Alex Green

[denverYooper]

IMO the lack of a rushing game is a combination of the line getting beat and Green missing the open running lanes.

Lang and Saturday are getting beat consistently.

During college Green was running from a one back set in the run and shoot against bad defenses. Generally defenses were more concerned with NFL receivers. This allowed Green to run in enormous gaps. The big runs occurred without reading defender's movements along with superior downfield blocking.

Agree with the beat writer and poster that Green could just be a third round back which was the original thinking. Starks is clearly a better runner.

McGinn stated that Lang has a pretty severe elbow injury that is really hampering his effectiveness right now. Hopefully that is temporary.

[King Friday]

Green is a 3rd down back...pure and simple. He does not have the vision or knowledge to be a starting caliber back. I was hoping he would develop into more, but it doesn't seem to have much chance of happening at this point.

Our OL seems to be playing below their capabilities. I'm not sure why, but far too many times I'm seeing OL players get manhandled and beat without even holding the point for a moment.

The team needs to make more of a commitment to the run game this offseason...in camps, in the draft, in a planning capacity.

[Guiness]

Green is a 3rd down back...pure and simple. He does not have the vision or knowledge to be a starting caliber back. I was hoping he would develop into more, but it doesn't seem to have much chance of happening at this point.

Our OL seems to be playing below their capabilities. I'm not sure why, but far too many times I'm seeing OL players get manhandled and beat without even holding the point for a moment.

The team needs to make more of a commitment to the run game this offseason...in camps, in the draft, in a planning capacity.

I think it's a little early to say there's not much chance. This is effectively his rookie year, and Benson was initially the starter. There's still a chance he could develop.

[pbmax]

The problem is that Starks is almost completely worthless if you're not handing him the ball, as he neither blocks nor catches particularly well.

Green, at least, can catch the ball and is a willing blocker in blitz pickup.

On first and second down, that is exactly what they need though pass pro is an issue. I say this knowing full well the joys and frustrations of the Starks bandwagon. I have personally been on and off and on again 27 times.

It would take him 3 weeks just to remember how to not dance at the line. But after that three weeks, something fun might happen if Rodgers is still upright.

[mission]

I really want to like Alex Green, but as of right now, he's better at not breaking tackles than Ryan Grant.

See what I did? Yeah, he needs to run like a 225 LB back and man up. Might be coming off a knee injury and a bad run blocking oline, but I saw Benson at least show some wiggle and lower half power.

[ND72]

Here's my opinion...he's essentially a rookie. He's running at one speed right now instead of slowing down or looking for cuts, right now he's running. I like the kid a lot. He's very raw, but he has had flashes. Our OL has not helped him, and at times the running play hasn't helped either.

[Pugger]

If indeed Lang has an arm issue maybe we should put EDS in there and let Lang rest for a couple of weeks. I'd keep Lang active just in case tho.

[King Friday]

I think it's a little early to say there's not much chance. This is effectively his rookie year, and Benson was initially the starter. There's still a chance he could develop.

Since when do RBs "develop"? It is probably the easiest position to transition into from college. It isn't like there are a ton of RBs who suddenly spring up out of nowhere their 4th year in the league.

Either you can run the ball or you can't. I'm just not seeing any spark in Green as a runner...and the good runners ALL show at least some kind of spark from day one, even if it isn't consistent.

[Guiness]

Since when do RBs "develop"? It is probably the easiest position to transition into from college. It isn't like there are a ton of RBs who suddenly spring up out of nowhere their 4th year in the league.

Either you can run the ball or you can't. I'm just not seeing any spark in Green as a runner...and the good runners ALL show at least some kind of spark from day one, even if it isn't consistent.

You're right, the nature of the position is why it is generally a matter of 'instant gratification' after you draft one. Young and able to take the pounding is good, and smarts aren't required - RBs have the lower average Wonderlific score. Which brings up another interesting point, why isn't it easier to select the RBs who are going to be successful at the NFL level, if they theoretically have all the tools, and don't need to learn much when they move up?

But there are instances when RBs do need some time. Ahman Green is our own example. Priest Holmes was actually in his fifth season in the league before breaking out, after languishing in Baltimore behind such illustrius backs such as Bam Morris and Errict Rhett!

I think there's a chance Greene could still be a solid runner. As has been mentioned here often, he ran through a lot of big holes in college, and has to learn to run through small seams.

[Fritz]

You're right, the nature of the position is why it is generally a matter of 'instant gratification' after you draft one. Young and able to take the pounding is good, and smarts aren't required - RBs have the lower average Wonderlific score. Which brings up another interesting point, why isn't it easier to select the RBs who are going to be successful at the NFL level, if they theoretically have all the tools, and don't need to learn much when they move up?

But there are instances when RBs do need some time. Ahman Green is our own example. Priest Holmes was actually in his fifth season in the league before breaking out, after languishing in Baltimore behind such illustrius backs such as Bam Morris and Errict Rhett!

I think there's a chance Greene could still be a solid runner. As has been mentioned here often, he ran through a lot of big holes in college, and has to learn to run through small seams.

You like your running backs the way many men like their women.

And, Cleft, any modern will tell you that sometimes hitting the improper hole is good, too.

[sharpe1027]

This list of Green Bay RBs that looked similar to (or even better than) Green is so long and depressing that I don't have any faith in him developing into anything much. I hope I'm wrong.

[Fritz]

This list of Green Bay RBs that looked similar to (or even better than) Green is so long and depressing that I don't have any faith in him developing into anything much. I hope I'm wrong.

I must say, that trade of Ahman Green to the Packers was probably a good inkling as to why Mike Holmgren is a much better coach than he is GM. He traded a promising young running back, Green, because he had a fumbling problem. A coach makes a trade like that - show his team he won't tolerate fumbling? - whereas a GM tells his coach to coach 'em up and if the kid can't get it fixed, then we'll dump him.

And the guy that Wolf traded was the second of three consecutive d-backs in the first three rounds that Wolf drafted that year to try to check Randy Moss. The first was Antuan/Antwan Edwards, the third was Mike Mckenzie, and this guy - Fred something or other, I think? was the third. He was seen as the guy with maybe the best coverage skills, but he wasn't very big or physical. Then he got hurt, I believe, playing pick up basketball, and never did pan out.

[run pMc]

and this guy - Fred something or other, I think? was the third.

Fred Vinson. Thought he had Achilles tendon or foot tendon issues or something. Couldn't stay on the field. Pretty good trade by Wolf to get Ahman.

I think the lack of production in the running game can be blamed on both the OL and Green. Benson's production does show that Green has a lot to learn...am thinking as he gets more experience he'll settle down and learn to make better reads. Either that, or he'll never pan out. (Duh.) Wouldn't be surprised if TT goes offense-heavy in the draft with at least 2 OL, a WR and a RB.

I agree with most posters that Starks is overdue to get more carries. JAX stopping our run game with 6 defenders in the box is pretty depressing. The NFCN defenses must have loved that.