"Run Game Never Hits Ground"

[the_idle_threat]

What will happen at Denver? Denver has the #32 run defense, giving up 187 YPG, and 5.2 YPC. Packers have the #32 rushing offense, averaging 67 YPG and 3.3 YPC. Should be a classic struggle.

It's the classic "stoppable force vs. movable object." Something has to give!

[Rastak]

What will happen at Denver? Denver has the #32 run defense, giving up 187 YPG, and 5.2 YPC. Packers have the #32 rushing offense, averaging 67 YPG and 3.3 YPC. Should be a classic struggle.

It's the classic "stoppable force vs. movable object." Something has to give!

Classic....I was thinking the same thing but couldn't find the words like you did.....

[RashanGary]

I hate to be a blind optimist, but I think a part of our problem is coachable. The finess Olineman and the below average RB's are not going away this year. However, the blocking can get better.

I just want to go from dead last to somewhere on the low end of average based on improved blocking.


As far as our RB's are concerned, we don't have one who is strong enough and explosive enough to really carry the load. Wynn is strong enough, but he lacks suddeness to the hole. Jackson is lost and Morency goes down way too easy. Grant has not impressed in any way.

Short term, the best we can hope for is just below average.

Long term, Jackson can become a prototypical 3rd down back with the skills to attack the perimeter with tosses and short passes. Wynn has everything you want in a RB, including excellent instincts. However, he's lacking an explosion that a good year of training and conditioning can cure. At one point, when I was at my peak of exercising (30 mins per day , I'm lazy), I was focusing on explosion exercises where I would do squats, but leap with as much explosion as possible. I would also use weights and explode again. When I played sports, I was suprised at how quick and powerfull I was. I never went nuts on weights, but it's amazing how much your body can do if you push it. Anyway, Wynn seems like a guy who's just scratching the surface of what his body can do. He looks like a running back, but his body just isn't there yet. Long term, he might be the answer.


As far as this year goes, it's just hope and pray because anything short of an act of god or perfect coaching isn't going to get this cruddy run game on track unless below average is on track and even that is a long shot right now.

[Bretsky]

I think it will continue to be serviceable by virtue of the passing game being good. By keeping people back to cover the receivers, it will open up the running game. Now the question is will MM run the ball often? The key is commitment.

Continue ? I don't think it's been serviceable. If we had serviceable we'd have been able to run against Da Bears when they dared us to in the second half

[Harlan Huckleby]

Wynn is strong enough, but he lacks suddeness to the hole. Jackson is lost and Morency goes down way too easy. Grant has not impressed in any way.

Sounds like the four weak sisters.

Wynn has everything you want in a RB, including excellent instincts. However, he's lacking an explosion that a good year of training and conditioning can cure.

I don't quite see this, he looks explosive to me, just not real fast.

I think the best offseason work for the Packers would be for Wynn and Collins to play catch on the beach.

He looks like a running back, but his body just isn't there yet. Long term, he might be the answer.

I think he's already there, or at least not far off, as a runner. He's going to be good enough to be a starter, but not a special back. Another Davenport, as somebody else mentioned.

Speaking of runners: I think an under-reported factor in Adrian PEterson's success is the superiority of the Vikings offensive line. I don't think he would be nearly so successful on the Packers.

[superfan]

Good running teams have success by establishing a rhythm as the game progresses. The Ahman Green teams were frequently able to find their rhythm. This team, as it stands now, is 0 for 6 in this area.

There are many factors that go into a successful running attack - a good RB, solid run blocking, effective scheme, inspired play calling, the threat of a passing game. Not to mention the competency of the opposing run defense. If you can be successful with 3 or 4 of these factors, you can be effective. The problem is that we have failed in all areas at various points of the season.

If GB can play a complete game in the other facets of the offense, they can still have a good ground attack despite lacking an elite, or even good, RB.

[GrnBay007]

Good running teams have success by establishing a rhythm as the game progresses. The Ahman Green teams were frequently able to find their rhythm.

I was watching 2003 highlights tonight. Man I miss watching someone like Ahman run the ball the way he did.

[superfan]

I was watching 2003 highlights tonight. Man I miss watching someone like Ahman run the ball the way he did.

I was, and remain, a big Ahman fan, but I'm not convinced the 2007 version of Batman would be much more successful this season than what we currently have, even if he was healthy. I would expect the running game to be better, but still below average. I blame the line first, lack of commitment to the running game, second.

Regardless, best case scenario is that if we still had Ahman we might have one less loss than we have now. Not that big of a difference - yet.

[vince]

I just checked the up-to-date rushing statistics, and was surprised to find out that the Packers (3.3) are now better than the Chicago Bears (3.2), Houston Texans (3.1), and the Kansas City Chiefs (3.1) in Rushing Yards per Attempt.

Not that it's anything to brag about...