For those worried about our running game

[Cdnfavrefan]

I was looking through a gameprogram from the 96 SB and found something interesting that gives me a little hope our running game can be fixed in midseason. In 96 after week 13 we averaged only 105 yards a game (16th) and had only 3 running scores. As the weather turned though in the last 6 games before the SB they averaged 152 yards a game and 9 rushing scores. It said the improvement was mainly due to an insired offensive line and a simplified running game.
It's great if we can keep winning on Brett's arm but it's also encouraging to see things can be improved when needed instead of waiting for next year. Let's just hope the end result is the same op:

 

[nleidigh319]

ya me also

 

[brennan1884]

well cross that bridge as the time comes, wins are wins for now....

 

[agopackgo4]

When did we have a better line? 96 or now?

 

[brennan1884]

id say 96 but thats a shot in the dark.....

 

[all about da packers]

When did we have a better line? 96 or now?

You know our O-line has also lacked consistency personnel wise this year...

There are a lot of reasons we should improve our running game: one RB to get bulk of carries, more stability in our o-line rotation, coaches stressing home run blocking nuances, continued improvement of Hall, and better chemistry among QB/RB/O-Line/FB.

The general point I think Cdnfavrefan is making is that it isn't time to panic, even if we don't have a 100 yard rusher/total rushing yards this week against the Chiefs.

 

[tromadz]

im not worried about the run game.

you wanna be worried about something? be worried about superaids.

 

[all about da packers]

^ Or rats.


But another point: Grant is a first year player (not a rookie, but this is still his first year as a member of a 53 man roster, so technically he is a first year player) that has been in our system for about 8 weeks. There is no way he's mastered our offense yet, so Grant will continue to improve from that standpoint as well.

 

[Greg C.]

I remember how that O-line in '96 came together toward the end of the season and started to dominate. Before that they had been fairly average. They were anchored by a good, tough veteran at center, Frank Winters, and then there were three talented younger players: guards Adam Timmerman and Aaron Taylor and right tackle Earl Dotson. But they had some problems at left tackle during the first half of the season, with Ken Ruettgers trying unsuccessfully to come back from an injury and first-round rookie bust Jon Michels failing to get the job done. What really solidified the line was when an old journeyman player, Bruce Wilkerson, stepped in at left tackle and played great. I've always considered him to be the unsung hero of the Super Bowl team.

Our current O-line is probably just as good in pass protection as that one, if not better, but not nearly as good at run blocking. But run blocking is such a chemistry thing that I'm hoping things will somehow gel like they did for that '96 team.

 

[de_real_deal]

im not worried about the run game.

you wanna be worried about something? be worried about superaids.

lol

 

[cheesey]

As long as we are winning, THAT is what matters. If we have a guy run for 150 yards and we lose, that would make our run stats better. But would give us a "L". Yes, i hope we can get the running game going soon. But i also hope we don't quit doing what works to try to make a running game. I have seen that from past coaches. They want to push the run so bad, that it ends up costing games.

 

[Cdnfavrefan]

I do believe we didn't have a 1000 yard rusher that year either. As long as we got a guy hot going into the playoffs as we did that year with Levens

 

[brennan1884]

the only number that ever means anything is wins

 

[dhpackr]

does anybody know what the deal with Brandon Jackson?

is he healthy, and can he play?

 

[bozz_2006]

i read on yahoo that since Wynn is out, Jackson would probably be back in the lineup and get a few carries, behind Grant, with Morency coming in on 3rd downs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8317/news;_ylt=AiL06yZN1pkjmkJmtLPC.F7.uLYF

 

[dhpackr]

Jackson would probably be back in the lineup and get a few carries,

Well I hope Brandon does something w/the opportunity, or eventually he may get a certain label.

 

[all about da packers]

I thought I read that Mo would be the back-up with B-Jack becoming the third down back.

Since B-Jack has shown something in the passing game, such a move would make sense. I know a lot of reporters have talked about B-Jack being weak in pass protection, but so far in the games that he has played he's been solid.

The only mistake by B-Jack that led to a problem was when B-Jack was out of position and couldn't get a strong enough block in the Eagles game on the play where Favre threw an INT on a pass intended for Franks.

I think Favre has said there was miscommunication between him and Franks, so the INT can be attributed to that more-so than B-Jack's breakdown.

Otherwise, B-Jack has done what he was supposed to in pass pro, which would lead me to believe word of his short falling in that area has been exaggerated.

 

[dhpackr]

so is that Brandon's role on the Packers
third down back?

 

[all about da packers]

Not sure. Reading B-Jack's interview from Friday, it seem like he has been told what his role will be with the team, but he wasn't exactly forthcoming in explicitly saying "I will be a third down back or the back-up".

 

[Cdnfavrefan]

Fine by me. So far if he's our starter that could be bad news. At least he can't say he wasn't given a chance. Not like I'm giving up on him I just think he may be a project in progress

 

[cheesey]

Thats the problem when a rookie is thrown into the fire. Some guys can't handle it right away. Now that he's had some time off, he may not feuch pressure and might perform better.

 

[Zombieslayer]

im not worried about the run game.

you wanna be worried about something? be worried about superaids.

Superaids is highly unlikely. It's currently a theory, if AIDS can be transmitted by something other than blood. Currently, the virus that causes AIDS is very weak and dies within a minute of being exposed to air. I don't see it happening, and most scientists don't either.

Now, if you really want to worry about something, worry about the upcoming zombie plague.

As for our running game, it will be fine. We found our RB. I have a feeling next year, we'll have Grant, Wynn, and Morency in that order, and we'll dump B-Jack and we might pick up someone else or we might not.

 

[Zombieslayer]

Jackson would probably be back in the lineup and get a few carries,

Well I hope Brandon does something w/the opportunity, or eventually he may get a certain label.

DH - I have a feeling he'll get that certain label.

However, I'm happy with Grant. If Wynn stays healthy, we'll have 2 good backs. That's the big "if" I'm concerned about.

 

[yourout]

I am more worried about the Oline. We are average at best.

Need to upgrade it next year.

 

[Zombieslayer]

I am more worried about the Oline. We are average at best.

Need to upgrade it next year.

Agreed. I think Grant and Wynn are good RBs, but our OL isn't opening up holes for them. Grant had only 55 yards today on 19 carries because he was fighting tooth and nail for each yard. I only saw 2 or 3 holes the whole game.