The Runningback Situation

[BananaMan]

Players on the GB roster:

FB:
A.J. Cooper
Vonta Leach
William Henderson
Ben Brown

Here we have a problem. Henderson is a lock, but since he's up there in age, we need another FB to do the dirty work. Will they still keep Leach considering he has hands of stone? Niether Brown nor Cooper has shown much. I was really pulling for Brown. If he shows good blocking in TC and the final preseason games, I think he could knock off Leach for the other spot.

HB:
Samkon Gado
Arliss Beach
Noah Herron
Ahman Green
Najeh Davenport


I think all five of our HBs are good players. But there's no way in hell we can keep five. Four would be pushing it a lot, especially since we are keeping two FBs. So, who to keep?

Green is a lock. That leaves two spots. One would think Davenport would make it, and they couldn't possibly cut Gado. But Herron has been decent, and Beach has surprised and looked pretty dang good.

The one possiblity that could happen is if one of the RBs gets hurt, they could exaggerate the injury and put him on IR. Same with FB.

But if that doesn't happen (I hate to make it sound like that'd be a bad thing, I don't wish injury on anyone), then the coaches will be faced with a hell of a decision. Trade? I think Davenport would be the prime person to trade. But I don't know if I see it in Thompson.

Let's hear some opinions, and it should be fun to watch the final two games.

[pack4to84]

FB
Vonta Leach (too good of a blocker to let go)

William Henderson (not a good blocker anymore, he whiffed on a Davenport run loss of 1 yard)

RB
Green
Gado
Beach (I think last night after Beach ran good they brought back Herron into the game ran a few plays then put Beach back out there again showed to me Beach is ahead of Herron now.)

cut/trade Davenport (ran into his line all night not seeing the holes.)

I think TT will stay with the thought of FUTURE which Davenport isn't. Beach showed quick burst through the line and seeing the hole develope. Davenport just kept running into the OLine all night.

[BananaMan]

FB
Vonta Leach (too good of a blocker to let go)

William Henderson (not a good blocker anymore, he whiffed on a Davenport run loss of 1 yard)

RB
Green
Gado
Beach (I think last night after Beach ran good they brought back Herron into the game ran a few plays then put Beach back there again showed to me Beach is ahead of Herron now.)

cut/trade Davenport (ran into his line all night not seeing the holes.)

I think TT will stay with the thought of FUTURE which Davenport isn't. Beach showed quick burst through the line and seeing the hole develope. Davenport just kept running in the OLine all night.

Sounds good. I think you gotta trade Davenport at all costs, even if it's for just a 7th rounder. He's too good to just cut, IMO.

[Bretsky]

HB:
Samkon Gado
Arliss Beach
Noah Herron
Ahman Green
Najeh Davenport


They will only keep two fullbacks so most likely only three from above will be with us.

Green, one would think, is a lock.

Then there is Davenport, Gado, Herron, and Beach


The only one above with any value in a deal is Davenport (one would think he'd draw a 5-7th round pick).

If they do not make a deal, Davenport will make the team.

So then we have two from Gado, Herron, and Beach.

To me, Herron is dependable, but average with little upside. He is gone.

Then it's a tough call between Gado and Beach.

Beach is looking too good in the preseason while Gado struggles to excel in this offense.

If you'd ask me today, I'd say we keep Green, Da Crapper, and Beach.

But if they can get some value for Da Crapper the smartest thing IMO would be to trade him for a draft pick or depth at a position of weakness.


B

[digitaldean]

FB
Vonta Leach (too good of a blocker to let go)

cut/trade Davenport (ran into his line all night not seeing the holes.)

I think TT will stay with the thought of FUTURE which Davenport isn't. Beach showed quick burst through the line and seeing the hole develope. Davenport just kept running into the OLine all night.

If Leach stays it's because of his blocking only. He has hands of stone catching balls out of the backfield.

Davenport looked like Darrell Thompson (80s back for GB) running into the line. Anybody can run up the blockers back. Beach seems to have a heckuva spark in him. Hits the holes fast.

With Gado's problem with the ZBS, he may be odd man out.

Herron looked OK.

[vince]

I like the idea that has been forwarded of keeping Davenport as the 2nd FB, with Henderson. Then you can keep Green, Beach, and Gado.

Herron is toast...

You might as well put Colledge in at FB if you're going to keep Leach. All he can do is block.

[Joemailman]

This may be way out there, but here goes...I think you keep just one fullback which is Henderson. The fullback isn't used as much as a lead blocker in this offense, so you can get by with Henderson. You can put Brown or Cooper on practice squad in case Henderson gets hurt. This allows you to keep four runningbacks. I think you try to trade Davenport if you can, otherwise cut him. Green, Gado, Herron and Beach all have running styles better suited to zone blocking.

[flipnout91]

We need to sit Davenport this weekend. We know what he is cappable (nothing special anymore) Give Beach and Noah a look in next weeks game. Gado proved he can do it last year.

[pack4to84]

Packers have to see what Beach and Herron can do with the starters.

[digitaldean]

This may be way out there, but here goes...I think you keep just one fullback which is Henderson. The fullback isn't used as much as a lead blocker in this offense, so you can get by with Henderson. You can put Brown or Cooper on practice squad in case Henderson gets hurt. This allows you to keep four runningbacks. I think you try to trade Davenport if you can, otherwise cut him. Green, Gado, Herron and Beach all have running styles better suited to zone blocking.

I think Henderson being out 3-6 weeks cuts that plan down.


Gado has had problems with ZBS. Leach can ONLY block so that limits the screen passes out the backfield Hendu did so well.

Before Hendu got hurt, I would've pretty much agreed with your plan.

[Joemailman]

Yeah, Henderson's injury changes everything. They'll have to carry 2 FB's now unless they put Henderson on IR. It will be interesting to see if they can find room for 6 backs on the roster. If not, they'll have some tough choices to make at RB.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Green, Gado as the HBs
Henderson as the FB
Davenport, Herron as guys that could possibly play both positions.

I'd say Leach gets cut, and Beach goes to the practice squad--unless he continues to shine. It's possible, but I don't think likely, that he beats out Da Poop for a spot.

[FavreChild]

We need to sit Davenport this weekend. We know what he is cappable (nothing special anymore) Give Beach and Noah a look in next weeks game. Gado proved he can do it last year.

Agreed.

'Tis a much better problem to have to many back to choose from than too few.

Like the possibility of keeping Beach for the practice squad, if we can pull it off. Although I'm sure we are all a little skittish about the back situation after the injury bug last year.

[woodbuck27]

FB
Vonta Leach (too good of a blocker to let go)

William Henderson (not a good blocker anymore, he whiffed on a Davenport run loss of 1 yard)

RB
Green
Gado
Beach (I think last night after Beach ran good they brought back Herron into the game ran a few plays then put Beach back out there again showed to me Beach is ahead of Herron now.)

cut/trade Davenport (ran into his line all night not seeing the holes.)

I think TT will stay with the thought of FUTURE which Davenport isn't. Beach showed quick burst through the line and seeing the hole develope. Davenport just kept running into the OLine all night.

Lately I've been trying to factor Ted Thompson into all my thinking and that isn't possible. What does Ted Thompson want? Does he want the now or the tomorrow?

Ahhh screw him. What am I seing?

I have been thinking . What to do now that William Henderson is out (six weeks) as far as the start of the season, and OUR 53-man. He seems to be missing assignments on blocks which is not him. He has great hands and knows how to move the chains, get us a first down in the crunch. Yet he may be out longer than 6 weeks.

Vonta Leach, can't catch a beachball but he's what we need as a blocker. We keep him. OUR QB has to be protected as a top prority.

Turn to RB.

Boys have we got questions here.

Ahman Green will be OUR designated #1 RB. After that it's cloudy.

What's left?

Najeh Davenport.

He's played in 39 games in 4 seasons with only 2 starts. 217 carries for 1068 yard (4.9 avg.) Receiving only 17 receptions for 107 yards ( 6.3 yard avg.). Najeh also has value as a kick returner. In those 39 games he returned 46 kicks for 1110 yards ( 24.1 yard avg.) Najeh's coming off (a foot?) injury? He's injury prone as he's a straight ahead guy.He's not lived up to my hopes giving his stature and the potential I felt he had.

Sankon Gado.

He's in my mind still unproven but he's a fan favourite. He works hard (seems v.dedicated to helping his team),he's strong,he's inteligent, but will he do good enough in OUR ZBS? He hasn't demonstrated that he'll get there but I believe he will. He'll not be Barry Sanders or Walter Payton Packer fans, but he'll be a serviceable RB. Too early to determine his real value. Too soon to trade him.Ted will certainly want him to prove his real value. He makes the final Roster along with Ahman Green.

Noah Herron and Arliss Beach.

Both Herron and Beach need these two preseason games to allow for a more fair assessment. Trouble is.The Bears are waiting to arrive in Lambeau just three weeks from today.

Too early to be all over Arliss Beach yet.

Ask yourselves. Just how HUGE is Ahman Green to us today?

When I study OUR RB/FB situation, and look at OUR second tier of talent at WR and then draw on what I see as depth at DT.

That smacks of possible trade scenario's.

Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy have some headscratching to do when it comes to selecting at RB/FB.

Today I'd go right here:

RB's: Green,Gado, Herron and Beach (options to cut one or keep both)

FBs: Vonta Leach (William Henderson on the IR) I'd be looking to use both Davenport and Herron at FB.

Really what are A.J. Cooper and Ben Brown doing? Neither makes OUR Roster.

Summarizing Today:

RB = * GREEN and * GADO and # ARLISS BEACH

FB = *LEACH and ** DAVENPORT or *** HERRON

Those in DARK have made the Roster.

* no cut or trade

# Number three or Reserve RB

** Number two RB or #2 FB and possible trade bait

*** Number three or reserve RB and a candidate at FB but he's not going to be cut.

GO PACKERS ! FAITH in 2006 !!

[MuttnJeff]

Keep: Green, Gado, Beach

Davenport has no trade value, although he might make a roster somewhere after getting cut.

Anything can happen at fullback. Henderson is over the hill, Leach can't catch a cold. A player currently on another team will be on the roster.