The Morency Mystery- Pete Prisco Aricle

[Fred's Slacks]

I spotted fundamental things that I learned in Junior High that he failed to do on a number of occaisions.

You could say that about 80% of the players in the league. Most of them don't carry the ball correctly, including Green. I loved Green as a running back because he ran hard but one thing I didn't get was why he always carried the ball in the same arm. I know some coaches actually coach the players to carry the ball in their "strong" arm but I think that's ridiculous. Then when they don't carry it with the nose up, they have fumbling issues and don't understand why. Tiki showed the entire league how you fix fumbling problems but no one else seems to care. Besides that, you'll see players take false steps all the time, guys who body catch or guys who throw off the wrong foot (Favre).

There are some good players in this league who by some standards are terrible fundamentaly. It all depends on who they learned from and who you learned from.

That said, I am not sure what to think about Morency this year, but I am glad he worked hard this offseason and I think he showed some flashes of big play ability last year. Whether that can carry over into being a solid starter we'll have to wait to see. I really liked Brandon Jackson coming into the draft so I was very excited when we picked him. Hopefully between the two we will be okay.

[HarveyWallbangers]

That said, I am not sure what to think about Morency this year, but I am glad he worked hard this offseason and I think he showed some flashes of big play ability last year. Weather that can carry over into being a solid starter we'll have to wait to see. I really liked Brandon Jackson coming into the draft so I was very excited when we picked him. Hopefully between the two we will be okay.

I'm right there with you.

[BallHawk]

Put it this way, I wouldn't be surprised if Morency rushed for 1,000 yards, nor would I be surprised if he rushed for only 400.

I think, if he sorts everything out, or at least most of it out, in training camp, he can be an impact player on offense.

However, I also really do like Brandon Jackson.

[BallHawk]

I expect either 600 passes from Favre, or 600 punts, or both.

At least that would mean our defense is doing the job.

[CaliforniaCheez]

Let's hope the coaching staff can teach him
how to hold his hands when taking a handoff,
not to grab it from Brett but wait until Bett puts the ball in his gut,
and that his footwork improves.

[Partial]

I have my green and gold goggles on and have complete faith in our rb by comittee. I expect Jackson to be a good relief pitcher, and Morency to put up some big numbers this year.

Here's why:

1. It's his contract year
2. He is slippery and seems to have a knack for making the big run
3. He was never given a chance to be the man in texas, when he was given the opportunity here he responded with fairly big games.
4. I love the packers!

[HarveyWallbangers]

Let's hope the coaching staff can teach him
how to hold his hands when taking a handoff, not to grab it from Brett but wait until Bett puts the ball in his gut, and that his footwork improves.

Morency has 2 fumbles and 1 lost fumble in 169 career touches. One on a handoff. Hard to see that as a big problem.

[Fred's Slacks]

I have my green and gold goggles on and have complete faith in our rb by comittee. I expect Jackson to be a good relief pitcher, and Morency to put up some big numbers this year.

Here's why:

1. It's his contract year
2. He is slippery and seems to have a knack for making the big run
3. He was never given a chance to be the man in texas, when he was given the opportunity here he responded with fairly big games.
4. I love the packers!

All good reasons!

[The Leaper]

I like Morency's running style in this scheme. He hits the hole extremely hard once he makes a decision, and that is exactly what you are supposed to do. For me, the kid has the talent and heart to put up very good numbers...the only question is durability.

Wist...why the NEED for a physical runner? If a guy can run for 1400 yards like he's going through the tulips, who the hell cares? Sure, I admit we need to have a physical presence from someone who can pick up the tough yard when we need it. However, I would actually PREFER my 1st/2nd down back to be more of a gamebreaker anyway, especially with our lack of a game breaking WR to open up the field.

To be brutally honest...the difference between Holmes, Johnson, Green, Parker and Morency isn't their running style. It is the FACT that when these other guys were in their prime they were behind a GREAT line. Just about any back in the NFL can look like a physical runner when their OL opens up gaping holes that allows them to fully accelerate into the second level of the defense.

[wist43]

Leaper, that's a huge stretch you're making there by saying that the only difference between Morency and that list of pro bowlers is the OL.

Yes, those guys run/ran behind great lines, and GB's line is junk, but Morency couldn't carry those guys jocks...

It would seem that the only people who really believe that Morency can carry the load are TT, MM, and the drunkest of Kool-Aid drinkers... I haven't seen a single national writer, scout, or analyst step up to the plate and state that they think GB's RB problems are solved.

Puff pieces aside (it is the offseason afterall), Morency has proven nothing and he simply doesn't have the look of an every down RB. Put some tapes in from last year... the next tough yard he gains will be his first. After the Packers fail repeatedly on 3rd and short, I suspect the jig will be up with Morency, and the Packers will be back at the drawing board next year.

The '07 RB situation is looking more and more like a redo of the '05 OL situation, i.e. "we can trot some slugs out there and be fine"...

You know TT - never, ever address needs, and quantity over quality. PBA, and in 10 years we'll have all the holes filled!!!

[Partial]

Leaper, that's a huge stretch you're making there by saying that the only difference between Morency and that list of pro bowlers is the OL.

Yes, those guys run/ran behind great lines, and GB's line is junk, but Morency couldn't carry those guys jocks...

It would seem that the only people who really believe that Morency can carry the load are TT, MM, and the drunkest of Kool-Aid drinkers... I haven't seen a single national writer, scout, or analyst step up to the plate and state that they think GB's RB problems are solved.

Puff pieces aside (it is the offseason afterall), Morency has proven nothing and he simply doesn't have the look of an every down RB. Put some tapes in from last year... the next tough yard he gains will be his first. After the Packers fail repeatedly on 3rd and short, I suspect the jig will be up with Morency, and the Packers will be back at the drawing board next year.

The '07 RB situation is looking more and more like a redo of the '05 OL situation, i.e. "we can trot some slugs out there and be fine"...

You know TT - never, ever address needs, and quantity over quality. PBA, and in 10 years we'll have all the holes filled!!!

Funny how Priest Holmes couldn't carry a mediocre running backs jock when he was in Baltimore, but when he got behind a special, rare line he set the league on fire.

[BallHawk]

You know TT - never, ever address needs, and quantity over quality. PBA, and in 10 years we'll have all the holes filled!!!

So if Ted never addresses for needs, I'm just assuming that, picking a RB in the 2nd round was just throwing a dart at a board and seeing what player it landed on, right?

[The Leaper]

Leaper, that's a huge stretch you're making there by saying that the only difference between Morency and that list of pro bowlers is the OL.

Is it such a leap?

I think you GREATLY OVERESTIMATE the difference in talent between very good backs and good backs in the NFL. I don't consider Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson or Willie Parker to be great backs. They are very good...and were lucky enough to play behind GREAT lines that made them look better than they were. Most NFL RBs are plenty capable of putting up huge numbers behind a great OL and threatening passing game...it is just that few actually have a great OL and threatening passing game to work with.

That is precisely why Holmes struggled to be consistent in Baltimore...then flourished in KC. Did his talent level change? Of course not. His surrounding cast did.

Morency has proven nothing and he simply doesn't have the look of an every down RB. Put some tapes in from last year... the next tough yard he gains will be his first.

He hasn't been given a chance at being an every down back...so you have nothing to really prove your opinion. For all you know, he may surprise and do well in short yardage. None of us know until he is given a chance.

Even if he isn't a great short yardage back...AGAIN, WHO CARES? Why is there this need to have one RB that can do everything? Do you honestly realize just how rare a RB like that is? Most RBs can't do everything.

In the ZBS, a powerful runner isn't necessarily the preference as your featured runner. You want a guy who can read the blocks, find a hole, and accelerate through it rapidly. If he does happen to also be a great power runner as well (ala Green) then count your blessings. Holmes would be a poor back in a ZBS. So would Johnson.

You keep 5 or 6 backs on your roster...why can't one of the other guys help in short yardage? Why does Morency or Jackson have to be-all-end-all at the position? Besides...short yardage again is far more about your OL than it is your RB. You can have Jim Brown back there to pick up a yard...if you are running right and the right side of the OL all get shoved backward 3 yards on the snap, you likely aren't converting the first down.

BOTTOM LINE: The running game always depends on the presence of a great OL...unless you have a great RB, which are exceedingly rare. RB play in the NFL often is a barometer of the strength of the OL play, not the greatness of the RB...which is why guys can switch teams and see such a signficant difference in production, both positive and negative.

[The Leaper]

Funny how Priest Holmes couldn't carry a mediocre running backs jock when he was in Baltimore, but when he got behind a special, rare line he set the league on fire.

Precisely.

Morency played behind one of the worst lines in the NFL in Houston. He played behind an average line last year...and one that was learning a new scheme. Despite that, he has a career 4.4 ypc average.

Sure, he remains unproven in terms of consistency over time. But to claim he is completely useless going forward when his stats are pretty decent in the limited time he has been given a chance is illogical.

[wist43]

You know TT - never, ever address needs, and quantity over quality. PBA, and in 10 years we'll have all the holes filled!!!

So if Ted never addresses for needs, I'm just assuming that, picking a RB in the 2nd round was just throwing a dart at a board and seeing what player it landed on, right?

I can only assume that TT did, in fact, throw a dart at the board, b/c while Jackson plays a position of need, he appears to be a carbon copy of Morency - and of course, I see Morency as a situational guy. So drafting another situational guy doesn't fill the need, does it???

I don't know, maybe two situational guys adds up to one good player.