There’s been plenty of excitement over the draft selections of running backs Eddie
Alex Green / UPI Photo-Bill Greenblatt
Lacy (Alabama) and Johnathan Franklin (UCLA). The reason? The Green Bay Packers haven’t had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2009 when Ryan Grant rushed for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Last season, the Packers ground attack was so poor that Alex Green, who was still coming back from major knee surgery in 2011, finished as the teams leading ground gainer, picking up 464 yards on 135 carries. To make matters worse, the next top rusher in line was the team’s quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who finished with 259 yards on 54 carries.
The Packers spent the off-season being referred to as soft, a team lacking a real physical presence. The Packers are trying to change that image and trying to re-emphasize the importance of a good ground game.
Alex Green, James Starks, DuJuan Harris and John Kuhn. Four names that don’t exactly strike fear into NFL defenses.
That’s why the Packers used a pair of draft picks on running backs and Alex Green said he is not surprised, nor is he disappointed.
AUDIO: Alex Green isn’t surprised the Packers went for RB help in the draft :14
The Packers also signed rookie free agent Angelo Pease, who played last year at Kansas State. Pease made a big impression during the Packers rookie orientation camp last weekend.
Green is not only confident in his ability to make this team in 2013, but to be a major contributing factor in the backfield. What he really needs to do to ensure that is to stay healthy. The Packers had injury issues with most of their running backs last season and some of them have lacked dependability.
Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson, by going heavy at running back in the draft, are telling Packer Nation and the NFL that they no longer want to be considered a team that can only pass the ball. When the Packers need 2-yards, they need to be able to run the ball instead of going to a multiple receiver set and throwing the ball.
Green is one of the Packers’ representatives touring the state on the Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour.