RB situation for us and rest of North

[Arthur Squires]

What a head scratching situation we have at RB. We really don't have a true proven #1. I have high hopes for TyMo and think he can be very good if he stays healthy. But I just don't think he is that bellcow back that can give you that big game between the tackles for 1st through 4th quarter.

With the draft having a handful of franchise backs I was hoping for 1 of those. We ended up drafting 3 backs which I pray end up all being great contributors for us. My predraft folder I listed my top 15 RBs. Jamaal Williams was number #13. And Aaron Jones or Devante Mays were not in my top 15. But 2 backs that were and we could have grabbed instead of those 2, and they both share the 1st name Elijah.
Aaron Jones drafted 182, My #11 RB Elijah McGuire drafted 188. I think McGuire body will hold up better and he is just if not more talented pass catcher.
Devante Mays drafted 238, My #10 RB Elijah Hood drafted 242. I watched Hood bowlingball defenders the last 2 years and he is just that a certified Bowlingball of a runner.

I hope for the very best of these young guys and hope we end up getting a star out of the 3. Hopefully TT shows his 2 picks are better than the 2 I threw out here!!

It seems every other North Team has multiple backs.
Vikings- Latavius Murray, Dalvin Cook and Jerrick McKinnon
Lions- Ameer Abdullah, Theo Rid**** and Zach Zenner
Bears- Jordan Howard, Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey

 

[Dantés]

There aren't many "bell cow" backs left in the NFL any more. Off the top of my head, I would consider Howard, Bell, Elliott, McCoy, Johnson, Murray and Gordon to be featured backs at the moment. Ajayi, Martin, and Miller might be. We'll see about the rookies. So you're talking about somewhere from 7 to 12 guys in a league of 32 teams. I'm also not convinced that the 2017 draft was so chock full of bell cows as some would argue. Mixon is the only lock in my mind. Fournette has a lot to prove on passing downs. McCaffrey is a stud, but more as an OW than as a bell cow running back. And I'm no Cook fan.

The committee is a perfectly reasonable way to go. Compared to our division, I really only like Chicago's situation better with Howard. The Lions don't have anyone to carry the ball effectively on early downs, and I really don't care much for the Vikings' combination of Cook and Murray.

I wasn't huge on Williams before the draft, but after they took him I watched everything the draftbreakdown had on him and it's apparent to me that he got a bump due to his pass pro.

Aaron Jones and Elijah McGuire are virtually the same size. McGuire has 1" and 6 lbs on Jones. They're both pretty prolific pass catchers for college backs. In 2016, Jones caught 28 for 233 and 3, while McGuire caught
29 for 238 and 2. Most important in my opinion is simply that Jones is a far better runner and athlete than McGuire. It isn't even close.

Similarly, if they were going to throw a dart in the 7th round at a running back I would much rather they do it with the 5'10" 230 lb kid who ran a 4.52 and jumped a 40.5" vertical. I mean, I'm more inclined than your average bear towards metrics but especially when you''re talking about a 7th round flier.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I view our current RB situation along the same lines as our situation currently at CB. We have a lot of bodies and possibilities, but nothing proven yet. While I would have been fine signing FA LeGarrette Blount and using either of the #4 or #5 picks on another position, at least TT went after 3 RB's with differing styles and hopefully 2 of them will team up nicely with Monty. I have never had an issue with a 2 RB system, as long as they both stay relatively healthy and you have a 3rd waiting in the wings.

 

[Dantés]

I view our current RB situation along the same lines as our situation currently at CB. We have a lot of bodies and possibilities, but nothing proven yet. While I would have been fine signing FA LeGarrette Blount and using either of the #4 or #5 picks on another position, at least TT went after 3 RB's with differing styles and hopefully 2 of them will team up nicely with Monty. I have never had an issue with a 2 RB system, as long as they both stay relatively healthy and you have a 3rd waiting in the wings.

RB is really the only position on the roster where I'm comfortable with 75% of the depth chart beinng made up of rookies.

 

[Arthur Squires]

There aren't many "bell cow" backs left in the NFL any more. Off the top of my head, I would consider Howard, Bell, Elliott, McCoy, Johnson, Murray and Gordon to be featured backs at the moment. Ajayi, Martin, and Miller might be. We'll see about the rookies. So you're talking about somewhere from 7 to 12 guys in a league of 32 teams. I'm also not convinced that the 2017 draft was so chock full of bell cows as some would argue. Mixon is the only lock in my mind. Fournette has a lot to prove on passing downs. McCaffrey is a stud, but more as an OW than as a bell cow running back. And I'm no Cook fan.

The committee is a perfectly reasonable way to go. Compared to our division, I really only like Chicago's situation better with Howard. The Lions don't have anyone to carry the ball effectively on early downs, and I really don't care much for the Vikings' combination of Cook and Murray.

I wasn't huge on Williams before the draft, but after they took him I watched everything the draftbreakdown had on him and it's apparent to me that he got a bump due to his pass pro.

Aaron Jones and Elijah McGuire are virtually the same size. McGuire has 1" and 6 lbs on Jones. They're both pretty prolific pass catchers for college backs. In 2016, Jones caught 28 for 233 and 3, while McGuire caught
29 for 238 and 2. Most important in my opinion is simply that Jones is a far better runner and athlete than McGuire. It isn't even close.

Similarly, if they were going to throw a dart in the 7th round at a running back I would much rather they do it with the 5'10" 230 lb kid who ran a 4.52 and jumped a 40.5" vertical. I mean, I'm more inclined than your average bear towards metrics but especially when you''re talking about a 7th round flier.

I can appreciate what your saying. But I prefer game tape over drill measurements. The way I see it Hood played vs top notch defenses and lots of future NFL talent. He did well and I believe that will transfer to Pros. With Devante Mays I first have to say I've never watched his games but the tape I've now seen is impressive. Hopefully he plows through defenders like he did in college. Now with McGuire and Jones being about the same size, the way I see it is the definition and muscle tone McGuire has seems to make him look bigger/thicker. He is also a more physical type back than Aaron Jones is and again played vs better competition though some would say not much better. Like I said though I hope TT 2 end up better than my 2 picks. This is all in good fun!

 

[Dantés]

I can appreciate what your saying. But I prefer game tape over drill measurements. The way I see it Hood played vs top notch defenses and lots of future NFL talent. He did well and I believe that will transfer to Pros. With Devante Mays I first have to say I've never watched his games but the tape I've now seen is impressive. Hopefully he plows through defenders like he did in college. Now with McGuire and Jones being about the same size, the way I see it is the definition and muscle tone McGuire has seems to make him look bigger/thicker. He is also a more physical type back than Aaron Jones is and again played vs better competition though some would say not much better. Like I said though I hope TT 2 end up better than my 2 picks. This is all in good fun!

Sure, it is all fun.

I generally find myself on the far edge in terms of how much I value athletic testing numberss. But I think everyone agrees that that they factor to an extent. I like the way Zach Whitman describes it:

Not all good athletes become good players. A very low % of bad athletes become good players. Most great players are also great athletes.

In my opinion, when you draft out of the pool of good athletes, you increase your odds of hitting on your picks.

Now on Jones, I agree that he's less physical than McGuire. That's not his game. He's more elusive than powerful. But they drafted Williams and Mays in that "power" mold, so I like that they diversified with Jones.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

RB is really the only position on the roster where I'm comfortable with 75% of the depth chart beinng made up of rookies.

Sadly, last year we kind of saw what can happen though when your roster isn't well stacked at RB. Lacy went down early, Starks was ineffective before he went down and every other player who started the year as a RB (experienced and inexperience) pretty much bombed. If it wasn't for Monty our running game would have most likely been non-existent.

I think this is why TT decided on 3 drafted and a few UDFA's at the position, the hope of finding at least 2-3 to add to Monty. At least all these backs will have enough time to learn most of the Packers offense and we hopefully won't be forced to bring in guys like Knile Davis and Christine Michael, both of whom had very little time to learn the Packer offense before being asked to play.

 

[mongoosev]

they should continue training mont as a receiver. teaching him the fundamentals and trade of a rb could lead to disaster. he might focus too much on how to be a rb and ruin the great instinct he has. you know... the psychology stuff.

anyway... jokes aside I think williams will be far more productive than lacy his first years as a pack. these rbs we have can find holes instead of waiting for holes to be made for them like lacy. lacy seems to plow up the middle and can't seem to find holes like monty. which is why lacy wasn't getting along with our poor run o line. plus watching williams the kid can break tackles. i'm sure most teams will play cover against packs deadly passing game opening up more opportunities for these backs to have nice yards.

 

[sschind]

they should continue training mont as a receiver. teaching him the fundamentals and trade of a rb could lead to disaster. he might focus too much on how to be a rb and ruin the great instinct he has. you know... the psychology stuff.

anyway... jokes aside I think williams will be far more productive than lacy his first years as a pack. these rbs we have can find holes instead of waiting for holes to be made for them like lacy. lacy seems to plow up the middle and can't seem to find holes like monty. which is why lacy wasn't getting along with our poor run o line. plus watching williams the kid can break tackles. i'm sure most teams will play cover against packs deadly passing game opening up more opportunities for these backs to have nice yards.

But didn't Montgomery play a lot of RB in college? I thought I read somewhere that he had, and that when he was drafted he had said something to the effect that he would prefer to play RB.

As far as Williams, if we can get as much, never mind more, out of him as we got out of Lacy for the first years I will be thrilled. I don't see it happening because right now I don't see him as being a feature back or even 1A if you are looking at a RBBC but things could change.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

But didn't Montgomery play a lot of RB in college? I thought I read somewhere that he had, and that when he was drafted he had said something to the effect that he would prefer to play RB.

As far as Williams, if we can get as much, never mind more, out of him as we got out of Lacy for the first years I will be thrilled. I don't see it happening because right now I don't see him as being a feature back or even 1A if you are looking at a RBBC but things could change.

Ty was predominantly a WR at Stanford. His rushing stats in 4 years there were: 39 attempts for 334 yards. But he lined up outside, in the slot, as a tailback and as a wildcat quarterback. From what I remember reading, he was a RB all the way up to HS, but switched to WR in HS due to a being on a team that mainly liked to pass and his coach felt he was more valuable at WR.

 

[Dantés]

I think I'm fairly comfortable with Ty staying at RB because when I watched him at Stanford,
my initial impression was that he looked like a RB trying to play wide receiver. I think that's how I opened my take on him when I posted on the forum I frequented at the time. He just always looked like a back to me.

 

[Arthur Squires]

they should continue training mont as a receiver. teaching him the fundamentals and trade of a rb could lead to disaster. he might focus too much on how to be a rb and ruin the great instinct he has. you know... the psychology stuff.

anyway... jokes aside I think williams will be far more productive than lacy his first years as a pack. these rbs we have can find holes instead of waiting for holes to be made for them like lacy. lacy seems to plow up the middle and can't seem to find holes like monty. which is why lacy wasn't getting along with our poor run o line. plus watching williams the kid can break tackles. i'm sure most teams will play cover against packs deadly passing game opening up more opportunities for these backs to have nice yards.

Lacy ran for almost 1,200 yds and 11TDs his rookie year, don't get me wrong I hope Williams excels and does just as well. But I would ve comfortable predicting 600yds and 7 Tds as he should receive most the redzone/goal line runs.

 

[sschind]

Ty was predominantly a WR at Stanford. His rushing stats in 4 years there were: 39 attempts for 334 yards. But he lined up outside, in the slot, as a tailback and as a wildcat quarterback. From what I remember reading, he was a RB all the way up to HS, but switched to WR in HS due to a being on a team that mainly liked to pass and his coach felt he was more valuable at WR.

Maybe that's what I read. I thought he had played more RB in college. Anyway like Dantes says :

I think I'm fairly comfortable with Ty staying at RB because when I watched him at Stanford,
my initial impression was that he looked like a RB trying to play wide receiver. I think that's how I opened my take on him when I posted on the forum I frequented at the time. He just always looked like a back to me.

Me too. I think he will be effective in his role at RB and as long as we have an effective back to pair with him. I don't think he will be a 20 carry a game back but he doesn't have to be. I'm fine with 2 backs sharing the load and gaining 1300-1500 yards and 10-12 TDs. Honestly I would prefer we be able to get that out of 1 but if we could get a Freeman/Coleman type situation like they have in Atlanta I wouldn't mind at all.

 

[Arthur Squires]

Maybe that's what I read. I thought he had played more RB in college. Anyway like Dantes says :



Me too. I think he will be effective in his role at RB and as long as we have an effective back to pair with him. I don't think he will be a 20 carry a game back but he doesn't have to be. I'm fine with 2 backs sharing the load and gaining 1300-1500 yards and 10-12 TDs. Honestly I would prefer we be able to get that out of 1 but if we could get a Freeman/Coleman type situation like they have in Atlanta I wouldn't mind at all.

Like Chicago with Howard and Langford. I hope Williams can surprise and give us a standout rookie year.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

There's bo doubt running back is a position of concern entering the 2017 season as the players currently on the roster have combined for a total of 105 carries at the pro level. Fortunately rookies RBs are capable of having an immediate impact.

anyway... jokes aside I think williams will be far more productive than lacy his first years as a pack.

Lacy rushed for 2,317 yards and 20 touchdowns over his first two seasons with the Packers. While I like Williams as well I think it's unrealistic to expect him to put up similar numbers.

 

[gbgary]

there aren't that many teams that really DO have a proven #1. personally...i think we're fine. Monty did fine last year. he looks like he's put on more muscle to absorb the hits. the guys we drafted, especially Williams, look good. we're a pass first team anyway. oh...and the inclusion of a productive TE will definitely help the running game. RELAX

 

[Arthur Squires]

So looking at it as of now. This is how our backfield looks this season. TyMo, J.Will, D.Mays and at FB we keep both Rip and Kerridge. I could see TT keeping at 3 draft pick RBs but I'm guessing 1 might be stashed on PS.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

So looking at it as of now. This is how our backfield looks this season. TyMo, J.Will, D.Mays and at FB we keep both Rip and Kerridge. I could see TT keeping at 3 draft pick RBs but I'm guessing 1 might be stashed on PS.

I'm not convinced the Packers will keep Kerridge on the 53. Especially, if they keep 3 TE's and feel that Kerridge can be stashed on the PS. Even if they can't stash him, he really would have to have a big preseason to justify carrying two FB's IMO.

 

[elcid]

Personally I don't feel like we adequately replenished the position, but since all the FA's worth taking a chance on are of the market now this is our group moving into the season. Maybe if Mathews gets cut in Philly we can kick his tires? In a worst case scenario I'd wouldn't even be against going after Karlos Williams if the RBs disappoint in camp

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Personally I don't feel like we adequately replenished the position, but since all the FA's worth taking a chance on are of the market now this is our group moving into the season. Maybe if Mathews gets cut in Philly we can kick his tires? In a worst case scenario I'd wouldn't even be against going after Karlos Williams if the RBs disappoint in camp

I think TT and the Packers sent a pretty clear message on the direction they are headed at the position by drafting 3 guys and signing 2 more UDFA RB's, as well as releasing Michael and Jackson. Unless their are some injuries or 4 of the 5 rookies are crap, I don't see the Packers looking to sign a FA RB.

 

[HardRightEdge]

I'm quite high on Williams. I'm not concerned about the RB position at all barring a major injury to Williams or Montgomery.

 

[Arthur Squires]

I'm not convinced the Packers will keep Kerridge on the 53. Especially, if they keep 3 TE's and feel that Kerridge can be stashed on the PS. Even if they can't stash him, he really would have to have a big preseason to justify carrying two FB's IMO.

I wouldn't be surprised if they cut Kerridge. I'm just thinking that management really likes this kid for his ST ability. He has made plays on ST since he played at Michigan. He brings physical mentality when he is on the field. He also has very good hands out of the backfield. Plus we need a FB if Rip goes down.

 

[Arthur Squires]

I'm quite high on Williams. I'm not concerned about the RB position at all barring a major injury to Williams or Montgomery.

What makes you so excited about Jamaal Williams? The guy seems average to me but I didn't watch but maybe 2 of his games at BYU!

 

[OldSchool101]

Ill admit I was somewhat surprised that we didn't sign an accomplished veteran FA. We basically cleaned house in the O Backfield and while many of us argued who would get cut.. we were basically all correct to a degree.
Call me crazy..but while I'm cautiously optimistic, I'm also excited to see who emerges from this group. My hope is that we can pick up where Jonathan Franklin left off and Ty reemerges anything close to his last year RB surge. Getting the best talent on the field is the name of the game. This will be a fun season to watch in the RB arena.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I would be more worried if we were beginning the season with a group of unknowns at WR, TE or OL. I think Captain pointed it out, the RB position is one that you can often do just fine with playing rookies, especially when your offense is predicated by AR and the passing game. As long as the rookies can read a playbook, be assured of their assignments and get into a groove with AR, all should be good with relying on their young legs and natural abilities to run, block and catch an occasional pass.