My question is this, with the passing game that you have why would you ever run the ball except for 3rd and short? Face it you have no running game, or at least one good enough that McCarthy will stay with it.

The point is that right now the run game is anemic. If there was a simple way to improve it it would improve the team immensely. At the moment the run game is nowhere near good enough to even count on on third and short.

This is one of the biggest issues this team faces right now. When its 3rd and 2, I am TERRIFIED that McCarthy is about to run the ball. I should not have to be afraid of running the ball on 3rd and 2.

I look forward to him calling a run play. I can think of maybe 2 or 3 times where we have even lined up to try and get a 3rd and short by running.

I'm terrified he's gonna run it too.

Then again I'm even MORE terrified, he's gonna throw deep off play action. LOL

For right now, I'm putting Green's struggles on the OL in front of him. That was a good article on the subject.

And Green is very dynamic in the open field.

I don't buy this idea of saving Starks as a "secret weapon" for the playoffs. Mike McCarthy does seem to do that with various plays and stuff during the season. In fact, all this weird bullshit on ST seems like he's fucking with the heads of coordinators around the league so they'll have plenty to think about in the post season.

BUT, keep in mind, Benson SHOULD (although he has a history of problems with that foot) be back for the playoffs.

I like Starks, but I think he's in the doghouse with Arodge/MM, for whatever reason.

same.

what happened to a good ol fashion slant?

Teams have film on this offense from last year.. they as well know that we have in the recent pass been dependent on the short passing game for short yardage.. so guess what, they are scheming to take that away.

Sitting the corners on the inside shoulder, clogging up the middle of the field with extra coverage.. etc.. they are daring us to run the ball, and if not, leaving the over a little more open, thus why we are taking shots down the field, because it looks like the best option available.

Basically it is all a trickle down from us in the past not running the ball and currently struggling to run it effectively. With repetitions, we will start running the ball more effectively. But even us running the ball and struggling it is helping the offense. Sure we threw a clunker out there last week.. but the prior two weeks were tight.

Basically.. I think we are over reacting at this point, we have won three straight games with balance. That balance even helped last week in securing the win.. but because we aren't clipping off 4 yards per carry, everyone is assuming that the run isn't helping. It is still, but not as much as it could be yet. That is a work in progress, the bright spot for me, Mike McCarthy is still sticking with it and that will pay dividends later in this season.

We have run the slant since the beginning days of Favre. A real slant, those that, Rice ran, and those that Favre threw. They were one step drop throws. That can't be done out of the shotgun because of the time for the ball to get to QB. So the slants have been extended to 3-4 yards then slant which gives pass rush more time, and coverage more tim. Corners couldn't play inside on those real slants because each of them had a slant and a slant and go option. If the CB cheated inside, they just lofted a quick pass over the Cheating CB head, they had to play straight up, and read and try to jump the route risking the big gain. We need to get back to that.

Fine and dandy once at LEAST Jordy Nelson is healthy (preferably Jennings as well), but I don't have much faith in anybody but Cobb getting open routinely, and if he does he's going to be doubleteamed.

I thought something might be funky with regards to Green and his OL blocking in front of him:

"Green Bay Packers RB Alex Green needs to be more patient with the team's zone-blocking scheme, according to running backs coach Alex Van Pelt. "Slow it down," Van Pelt said. "He's such a fast-twitch guy that a lot of times the blocks haven't quite developed yet. But we're getting there. Just to slow our pace down, tempo, just track down, and then once he sees it, accelerate and explode through the hole." Green has just a 2.4-yards-per-carry average in the last three games on 64 carries."

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/hotw/NFL?page=0#ixzz2B5XQhBGk

Hey, hopefully the kid shows a bit more patience and puts a good running game together Sunday, and for the rest of the season. That would be awesome. It really is a beautiful thing watching a back who knows how to let his blocking develop in front of him, then burst into the hole and the open field. Maybe this little bit of coaching does the trick.

If it doesn't, I think Starks will be fine getting more of a chance to carry this team into the playoffs.

Been watching a lot of film break down and I find the blocking to be at least average. Not much room to run but Alex Green has not shown any vision what so ever. That and he's very easy to take down around the line of scrimmage. He's good in open space but he's gotta get there.

Yeah, the blocking hasn't been great, for sure. However, Green has been running into spaces that look to not be part of the play design. Man, if both the line blocks better, and Green gets a better feel for how to hit it, that would be beautiful.

Perhaps he is running to where the play is designed to go. The scheme is to run to an area, and look for the gap and go. Most of the bad runs I have seen, look like the holes are opening behind him or to late.

There was an article in one of the papers this week that he is not being patient enough for the holes to open. For what it's worth. A number of the plays I've seen don't coincide with that as he's being tackled in our backfield. I guess there's others where it would have made a difference. If I can find it I'll post it.

I know it's just one game, but Green looked better than Starks today.



Neither of them got a TD run. Starks fumbled once and was lucky is the man and recovered it. Plus, Starks had no receptions whereas Green had 4 for 25 yards.

Starks isn't making a good case for himself to be ahead of Green in the depth chart. However, I'd still love to see Starks get 20+ carries in a game and see how he performs. We still don't have enough info on him this year to judge.

Green had a higher per carry average, if that's what you mean.

I think they can both play, but Starks is more likely to fall forward.

Green's a better receiver, better at pass pro and better in the open field.

You're misunderstanding what was being said. He needs to be patient. He's trying to push ahead for whatever yards he can, he SHOULD be going to the ground, waiting for the whistle to be blown, and then running through the holes that develop in the defense.

Green is undeniably faster. But Starks hurts tacklers more. Both of those skills are assets going forward for the Packers.

I'm convinced still hasn't made up his mind who will be the starting RB when the Playoffs come around. Right now, I'm betting is hoping Benson will be 100% for the Playoffs. I think Benson's 84 yard effort against the Saints was the Packers' best effort so far this year.

I got my wish. Kindof a 2-back system! The results speak for themselves.