Packer running game: stinks

[Bretsky]

if AROD plays at this level we don't need to run

[swede]

Our running game is not scary. Our passing game is scary.

I cannot find any fault in our running game. It is effective enough to keep the defense honest. Mac is calling 90% of the running plays spot on, with the 10% exception of Kuhn suckage.

[CaliforniaCheez]

The run game is substantially better than last year, which does not mean it is great, but passable.

There is no molehill so small that we cannot turn it into a mountain.


Aaron Rodgers leads Tom Brady by only 18.3 in QB rating and only Leads Drew Brees in completion % by 1.6%.
Rodgers only leads Brady by one TD pass.

Greg Jennings is only 5th in the NFL in receiving yards and Nelson is only 15th. Of receivers that have 20 catches, Nelson is only second in yards per catch and that is only 1.4 yards per catch ahead of Randall Cobb, a rookie.

Morgan Burnett and Charles Woodson are only tied for 2nd in the league in INT's and got none against the Rams.

As a team the Packers are only 4th in total offense. Their lead in scoring points is only 9. They are only 5th in time of possesion. They are only 4th in 3rd down conversion %. They are only 7th lowest in penalty yards.

As a team they are only 4th in turnover ratio. Their defense is only 9th in points given up (unless the Dolphins give up more than 10 this Monday Night, then 8th).


The Packers have a lot of things to work on and improve.

[Bossman641]

Starks is pissing me off. There were a couple times where it looked like he had a hole if he had just stuck his foot in the ground and turned upfield. Not huge holes, but it would have been good for at least 4-5 yards. Instead, he is constantly stringing things out wide. I don't know if he is looking for the big play or what because when he does actually get his momentum going and hits the holes he looks pretty good.

[woodbuck27]

Exactly my thoughts. The whole game was kind of blah today but the lack of running game really contributed to a 2nd half of uninspired and uninspiring football. Grant seems like a starter in name only and I'm not sure why since he sure seems to consistently pick up the 4-5 yards that our running game is expected to get. Starks, who I loved last year, really seems to have lost his mojo for hitting a seam and making something happen. (I wonder if it could be that by the time he came on last year all our opponents were so used to playing us to pass first that any run at all took them by surprise.)

I re-call Starks making at least one if not two decent plays running the ball. That aside we do need more in the run.

The thing is with Aaron Rodgers looking like a NFL QB with the best arm ever and somehow eluding the defensive rush and ziping the ball as if it was a dart OUR HC won't stick to the run. OUR Superstar QB is front and center on display and eventually that's going to call the price. We have to run the ball not showboat Aaron Rodgers until he,s gone for several games, the season or for a career ending attempted passing play.

OUR HC has to do all he can to protect Aaron Rodgers. How? Run the ball.

[bobblehead]

The Packers have really lousy run blocking all around. The creases in the NFL are small, but I'm not sure I'm seeing much of any daylight. Second-level blocking on linebackers? Forget it. Our linemen never seem to pull, I wonder if they can, they are slow.

Grant & Starks are decent running backs. Maybe Bulaga was not 100% today or something. But when I watch other NFL teams, the defensive linemen are not getting so much penetration.

The running stats probably aren't horrible, but that's largely because the draws sometimes work. When they need to run, they are so-so or worse.

I guess with Rodgers being so damn good, it is hard to get the chemistry working for a running game. IT is far more important that the pass blocking be solid, and solid it has been.

We have run very effectively for most of the games. Teams are realizing that they have to honor the run so Rodgers doesn't eat them alive on 2nd and 5. Despite billing, you must run effectively in this league. We didn't (especially in the second half) yesterday and our offense slowed down a bit. Its not a trend at this point though.

[bobblehead]

What I had a problem with was the toss to Kuhn out of the shotgun on 3rd and short, hope I never see that play again until we get a speedy back.

Normally I would accuse you of stereotyping a white back as slow....but in this case you are right. That play is better run by alex green.

[3irty1]

The running game is serving its purpose so far. Generally come December it really takes off with MM. I wouldn't read too much into any of the offense right now. When MM is playing the Rams, obviously he's going to try to win but he's also self-scouting and making tape. The Rams are bad enough that you can beat them while setting up some things to work later from the tape you leave future teams to study.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Its hard to really say if the packers running game is good or bad. Both Grant and Starks are averaging 4.5 ypc and have been effective, but the offense hasn't really needed to rely on them yet. In all six games the passing offense has been very good to great. In all six games we run the ball mostly just to keep the defense off balance and not b/c the passing game is not getting it done.

I would love to see Green get some touches, esp. on third downs. Its not like Grant or Starks are great blockers so I don't see why we don't give the guy his chance. Maybe they want to save him towards the end of the year.

[pbmax]

Starks is pissing me off. There were a couple times where it looked like he had a hole if he had just stuck his foot in the ground and turned upfield. Not huge holes, but it would have been good for at least 4-5 yards. Instead, he is constantly stringing things out wide. I don't know if he is looking for the big play or what because when he does actually get his momentum going and hits the holes he looks pretty good.

I agree with this. He seems to have regressed somehow, in season. Weird.

[pbmax]

I am a little surprised that Sitton is getting pushed around the last two games. He has played better before and needs to get back to that level.

[Harlan Huckleby]

We don't really have a starting caliber NFL back IMO .

Nah, the backs are not great but they have their moments. They might be average, give or take.

If our passing game was more average, our running game would be even MORE pathetic. The fact we can't do anything on the ground when the defense has to cover the entire field against the pass is ridiculous.

Yes, well said. But I think problem is due to no coordination/movement in the blocking. They might be better if they did it more.

[Harlan Huckleby]

What I had a problem with was the toss to Kuhn out of the shotgun on 3rd and short, hope I never see that play again until we get a speedy back.

Even a speedy back is not going to beat so many defenders in the backfield.

[Harlan Huckleby]

We have run very effectively for most of the games. Teams are realizing that they have to honor the run so Rodgers doesn't eat them alive on 2nd and 5. Despite billing, you must run effectively in this league. We didn't (especially in the second half) yesterday and our offense slowed down a bit. Its not a trend at this point though.

I would say they had 2 or 3 effective running games.

I don't care about stats. I can see with my eyeball peepers that they are out of sync with the blocking. I get that NFL defenders are so fast that a well-blocked play doesn't mean gaping holes. But I see other teams doing a better job. The defensive line is getting penetration, preventing our Olinemen from ever getting to second level. I don't see blocking from WRs, although that is often off-screen.

For a team that the announcers call "the only dominant team in the NFL" it is odd to see such ineptness. Guess this is what the NFL has come to.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I agree with this. He seems to have regressed somehow, in season. Weird.

I do agree with this. I was on the Starks ban wangon, but I do see him missing a lot of holes.