The Green Bay Packers may be about to change the NFL forever, and in the process devalue the NFL running back position even more. The way things are going this offseason and training camp, I think the Packers might just completely abandon the running game.
The Packers do not currently have an NFL caliber starting running back on their roster and do not appear to be concerned about it. The Packers made a feeble attempt to keep Eddie Lacy in free agency, they instead preferred to go with an unproven wide receiver at running back in Ty Montgomery.
Montgomery did have a few good games down the stretch but I don’t think he showed anywhere near the toughness it takes to play running back in the NFL. In fact, he has already missed a week of practice and a game with what he called a “soft tissue” injury. He even got defensive with the media who questioned him about it. I just don’t think he can take the beating a real running back takes and be counted on every game. Behind Montgomery the Packers have three rookie draft picks, none who have shown anything special yet. I don’t think the Packers care.
I thought Jamaal Williams would be a real threat to Montgomery but through two preseason games he has shown nothing. None of the running backs have done a thing. The Packers’ quarterbacks have out rushed the running backs thus far. Again, I don’t think head coach Mike McCarthy cares. This is the year of the pass.
The 2017 Packers are about to rewrite the NFL’s passing record book. I truly think the Packers are going to put the ball in Aaron Rodgers’ hand and the let the running game be damned. With the weapons the Packers have at receiver and tight end, I agree. Do what you do best.
Barring an unbelievable turn of events I think the Packers’ offense will just pass 80 percent of the time. McCarthy has always talked about running the football to be successful but his play calling never backed that up. This year, I say the hell with it. Let Aaron Rodgers, the best quarterback in the league run the show. This tyring to force the running game is just sacrificing downs.
Maybe after this year McCarthy will become the next Bill Walsh and have an offense named after him. Someday every team will have a wide receiver type player at running back and just dare defenses to stop the pass. I can’t see any way Rodgers doesn’t surpass 5,000 passing this year. We just need a name for the offense. North Central?
I do hope I am wrong. I just hate seeing the quarterback in harm’s way that many times a game. And there is still nothing more beautiful than a perfectly blocked run that pops wide open. 64-toss power trap!