Since Aaron Rodgers was named the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, the Packers offense has thrived on an elite passing game.
A year ago, Jordy Nelson tore his ACL in a meaningless preseason game at Heinz Field, which resulted in a conservative offense that lacked the big plays that had made them special for years. To make matters worse, Eddie Lacy famously checked in fat and out of shape, and the defense was not able to step up enough for the Pack to reclaim their division crown.
During the offseason, all the noise was in the passing game, but the biggest problem for the Packers is their lack of depth at running back. For the past few years, the Packers have only employed two running backs, Eddie Lacy and James Starks, and one fullback, John Kuhn (2007-2015) and now Aaron Ripkowski.
Green Bay Packers Lack of Depth at Running Back
Eddie Lacy and James Starks form a nice complementary duo with Lacy checking in as the workhorse between the tackle power runner and Starks as the change of pace third down back. A very good duo that has proven they can get the job done, barring injuries. But, life is never perfect. James Starks suffered a meniscus injury against the New York Giants after watching his teammate Lacy suffer a bruised ankle in the same game.
Herein lies the problem of only carrying two running backs. To make matters worse, only one of them is truly capable of running the ball effectively on a consistent basis. Yet the coaching staff did not address that situation in the offseason whether it was through the draft or free agency.
Draft
The Packers used four picks on defense and three on offense, including two linemen. The only skills position player drafted was Trevor Davis, (who had himself a coming out party at Atlanta). But, they failed to address a glaring need; the running back position. This team does not need an Ezekiel Elliott, although it would be nice, but a solid player that could have been drafted in the later rounds.
The Denver Broncos selected Devontae Booker in the fourth round. He has gained 298 yards on 70 carries this season, scored two touchdowns, and added about 100 yards receiving on 14 receptions.
The Oakland Raiders selected DeAndre Washington in the fifth round. He has 267 rushing yards on 52 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per carry.
The Chicago Bears selected Jordan Howard in the fifth round. This season, he has accumulated 352 yards on 73 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. He has also scored two touchdowns and has one-100 yards game.
All of them are better players than James Starks has ever been, and at this point, ever will.
Free Agents
Over the course of the off-season, many notable veteran free agents running backs were either cut or traded to newer greener pastures. Many of which could have not only filled some void in Green Bay but taken the running game to the next level.
Those players would have brought leadership, experience, and a monstrous chip on their shoulders to prove to their former teams they made a colossal mistake in letting them go.
On top of that, they can be utilized in all facets of the game. They are three downs backs that can run between the tackles, catch out of the backfield, and score in goal line situations. They are also great blockers in pass protection.
The first one is DeMarco Murray. His stock nosedived rather dramatically after his abysmal season in Philadelphia, but the Oklahoma Sooners alumni are storming back to relevancy in Nashville, Tennessee. Murray is second in the NFL in rushing yards (756) and tied for third in touchdowns with eight. The 28-year old Las Vegas native could have helped the team in the running game, passing game, and as a blocker. Could you imagine the kind of havoc he would wreak upon Dallas earlier this year?
Matt Forte is one of the greatest backs in the history of the Chicago Bears. A franchise that has employed players named Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, and Bronko Nagurski to name a few. Chicago was trying to clean house (trading away Brandon Marshall, Martellus Bennett and letting Devin Hester sign elsewhere) from the Marc Trestman era. This past offseason, it was Forte’s turn. The 30-year old running back signed in New York, but the Packers never even attempted to bring him in. If Forte could muster at least 900 yards in each of his first seven seasons in Chicago and fell short by two yards to make it eight, can you imagine what he would have done behind the offensive line in Green Bay? Forte is currently tied for fifth place on the NFL scoring list with seven touchdowns.
They would have probably demanded a lot of money, but either one of them could have put the Packers back into the Super Bowl. Super Bowl wins often means hefty paydays, the win-win scenario. If you don’t win it all, you can always reformulate your contract, or ask for a trade.
Impact
General Manager Ted Thompson is known to stay away from signing veterans, so it is understandable that the Packers did not make a move on either one of those two backs, but what would the Packers give for either one of them now? The biggest reason Green Bay lost to Atlanta was the non-existent running game, while losses to the Cowboys and Vikings could have been avoided with a running game.
Controlling time of possession, and having fresh runners in the fourth quarter, oftentimes translates into wins. Even in the win against Detroit, Green Bay cruelly missed a capable running back to eat the clock away in the second half.
Following the Sunday Night Football loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings, head coach Mike McCarthy said, we need to run the ball more. Thus the next day, former Bills and Saints running back, C.J. Spiller was brought in for a workout. But, Spiller was not kept on the Packers roster as McCarthy promoted defensive lineman Brian Price from the practice squad.
Spiller would have been a solid pickup for this year at least. He has experience running in a run-first system in Buffalo (2010-1014), and a pass-first system in New Orleans, last year. He struggled mightily to run in New Orleans, but the Packers offensive line is a top-five unit this season. The fact that Green Bay does not have anyone capable of running the ball right now and that unlike Sean Payton, Mike McCarthy does not overreact to poor plays, Spiller could have been an ideal in-season signing that bridges the gap until Lacy is healthy enough to be back on the field.
So, for now, the Packers are stuck with Don Jackson, Aaron Ripkowski and wide receivers out of the backfield. But, this is a situation that could have been avoided had they taken the time to address it, but the coaching staff got caught up in the aerial attack and forgot the run.
Main Photo:
