Rodgers and sack time.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com...nd-game/22693/

NFL Today: The Golden Age Of The Ground Game

Cold, Hard Football Facts for May 09, 2013

" But those same rules that have made it so easy to pass the ball have also opened up things underneath for running backs, too. Much like air superiority allowed Allied infantry in World War II or the Gulf War to dominate the battlefield below, passing superiority has given running backs a chance to overrun defenses like never before.

In fact, it’s never been easier to run the football than it is today. Conversely, it's never been tougher to play run defense." Fr. LINK above

GO PACKERS !

Comment woodbuck27:

Yet ... is this not a full circle subject? Where does the running game really stand with the passing game?

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/the-50-club-best-rushing-teams-nfl-history/22686/

The 5.0 Club: Best Rushing Teams in NFL History

Cold, Hard Football Facts for May 09, 2013

" Of the 42 teams that averaged 5.0 YPA or more, only four won championships, and two of those were in the AFL. Many of the greatest rushing teams in history were downright bad. Note, for example, the 2011 Panthers or 2011 Vikings.

The NFL was, is and always will be a league dominated by teams that rule the skies, not the ground." Fr. LINK above

GO PACK GO !

[mraynrand]

Is it possible that the way that Ahman Green flamed out in Houston may have been a factor in him (possibly) being somewhat or forgotten?

why would that make any difference regarding his time in Green Bay?

[woodbuck27]

why would that make any difference regarding his time in Green Bay?

It didn't to me as I'm a Green Bay Packer fan.

PACKERS!

[mraynrand]

Much like air superiority allowed Allied infantry in World War II or the Gulf War to dominate the battlefield below, passing superiority has given running backs a chance to overrun defenses like never before.

In fact, it’s never been easier to run the football than it is today. Conversely, it's never been tougher to play run defense.

if true, this makes the Packers inability to run the ball even more pathetic. The reality is that most defenses are content to give a collection of running plays if they can stop the huge passing plays. That's essentially how defenses treated the Packer offense last year - who cares if you get 100 yards on the ground if you can't get quick, long passing TDs? Even run heavy teams have to have a defense and some passing capability to be successful. In today's NFL, running is mostly easier because teams are far less focused on defending it.

[Upnorth]

if true, this makes the Packers inability to run the ball even more pathetic. The reality is that most defenses are content to give a collection of running plays if they can stop the huge passing plays. That's essentially how defenses treated the Packer offense last year - who cares if you get 100 yards on the ground if you can't get quick, long passing TDs? Even run heavy teams have to have a defense and some passing capability to be successful. In today's NFL, running is mostly easier because teams are far less focused on defending it.

Considering how great our passing o is, I think we must have a historically bad rush O given leauge trends. I realize we are not to much below league average, however outside of NO, Den and NE what teams have as devestating a passing game as we do???

[Pugger]

And there was also very effective Dorsey Levens and an above average Edgar Bennet. Neither superstars, but all 3 better than we have had since.

Yes, these 2 and Ahman were better than any RB who played with Rodgers up to this year. Let's hope the kids we brought in this spring will fix that.

[Pugger]

I wonder if the problem of not being able to run the ball was a combination of not having a superior back and the emphasis on pass blocking over run blocking in practice. Heck, Benson made our run game look almost respectable last season before he injured his foot and that poor guy can't find another job now.

[pbmax]

if true, this makes the Packers inability to run the ball even more pathetic.

Agree with this. You can't get more favorable conditions, with everyone in nickel at the drop of a hat. Our offense looks like San Fran during the Derek Loville days. I can't believe it took me this long to realize that.

[mraynrand]

Agree with this. You can't get more favorable conditions, with everyone in nickel at the drop of a hat. Our offense looks like San Fran during the Derek Loville days. I can't believe it took me this long to realize that.

I remember when the Colts visited GB in 2008. GB starts in a nickel, and there just wasn't anything the Colts could do about it. There at least has to be some proficiency at running the ball to make teams pay for ignoring the threat to run. Hopefully the Packers will have that fixed this year.

[woodbuck27]

Yes, these 2 and Ahman were better than any RB who played with Rodgers up to this year. Let's hope the kids we brought in this spring will fix that.

Ryan Grant. He was decent after Aaron Rodgers became our starter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Grant#Green_Bay_Packers

" After a somewhat disappointing season in 2008, where Grant rushed for only four touchdowns and 3.9 yards per carry (did eclipse 1,000 rushing yards), Grant had a bounce-back year in 2009, where he rushed for 1,253 yards, third in the NFC, and 11 touchdowns, second in the NFC. He also added 4.4 yards per carry.

For the 2010 Pro Bowl, Grant was named a back-up alternate, along with teammates Chad Clifton, A.J. Hawk, and Clay Matthews." fr. LINK above

PACKERS !

[Pugger]

Wood, I think Green, Bennett and Levens were better than Grant.

[Smeefers]

Grant was a better back behind Favre than he was behind Rodgers. Mostly because Defenses were terrified Favre was going to make them pay one way or another. Man, I remember that year, Favre carries the team on his back, then out of nowhere we pick up some nobody off the Giants practice squad after 13 of our running backs get hurt and the dude blows up huge. Grant had a good run in GB with a pair of 1000 yard seasons where he really was a good back. A shame he got hurt. Never was the same after that.

That being said, Grant was dependable. He was never really a break away threat. He was a one cut guy who'd go down on the first hit maybe 65% of the time. He had some talent but Ahman Green he was not. I'd actually compare his *effectiveness favorably to Edgar Bennett.

*Not his style, stats or anything else.

[pbmax]

Grant was a better back behind Favre than he was behind Rodgers. Mostly because Defenses were terrified Favre was going to make them pay one way or another. Man, I remember that year, Favre carries the team on his back, then out of nowhere we pick up some nobody off the Giants practice squad after 13 of our running backs get hurt and the dude blows up huge. Grant had a good run in GB with a pair of 1000 yard seasons where he really was a good back. A shame he got hurt. Never was the same after that.

That being said, Grant was dependable. He was never really a break away threat. He was a one cut guy who'd go down on the first hit maybe 65% of the time. He had some talent but Ahman Green he was not. I'd actually compare his *effectiveness favorably to Edgar Bennett.

*Not his style, stats or anything else.

Not early in the season. Favre and the offense really struggled out of the gate. Defense carried the team in the first half of the season. Then the offense started to come on and so did Grant.

Grant did have several good years, it just ended too early to really help Rodgers.

[Joemailman]

Not early in the season. Favre and the offense really struggled out of the gate. Defense carried the team in the first half of the season. Then the offense started to come on and so did Grant.

Grant did have several good years, it just ended too early to really help Rodgers.

Favre struggled Game 1, but then he started lighting it up. He ripped apart Giants and Chargers in weeks 2 & 3. It was all passing though, as the running game didn't kick in until Grant entered the lineup.

[pbmax]

Favre struggled Game 1, but then he started lighting it up. He ripped apart Giants and Chargers in weeks 2 & 3. It was all passing though, as the running game didn't kick in until Grant entered the lineup.

3 of first 6 games he was blehh. 2 of them were cringeworthy. The Giants game was the one shining moment for DeShawn Wynn. Grant took over in Game 6.

                                              Pass Pass   Pass Pass Pass Pass  Pass  Pass  Pass Rush Rush  Rush Rush
Rk    G       Date    Age  Tm  Opp  Result GS  Cmp  Att   Cmp%  Yds   TD  Int  Rate   Y/A  AY/A  Att  Yds   Y/A   TD
1     1 2007-09-09 37-334 GNB  PHI W 16-13  *   23   42 54.76%  206    0    1  [B]58.2[/B]  4.90  3.83    1   -2 -2.00    0
2     2 2007-09-16 37-341 GNB  NYG W 35-13  *   29   38 76.32%  286    3    1 [B]112.4[/B]  7.53  7.92    2   -2 -1.00    0
3     3 2007-09-23 37-348 GNB  SDG W 31-24  *   28   45 62.22%  369    3    0 [B]110.3[/B]  8.20  9.53    2    1  0.50    0
4     4 2007-09-30 37-355 GNB  MIN W 23-16  *   32   45 71.11%  344    2    0 [B]108.0[/B]  7.64  8.53    4    1  0.25    0
5     5 2007-10-07 37-362 GNB  CHI L 20-27  *   29   40 72.50%  322    1    2  [B]83.5[/B]  8.05  6.30    0    0          0
6     6 2007-10-14 38-004 GNB  WAS W 17-14  *   19   37 51.35%  188    0    2  [B]43.5[/B]  5.08  2.65    3    8  2.67    0
7     7 2007-10-29 38-019 GNB  DEN W 19-13  *   21   27 77.78%  331    2    0 142.4 12.26 13.74    2   -8 -4.00    0
8     8 2007-11-04 38-025 GNB  KAN W 33-22  *   24   34 70.59%  360    2    2 100.1 10.59  9.12    2   -1 -0.50    0
9     9 2007-11-11 38-032 GNB  MIN  W 34-0  *   33   46 71.74%  351    3    0 115.4  7.63  8.93    1    1  1.00    0
10   10 2007-11-18 38-039 GNB  CAR W 31-17  *   22   30 73.33%  218    3    0 126.8  7.27  9.27    3   -3 -1.00    0
11   11 2007-11-22 38-043 GNB  DET W 37-26  *   31   41 75.61%  381    3    0 128.2  9.29 10.76    2   -1 -0.50    0
12   12 2007-11-29 38-050 GNB  DAL L 27-37  *    5   14 35.71%   56    0    2   8.9  4.00 -2.43    0    0          0
13   13 2007-12-09 38-060 GNB  OAK  W 38-7  *   15   23 65.22%  266    2    1 115.5 11.57 11.35    0    0          0
14   14 2007-12-16 38-067 GNB  STL W 33-14  *   19   30 63.33%  225    2    2  80.6  7.50  5.83    3   -3 -1.00    0
15   15 2007-12-23 38-074 GNB  CHI  L 7-35  *   17   32 53.13%  153    0    2  40.2  4.78  1.97    3    0  0.00    0
16   16 2007-12-30 38-081 GNB  DET W 34-13  *    9   11 81.82%   99    2    0 143.7  9.00 12.64    1   21 21.00    0
          16 Games                             356  535 66.54% 4155   28   15  95.7  7.77  7.55   29   12  0.41    0