Who Will Run The Ball Against The Texans And Other Stuff

Since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury in Week 6 quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the Packers leading rusher. He has consistently gained yardage averaging 6.2 yards a carry and saved drives by making 20 first downs most on third down.

 

However, last week in the win over the Eagles Rodgers tweaked his hamstring, so his mobility will be restricted leaving the ground game up to the halfback James Starks, tailback/slot back Ty Montgomery, fullback Aaron Ripkowski and halfback Christine “A Boy Named Sue” Michael.

 

Starks is beginning to show signs of life with 41 yards on 17 carries against the Eagles for 2.8 yards a carry after beginning the season with the worst statistics of his career averaging just 1.8 yards. Starks had some good runs, but he needs to do more this week.

 

Roster Rumblings

Looking around the roster the Packers kept three quarterbacks and I have no problem with that because we don't know how healthy Brett Hundley is and Joe Callahan earned at least a few weeks on the 53 because he was the only one who provided the "WOW" moments during the preseason.

Observations After The First Week of Camp

Bill Belichick Injury Report: On Day Three tight end Mitchell Henry needed some Midol because he had to leave practice with cramps. On Day Four left outside linebacker Manoa Pikula also dropped out with an undisclosed injury. It was reported he limped off, so it could be cramps, could be tweeked, could be stubbed toe, could be......

 

On Day Five Pikula is the only player not participating in the Saturday morning practice. Intrepid hospital reporter Michael Cohen reported and I'm guessing he didn't clear this with General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy that when he left the practice field Thursday he was grabbing his right hamstring. When practice resumes we'll see if Cohen still has his press pass or will be tweeting from outside the fence as a spectator for breaking Belichick Protocol.

Post Draft Analysis

Tramon Williams May Get Cut

Unlike the uninformed musings of one NFL Network analysis Mr. Mark Dulgerian (see Lombardi's Den 168) I hope to give you some observations that are accurate and informative.

First thing I saw was a throwaway comment made about the trade the Cleveland Browns made with the Miami Dolphins for veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor.

The story said "The Browns, though, need help at the position. Pro Bowler Joe Haden is coming off an injury-plagued season and veteran Tramon Williams had his ups and downs in 2015", so maybe another former Packer may be hitting the open market soon to join wide receiver Greg Jennings, who was let go by the Dolphins on March 5th and inside linebacker A. J. Hawk, who was let go by the Bengals on April 26th.

Thompson Goes 3 for 3

Jason Spriggs Could Take David Bakhtiari's Left Tackle Job

I have to give General Manager Ted Thompson credit for being the only person on the planet that is reading this blog and for taking my advice that getting a left offensive tackle is a priority and on the second day he took Jason Spriggs from Indiana.

Spriggs was the fifth ranked offensive tackle before the draft and was the sixth taken overall and first in the second round.  The top four were Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin and Taylor Decker with No. 6 being Germain Ifedi.

Spriggs was slated late first-early second round and Ifedi second round, but the Seahawks jumped Spriggs to take Ifedi, who is more suited to play right tackle after failing at left tackle at Texas A&M.

The second round was going quickly with three defensive ends, five linebackers, two defensive tackles, a nose tackle (not Andrew Billings), two wide receivers, a cornerback, the top tight end and the top running back coming off the board.