Morency Adds 10 Pounds

[woodbuck27]

http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/21/beefcake-packers-morency-adds-10-pounds/

Beefcake! Packers' Morency Adds 10 Pounds

Posted May 21st 2007 7:09PM by Dan Benton

Packers' running back Vernand Morency is coming into camp knowing that he has every opportunity to win the starting job. He helped his cause this offseason by adding 10 pounds of "lean muscle" and is now up to 220.

Those additional 10 pounds could make a world of difference when it comes to shedding would-be tacklers. So long as his speed isn't negatively affected, he could legitimately improve on his 4.5 yards per carry average.

The only real obstacle Morency faces from now to the start of the season is winning the job.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson has gotten rave reviews, while there have also been a few reports that the Packers could use a running back by committee.

[Partial]

I told ya guys. 1000+ yards for Morency. 400+ for JAckson. They're going to have a good running attack and the loss of Green won't be big by any means.

[the_idle_threat]

I'm hoping for RBBC. It's terrible for fantasy football, but seems to work just fine in the real world. Just ask any of the NFC or AFC championship teams last year. Or for that matter, the '96 Packers.

[Joemailman]

Re: Morency Adds 10 Pounds

http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/21/beefcake-packers-morency-adds-10-pounds/

Beefcake! Packers' Morency Adds 10 Pounds

Posted May 21st 2007 7:09PM by Dan Benton

Packers' running back Vernand Morency is coming into camp knowing that he has every opportunity to win the starting job. He helped his cause this offseason by adding 10 pounds of "lean muscle" and is now up to 220.

Those additional 10 pounds could make a world of difference when it comes to shedding would-be tacklers. So long as his speed isn't negatively affected, he could legitimately improve on his 4.5 yards per carry average.

The only real obstacle Morency faces from now to the start of the season is winning the job.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson has gotten rave reviews, while there have also been a few reports that the Packers could use a running back by committee.

I'm optimistic about Jackson, but where did he get "rave reviews" from? From a 3-day mini-camp with a bunch of other rookies?

[cpk1994]

Re: Morency Adds 10 Pounds

http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/21/beefcake-packers-morency-adds-10-pounds/

Beefcake! Packers' Morency Adds 10 Pounds

Posted May 21st 2007 7:09PM by Dan Benton

Packers' running back Vernand Morency is coming into camp knowing that he has every opportunity to win the starting job. He helped his cause this offseason by adding 10 pounds of "lean muscle" and is now up to 220.

Those additional 10 pounds could make a world of difference when it comes to shedding would-be tacklers. So long as his speed isn't negatively affected, he could legitimately improve on his 4.5 yards per carry average.

The only real obstacle Morency faces from now to the start of the season is winning the job.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson has gotten rave reviews, while there have also been a few reports that the Packers could use a running back by committee.

Maybe they cherry picked posts from this site. :P

I'm optimistic about Jackson, but where did he get "rave reviews" from? From a 3-day mini-camp with a bunch of other rookies?

[Guiness]

I'm hoping for the best for him as well. I do hope this 10lb will help him finish his runs with more 'pop'.

But Woody - improve on his 4.5yds/carry average? I hope you mean 'maintain that over the season'? If he improved on that over the course of a season, LT's looking in the rear view mirror!!!

[wist43]

If Morency can prove to be an every down back (300+ carries) who can lower his shoulder and get the tough yd... then, I'll gladly eat my words.

But, heretofor, Morency has been a 3rd down back who plays like a 3rd down back. He's a slasher who runs small and rather than trying to hit up in there and move the pile for the tough yard, he'll dance in the backfield until someone grabs him, and then he goes down pretty easily - that's who Vernand Morency is.

Morency is a good 3rd down back, but that's all he is.

I'd much rather see Jackson win the starting job and have Morency come off the bench... if you've got Vernand Morency as your starter at RB, you've got major problems.

[retailguy]

I told ya guys. 1000+ yards for Morency. 400+ for JAckson. They're going to have a good running attack and the loss of Green won't be big by any means.

I'll remind you of this.... :P

[Patler]

He's a slasher who runs small and rather than trying to hit up in there and move the pile for the tough yard, he'll dance in the backfield until someone grabs him, and then he goes down pretty easily - that's who Vernand Morency is.

I have no idea where you got that opinion from. He is not a dancer. He is basically a one cut runner who shows some patience. But he is not a dancer by any means.

If you expect him to run as aggressively as Green, or with as much "attitude" as Green, you will be disppointed. But then again only a select few in the NFL do run like Green. Green was a luxury in that regard, which may be difficult to replace. But you can still have a successful running game with other types of runners.

I don't know how much of a load Morrency can handle, but in his last year of college he had 258 carries for 1,474 yards in 11 games (23.5 carries/game). That projects to 375 over a 16 game schedule. Obviously you can't equate the rigors of the NFL with the NCAA, nor can you assume he can maintain the same pace over 16 games that he did for 11, but the fact remains that he did carry a fair amount as a starter.

[wist43]

I don't think having a back that can lower his shoulder and move the pile is a "luxury"... I think it's a necessity. Which is why in the draft I was hoping for a bigger player, Dwight Wright comes to mind... I use him as an example b/c of his size/speed combo.

Jackson on the other hand, seems to be a carbon copy of Morency... I don't see either as having the ability to get the tough yd.

For Morency, all I have to go on is last years tape... he's shifty, quick, makes decisive cuts, and goes... what he does not do, is play a physical game.

Simply b/c he gained some weight doesn't mean he's going to change his running style... and besides, those added pounds are likely to melt off w/in the first couple weeks of camp.

[gureski]

I'm not sure Morency is the, lower the shoulders and run through guys kind of runner. He doesn't have to be to succeed. The added weight will help but I'm on this kids bandwagon, if not the first guy to jump on the bandwagon going back to the start of free agency. I think he's got a chance to succeed. I don't see him as being our power back though. The Packers need to find a short-yardage back. With the make-up of their roster, I think they'll try Jackson in that role first. They don't seem to have room for a power back.

[Patler]

I don't think having a back that can lower his shoulder and move the pile is a "luxury"... I think it's a necessity. Which is why in the draft I was hoping for a bigger player, Dwight Wright comes to mind... I use him as an example b/c of his size/speed combo.

Jackson on the other hand, seems to be a carbon copy of Morency... I don't see either as having the ability to get the tough yd.

For Morency, all I have to go on is last years tape... he's shifty, quick, makes decisive cuts, and goes... what he does not do, is play a physical game.

Simply b/c he gained some weight doesn't mean he's going to change his running style... and besides, those added pounds are likely to melt off w/in the first couple weeks of camp.

I meant "luxury" in the sense that a back with power and speed, like Green, doesn't come around all the time. It's great when you have one, but without one you can make do in other ways.

I pretty much agree with your description of Morrency, which is why I said he is not a dancer. In my understanding, a "dancer" is an indecisive runner, a runner who shuns contact. Morrency is decisive, and doesn't seem to fear contact, but a bruising runner he is not! I agree the weight gain, like Ferguson's, could be very short-lived when the season rolls around, although some can build muscle and keep it. That's usually younger bodies than Morrency or Ferguson.

I haven't seen enough of Jackson to have any feel for how similar or dissimilar he is to Morrency. Third and 2 could be entirely passing downs.

[Partial]

I told ya guys. 1000+ yards for Morency. 400+ for JAckson. They're going to have a good running attack and the loss of Green won't be big by any means.

I'll remind you of this.... :P

Clinton Portis my friend.

[Partial]

I don't think having a back that can lower his shoulder and move the pile is a "luxury"... I think it's a necessity. Which is why in the draft I was hoping for a bigger player, Dwight Wright comes to mind... I use him as an example b/c of his size/speed combo.

Jackson on the other hand, seems to be a carbon copy of Morency... I don't see either as having the ability to get the tough yd.

For Morency, all I have to go on is last years tape... he's shifty, quick, makes decisive cuts, and goes... what he does not do, is play a physical game.

Simply b/c he gained some weight doesn't mean he's going to change his running style... and besides, those added pounds are likely to melt off w/in the first couple weeks of camp.

You make it seem like it would be hell to have a Barry Sanders or Gale Sayers. Clinton Portis and Reggie Bush are both good, solid players and they don't push piles back.

[wist43]

I don't think having a back that can lower his shoulder and move the pile is a "luxury"... I think it's a necessity. Which is why in the draft I was hoping for a bigger player, Dwight Wright comes to mind... I use him as an example b/c of his size/speed combo.

Jackson on the other hand, seems to be a carbon copy of Morency... I don't see either as having the ability to get the tough yd.

For Morency, all I have to go on is last years tape... he's shifty, quick, makes decisive cuts, and goes... what he does not do, is play a physical game.

Simply b/c he gained some weight doesn't mean he's going to change his running style... and besides, those added pounds are likely to melt off w/in the first couple weeks of camp.

You make it seem like it would be hell to have a Barry Sanders or Gale Sayers. Clinton Portis and Reggie Bush are both good, solid players and they don't push piles back.

Sanders and Sayers are both HOF'ers, and they broke the mold when they made those guys... Portis is a fairly tough runner, and Bush is just an all around weapon.

I don't think it's even legal to utter Morency's name in with those other guys.