Eddieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Cheesehead Craig]

No, no, no. You cannot win in the NFL without running the ball.

You cannot win championships without running the ball.

You cannot play defense without running the ball.

You cannot win in cold weather without running the ball.

You cannot post at PackerRats without running the ball.

You cannot disagree with someone without running the ball.

You cannot start a Fire Slocum thread without running the ball.

Wait, scratch that last one.

[Freak Out]

You cannot post in the Dear Nutz thread without running the ball.

[woodbuck27]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/55883/nfc-north-draft-analysis-5

NFC North draft analysis

Apr 27 ... 6:25 PM ET

By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com

BEST MOVE

"The Green Bay Packers have gone 43 games without a 100-yard rusher, the longest active streak in the NFL by more than twice. Their running backs have combined for 12 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons, the fewest in the NFL, and their average of 3.8 yards per rush over that span is tied for last in the league.

After years of subordinating this segment of their roster, the Packers reacted aggressively in 2013. They drafted not one but two of the top running backs available. Alabama's Eddie Lacy came in the second round (No. 61 overall), and UCLA's Johnathan Franklin came in the fourth round (No. 125 overall)."

Comment woodbuck27:

For a complete analysis by this football writer please hit the LINK. There are interesting comments available here on all four NFCN teams.

GO PACK GO !

[MadScientist]

How long? Just how very long we've waited for that to return with some sembalance of consistency. A true two pronged attack. Control with a solid running game. A running game and protection for a QB that got sacked 51 fricken' times last season.

A running game to pile over on 3rd and 1-2 yards. A running game that's reliable on 4th and short. A running game for 'clock control/management.

This is the absolute worst:

51 QB SACKS.

Packer fans that imagine ... it's OK. Going to be OK.

That's simply outrageous....unacceptable for Aaron Rodgers to go on enduring.

Yea, Rodgers was on his back faster and more frequently than a Vivid girl. Going into this draft I was hoping for a stud OL to be picked early to help keep the franchise on his feet. However, one OL guy could only fix one problem. Maybe, if this kid can pick up 4+ yards regularly against a 7-man front, he will have the effect of slowing the rush more than any one OL pick could have.


Campen, if adding the supposed best back in the draft fixes the pass protection and run blocking failures of the last several years, I will change my signature to say what a good coach you are. Otherwise resign in disgrace as the shittiest line coach in the league.

[pbmax]

Let's remember that some of those sacks are intentional by Rodgers. He holds on to the ball and is willing to take the sack than to throw the ball into a bad spot or throw it away.

Even better protection is only going to get that number to 30 and no lower without Rodger's cooperation.

[rbaloha1]

Let's remember that some of those sacks are intentional by Rodgers. He holds on to the ball and is willing to take the sack than to throw the ball into a bad spot or throw it away.

Even better protection is only going to get that number to 30 and no lower without Rodger's cooperation.

It was a much bigger problem earlier in his career.

The lack of a running game allow d ends to aim for a-rod too often instead of respecting the run.

[gbgary]

you can not run the ball without running the ball.

[Carolina_Packer]

you can not run the ball without running the ball.

You just blew my mind, man!

[RashanGary]

Let's not forget, we were getting 4.4YPC out of Ryan Grant for a few seasons. As soon as he went down, Brandon Jackson was around the 3.6 range. Starks came in with fresh legs at the end of the SB season and infused the running game. Last year Harris did something similar for a little stretch.

We haven't really had a running back we could count on since Ryan Grant went down. Teams have figured out they don't have to commit much to stop our running game. They've sold out to stop AR, and we haven't been able to counter with anything.

If Lacy comes in and makes teams respect our running game again, Rodgers sacks will go down. The pass rush will slow down, the coverages AR sees will change. . . Those two things will allow AR more time, and more open pass catchers to get rid of the ball to. Also, our line should be better this year than it was last year. Newhouse, if he starts, is a year further in his development. If someone beats him, that means that person is better than Newhouse last year. Lang, EDS and Sitton will get in a groove. Bulaga is going to be back. Barclay showed promise. . .

Between the running game and what is likely to be a more stable situation on the OL, AR should have fewer sacks. Until he changes the way he plays, he'll never have single digit sacks like Favre did in 2007 with the Spitz/Colledge OL. He'll probably never have 20 INT's like Favre has had many times either. It's just his style of play.

I think you'd be crazy to think AR's sack totals will be close to last years though. Everything points to that getting better.

[gbgary]

You just blew my mind, man!

lol

[rbaloha1]

Let's remember that some of those sacks are intentional by Rodgers. He holds on to the ball and is willing to take the sack than to throw the ball into a bad spot or throw it away.

Even better protection is only going to get that number to 30 and no lower without Rodger's cooperation.

MM does not preach this. Always maintained that a-rod rather take a sack than throw an incompletion due completion percentage. The highly competitive a-rod thinks every pass should be completed. Stats conscience.

On the other hand, Favre could care less about stats.

[bobblehead]

No, no, no. You cannot win in the NFL without running the ball.

You cannot win championships without running the ball.

You cannot play defense without running the ball.

You cannot win in cold weather without running the ball.

Its funny that I agree with you more than any other poster on PR bar none, but this one point we can't agree. I think the only reason we won the superbowl was James Starks heating up at the right time and the best D GB has seen since Reggie.

Balance is the key.

You cannot win championships without running the ball (and passing).

You cannot play defense without running the ball (and passing).

You cannot win in cold weather without running the ball (and passing).

The greatest weapon in the NFL is a great QB, but if you can't run the ball effectively and play sound D....well, see the playoffs last 2 seasons. Our D bled yards and we were forced to abandon the run too early thus making Rodgers less effective....although I still think he played a great game against the Giants.

[bobblehead]

Let's not forget, we were getting 4.4YPC out of Ryan Grant for a few seasons. As soon as he went down, Brandon Jackson was around the 3.6 range. Starks came in with fresh legs at the end of the SB season and infused the running game. Last year Harris did something similar for a little stretch.

We haven't really had a running back we could count on since Ryan Grant went down. Teams have figured out they don't have to commit much to stop our running game. They've sold out to stop AR, and we haven't been able to counter with anything.

If Lacy comes in and makes teams respect our running game again, Rodgers sacks will go down. The pass rush will slow down, the coverages AR sees will change. . . Those two things will allow AR more time, and more open pass catchers to get rid of the ball to. Also, our line should be better this year than it was last year. Newhouse, if he starts, is a year further in his development. If someone beats him, that means that person is better than Newhouse last year. Lang, EDS and Sitton will get in a groove. Bulaga is going to be back. Barclay showed promise. . .

Between the running game and what is likely to be a more stable situation on the OL, AR should have fewer sacks. Until he changes the way he plays, he'll never have single digit sacks like Favre did in 2007 with the Spitz/Colledge OL. He'll probably never have 20 INT's like Favre has had many times either. It's just his style of play.

I think you'd be crazy to think AR's sack totals will be close to last years though. Everything points to that getting better.

And I agree with you second most often (when you are sober :P)

[bobblehead]

MM does not preach this. Always maintained that a-rod rather take a sack than throw an incompletion due completion percentage. The highly competitive a-rod thinks every pass should be completed. Stats conscience.

On the other hand, Favre could care less about stats.

Any evidence to back that up?? I think these are just your biases with little basis. I think ARod holds the ball too long to effectively throw it away most of the time, just the way he plays. I think Favre never wanted to take a sack as he saw it as a personal failure...just the way he plays. Both have pros and cons. For my particular taste, I like the Arod approach as I abhor interceptions. They cost you downs (plays) and field position which most casual fans don't notice. Arod taking a sack costs 5-7 yards of field position. Just my 2 cents. Both will be in the Hall someday.

[3irty1]

I view running the ball as something we have to do, not something we should want to do. The better we are at running the ball, the less we'll have to do it. Running is an underdog strategy because it shortens the game. What we should want to do is give the best QB in the NFL the most opportunities to be leverage the fact that he's the best. Running then ball is still crucial to making that possible so I'm thrilled we're finally adjusting to the defenses that have been adjusting to us.