A season ago, the Green Bay Packers primarily rode the arm and legs of quarterback Aaron Rodgers to another NFC North title. The talented field general finished 2016 with 4,428 yards through the air and a league-high 40 touchdown passes compared to only seven interceptions. But lost in those impressive numbers was the fact that Rodgers also finished second on the team with 369 Rushing Yards and totaled a team-best four touchdowns on the ground. All told, the Packers finished 20th in the NFL in yards per game on the ground and a lot of that was due to the fact that the club had a slew of injuries at the running back position.
There was time for some changes this offseason and that indeed happened. Unfortunately, Mike McCarthy’s club continues to be shorthanded in the backfield.
Same old issues
Entering Sunday’s showdown with the Dallas Cowboys, only the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins were averaging fewer yards per game on the ground than the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy’s team has managed just 74.5 yards per game rushing, despite the team’s 3-1 start. That includes a disappointing 3.5 Yards Per Carry, with the Packers’ longest run from scrimmage a mere 13 yards. And that came via Rodgers, who ranks second on the club with 14 attempts and 51 yards. Green Bay has yet to reach the 100-yard mark on the ground in any game this season.
And if you include the Pack’s three-game playoff run in 2016, make it seven straight outings that the team has failed to reach the century mark on the ground.
This season to date, Ty Montgomery leads the club with 152 rushing yards and has two of the team’s three scores on the ground. He’s also averaging only 3.3 yards per carry.
The converted wide receiver is doubtful vs. the Cowboys on Sunday due to broken ribs, this according to NBC Sports.
Going forward
This offseason there was a concerted effort to revive the Green Bay Packers ground attack. Veteran Eddie Lacy was not re-signed and quality backup James Starks was let go. Meanwhile, general manager Ted Thompson used three picks on the third day of April’s draft on the running back position.
He added Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones, and Devante Mays. And Williams, healthy after getting hurt against the Bears more than a week ago, is expected to the focal point of the running game against the Cowboys. He’s totaled only nine carries for 32 yards in limited time. When Montgomery is healthy, you can expect the Packers to utilize the pair even more as the season wears on. If the team is going to get back to a Super Bowl, Rodgers can’t continue to carry the vast majority of the offensive load.
