Feb 15, 2010 11:53pm
Packers offseason position-by-position: RBs
Second in a series.
By JASON WILDE
jwilde@espnmilwaukee.com
The good news: The underappreciated Grant had an outstanding season, especially when you consider that he plays in a pass-first offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and air-centric play-caller Mike McCarthy. With 282 carries for 1,253 (4.4-yard average) and 11 touchdowns, Grant ranked seventh in the NFL in yardage, tied for 21st (with two NFC Pro Bowl selections, Minnesotas Adrian Peterson and St. Louis Steven Jackson) in yards-per-carry and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns. Not bad for a guy many Packers fans complain incessantly about. Heres another stat that wasnt too shabby: In those 282 carries, Grant did not lose a fumble. So while he may not be as dominating as Tennessees Chris Johnson or as electrifying as Peterson, hes steady, reliable and solid. There are plenty of teams whod happily accept that kind of productivity.
The bad news: General manager Ted Thompsons decision to keep three fullbacks veterans Kuhn and Hall and rookie fifth-round pick Quinn Johnson coming out of training camp, it became a cause clbre among fans frustrated with some of his personnel decisions. Granted, plenty of teams around the league manage just fine with only one fullback on the roster, but all three players deserved roster spots on their own merits, based on their roles offensively (Kuhn), on special teams (Hall) or potential (Quinn). It just made for an odd 53-man roster mix to have all three while sacrificing at other positions. Now, with Kuhn headed for restricted free agency for the second straight year thanks to the free-agency rules that come with the 2010 uncapped year, and Hall having battled various injuries for the second consecutive season, its reasonable to wonder whether all three will be back.
The big question: Can the Packers find a true change-of-pace back?
By seasons end, the roles in the Packers backfield had been clearly defined: Grant was the franchise back and workhorse; Jackson was the third-down back who picked up blitzes brilliantly and caught the ball out of the backfield; and Green was the veteran insurance policy who handled most of the short-yardage situations. Green, who turns 33 today, doesnt appear to have much left in the tank and seems unlikely to return. The team still hasnt given up hope with DeShawn Wynn, despite his inconsistent play and inability to shake the injury bug, but time is running out for him to finally show his worth. And while Jackson is terrific in pass protection and has shown some flashes when given the opportunity to run the ball, but theres reason to question whether hed be able to handle the role of every-down back if the ultra-durable Grant were sidelined for an extended period of time. Thus, adding a young, dynamic back wouldnt be the worst thing for Thompson to do this offseason, although there are more pressing needs. At the very least, it would be interesting to add a Leon Washington-type change-of-pace back or an athlete who could bring the Wildcat wrinkle to the offense.