I did a little research about Ryan Grant. People seem to say his overrated but I don't think so here's why :
Week 1: Grant had 92 yards on 12 carries - WIN
Week 2: Grant had 20 yards on 15 carries - WIN
Week 3: Grant had 54 yards on 13 carries - LOSS
Week 4: Grant had 20 yards on 15 carries - LOSS
Week 5: Grant had 83 yards on 14 carries - LOSS
Week 6: Grant had 90 yards on 33 carries - WIN
Week 7: Grant had 105 yards on 31 carries - WIN
Week 8: Grant had 0 yards on 0 carries - BYE week
Week 9: Grant had 86 yards on 20 carries - LOSS
Week 10: Grant had 75 yards on 16 carries - LOSS
Week 11: Grant had 145 yards on 25 carries - WIN
Week 12: Grant had 67 yards on 16 carries - LOSS
Week 13: Grant had 39 yards on 12 carries - LOSS
Week 14: Grant had 104 yards on 19 carries - LOSS
Week 15: Grant had 56 yards on 21 carries - LOSS
Week 16: Grant had 61 yards on 25 carries - LOSS
Week 17: Grant had 109 yards on 19 carries - LOSS
It seems like Grant had a pretty decent season in yardage. There seems to be a problem tho, 10 games out of 16 he had less then 20 carries. I mean why not use him more, does the coaching have confidence issues with him? He got 1200 yards this season, if in those 10 games he had 5-7 more carries he would could of easily hit at least 1400.
Running the ball is really important. It helps you manage the time and keeps the drives moving. I think another reason either then the defense this year was that all we did was throw. No complains about Aaron Rodgers play but I think we just got to predictable at some points.
Let me give you an example.
Situation : 2nd and 3 - 6 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter
What we would do throw a pass ... incomplete
5:54 minutes remaining, 3rd and 3
We throw again ... completed ---> 5:20 left, if not completed 5:49 left
Now if we run the balls on those situation
2nd and 3 - 6 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter
If we run / no gain ---> time = 5:25 - run again / no gain ---> time = 4:50
That's about 30 seconds more that we have possesion of the ball and 30 second less remaining for the opposing team to work with. That's just on a simple demonstration.
All I'm saying is we need to use Grant more then we do, on so many occasions 3rd and 2 or 2nd and 3 we keep throwing the ball and turnover on down. RUN THE BALL !!! You got a running back that can take couple of hits before he goes down. Even if he does not get it at least your managing the time.
* Running game can also be very exhausting for the opposing defense and give your WR's some time to get some breathing time.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.