Steven Jackson rumors

Point taken, but the Lions can't stop the run anyway. We still have time to get this thing corrected. But, IMO, by late November/ early December, we need to have a run game that yields consistent production. I think by then he'll have picked up most if not all of it.

He had 18 carries against NO and 20 against Chicago. Numbers were low in only first game and last game when he got hurt.


5 @IND L 27-30 7 20 2.9 9 0 2 21 10.5 18 0 -- --
4 NO W 28-27 18 84 4.7 9 0 4 22 5.5 11 0 -- --
3 @SEA L 12-14 17 45 2.6 9 1 4 19 4.8 8 0 1 0
2 CHI W 23-10 20 81 4.1 11 0 4 35 8.8 17 0 -- --
1 SF L 22-30 9 18 2.0 4 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

You also have to remember, Benson joined the Packers on Aug. 13th, 10 days later he had 6 carries for 38 yards against the Bengals. In the regular season he had 71 carries before he got hurt. (not 8 in the first 4 weeks) It wasn't just learning the playbook that kept the Packers from going full out with Benson, it was conditioning, trust and still believing they had something in their other backs. Please don't use "learning the playbook" as a reason the Packers won't trade for Jackson at this point in the season. He or anyone can learn enough to have an impact. Bottom line if the Packers don't trade for him, TT didn't want to give up any of his draft choices for a maybe. All I am saying is....I think the maybe is worth a 3rd rounder for Jackson.

It doesn't matter who the RB is when the OL can't block. Can't open up anything close to a hole 95% of the run plays. And that's not against 8-men fronts either, since they fear our passing game.

Campen is more of a problem than Benson, Green, Starks, Kuhn, etc.

We went to a Zone blocking scheme, and then lost the guys who knew how to teach it properly. Those guys we have don't know how to do it.... I think we've all seen the repeat where the RB gets it and before he gets to the line, there's at least one LB & one DL right there at the LOS.

It doesn't matter who the RB is when the OL can't block. Can't open up anything close to a hole 95% of the run plays. And that's not against 8-men fronts either, since they fear our passing game.

Campen is more of a problem than Benson, Green, Starks, Kuhn, etc.

We went to a Zone blocking scheme, and then lost the guys who knew how to teach it properly. Those guys we have don't know how to do it.... I think we've all seen the repeat where the RB gets it and before he gets to the line, there's at least one LB & one DL right there at the LOS.

As reported by the AP:

Coach Jeff Fisher did his best to quash persistent rumors, saying Tuesday that the Rams aren't shopping Jackson and have not been getting calls about him, either.

"The Steven Jackson rumors are rumors," Fisher said. "He's our running back and we're not calling around, nor are we getting calls for that matter. Put that to rest."

Or this is what needs to be said when you cannot get the deal you want. In any event, the story is dead.

LTF, I certainly didn't get you were including preseason nor apparently did Pokerbrat2000. Lots of guys don't play or play very little in preseason. In fact a lot of starters don't even suit up for the last preseason game. Also, Benson not playing in preseason was more of a conditioning thing rather than unfamiliarity with the offense as I recall.

Of course Fisher is going to say that, if the Rams can't get a deal done, how does it make them look if they say they are trying to get rid of Jackson and don't. This story isn't dead until after tomorrow. If nothing else, it brings us Packer fans "closer or further" apart in discussing how WE would run the team

If you haven't read it yet, Pete Dougherty wrote a great article on this subject yesterday. I am a newbie here and was trying to search the rules as to if I can post the link to it or not. If I can and you want to read it, let me know and I will post. Bottom line here is TT and his lack of desire to give up draft choices. He wouldn't give up a 3rd (which happened to be Alex Green) for a 24 year old Marshawn Lynch back in 2010.....so why would he do the same for an almost done Jackson. According to Pete and I agree, the only way he does this, is if McCarthy puts the heat on him by saying "We have to have a runner, and we need to get somebody in here."

I'm in that camp, Benson was getting it done with the same O line, Green isn't. At best, Benson might be back for the Playoffs (if we make it to the playoffs).....but at what level? Oh what a 1-2 punch with Jackson and Benson running through the playoffs! Make the move TT, if there is a move to be made for Jackson or even DeAngelo Williams.

Even the best running backs can make good yardage behind a suspect o-line...just look at Barry sanders for example. Green nor Starks have the talent to make this very suspect o-line look at least average. If you bring in a guy who can get his own yards and demand the respect of extra attention from the defense it makes life easier for #12. I'm sure he would love to be able to rely on a running game so he's not constantly in 3rd and long. As good as Rodgers is it's hard for any qb to be effective when he's constantly behind on the down and distance.

I couldn't agree with you more Rodell......did you see what happened on Sunday when Rashad Jennings was hit or surrounded by tacklers, he still picked up an additional 1-4 yards, it was driving me nuts! When Green was getting hit, he was going backwards or falling down! If you can't carry the pile like a Benson.....then bounce outside at first contact, Green lacks this. Not as big of a knock on Green as it is the Packers running back coach Alex Van Pelt.

Are the Packers going to be effective on offense without a running game in January, when the road to the Superbowl will be running through cities like Chicago, New York and maybe Green Bay?

I agree Green looks miscast as the workhorse RB but I don't agree Starks would be if he's healthy and can stay healthy. Starks at least has/had the ability to fall forward upon contact, if Green had that ability he still wouldn't be the answer but he would have been better. I also think Starks runs with more power and determination than Green has shown so far.

Thanks for taking the time to clarify that LTF. Here is the link to the Pete Dougherty article. I think it was very well done on the Steven Jackson debate

http://www.packersnews.com/article/20121030/PKR01/121030060/Green-Bay-Packers-trade-for-running-back-doesn-t-seem-likely?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

I wouldn't get too excited about Benson and having him come back anytime sooner then the Playoffs, if at all this year. The Jets put Santonio Holmes on IR (not IRE like Benson) with the same injury and he suffered it before Benson. For a running back, most experts say expect 6 months for full recovery not 6 weeks. But hey, I believe in miracles!

If we don't make a trade for a back by 3 pm tomorrow, all we can hope for is for Starks to show us his old form or Alex Green to be fitted for a seeing eye dog, to get us through the rest of the regular season and probably any playoffs.

It was clear to me you included preseason...no mind reading required.

Yes, I put a lot of faith in Pete, he knows his stuff. As far as cap space, that is always a complicated formula and leaves a lot of people, reporters included guessing. Deals can be made and numbers can be worked out. All I can sit here and think is that the Packers are truly a legit Super Bowl team but are missing the one crucial part, a running game, more specific a running back. If they were 3-5 we wouldn't be discussing this, but they are 5-3 and have looked superior at times, with the exception of a running game. So if I am TT, which thank god I am not, and I can swing a deal for a proven back that doesn't bankrupt the Packers and only costs a 3rd rounder, I go for it. We are not a team in the middle of rebuilding and in dire need to stockpile draft choices. As I previously wrote, in the last 14 years we have had three 3rd rounders actually "pan out", none of whom are players we couldn't do without today (Finley, Jones and Burnett). Although, I am loving Jones this year! Anyways, TT is putting way too much value on a 3rd rounder and what he could potentially bring. This all being said with the big "IF" we could get Jackson or DeAngelo for a 3rd rounder.