste.

Either way, the top backup figures to get plenty of carries this season to give Green regular rest.

Coach Mike McCarthy has insisted he'll run the ball often, even when the run game struggles.

"You can not be a successful run team and blow out of it all the time, it just doesn't happen," McCarthy said.

"It's going to be ugly sometimes. Running the football is commitment. Passes are a lot more fun to call; I'll be the first to admit that. But running the football is essential to your football team, and stopping the run, I surely believe in it. You get in with the big boys, look at the playoff games. You've got to run that ball."

McCarthy said he's shooting for a 53-47 pass-run ratio this season.

"Everybody says they want to be 50-50 (pass-run), but I think if you want to score points in this league, you have to be around 53-47," McCarthy said. "That's ideal. You get about 56 (percent) throwing the ball, 58 (percent), you're kind of getting away, you're putting the stress on the quarterback too much."

Davenport is coming off a broken foot that required surgery last year and in a mild surprise passed his physical at the start of training after he looked like he could miss the first week or so of camp. However, he also sustained a calf injury that sidelined him for seven days and only returned Thursday night.

Comment woodbuck27:

McCarthy said - " he's shooting for a 53-47 pass-run ratio this season."

That ratio - doesn't reflect what he says overall in this release. In fact - it contradicts it. With a 53-47 pass - run ratio. We will get mauled ! I'm very surprised to read this statement by HC Mike McCarthy.

[Fosco33]

That's gonna be Bush's routine anyway. He'll get short gains when the run is stuffed, but once or twice a game, he'll break one. He was brought in to make big plays not churn out tough yards. It looks like Reggie Bush started his career in what should be typical Reggie Bush fashion.

Granted, but disciplined defenses often are not hurt by that type of runner. I have felt that Bush's biggest and most consistent contribution will be as a return man and maybe as a receiver.

Barry Sanders hurt defenses and had similar streaky runs

Actually, Sanders is exactly the guy I was thinking of. A phenominally productive runner who played many games in which he was a complete non-factor, such as the 1994 playoff game against the Packers in which he was held to -1 yard rushing.

I agree - he could have issues w/ talented defenses. Regardless, these type of performances will require defenses to be very committed to their assignments as misplacement/overpursuit/bad angles are what Bush thrives upon (and he 'gets skinny' in an instant - with a tremendous football speed to match).

[Patler]

I'm not criticising Bush, just making the point that his biggest impact may come as a return man and receiver, when he will automatically be in a more open field situation..

[HarveyWallbangers]

Bush is going to be a hell of a player in this league. As for Najeh Davenport, he looked indecisive and plodding with the same upright running style that will get him injured. If this team only carries three RBs, Da Poop might be the odd man out.