The Packers opened the 2007 season with multiple question marks at running back after the departure of long-time running back Ahman Green. The Packers came into camp with two rookies and injured veteran vying for the open position. Noah Herron was placed on injured reserve during training camp, taking him out of the running for the job and possibly ending his Packers career, while Vernand Morency suffered a knee injury in camp, effectively removing him from the race. The two horses left in camp were Brandon Jackson, a second-round pick from Nebraska, and DeShawn Wynn, a seventh-round pick from Florida. Jackson was the victor coming out of camp, but a little-thought of wild-card was entered into the draw with the acquisition of Ryan Grant from the New York Giants one week before the season opener.
Jackson earned the start for the first three games of the season and performed questionably before he was usurped by Wynn. Wynn started four games before being injured in Week 8 against Denver. This gave Green Bay their third starting running back of the season with Grant. Grant almost single-handedly (I know some credit has to go to a young and developing offensive line) turned the Packers non-existent running game into one of the most feared in the league, balancing out one of the league's top offenses. Grant took pressure off of Brett Favre and the passing game, making the offense even more effective. After returning from injury, Morency was primarily used as a third-down back and had more receiving yards than rushing yards.
Ryan GrantRushes: 188
Yards: 956
AVG: 5.1
TDs: 8
Long: 66t
Rec: 30
Yards: 145
TDs: 0
AVG: 4.8
Long: 21
Best Game: Week 14 vs. Oakland
Rushes: 29
Yards: 156
AVG: 5.4
TDs: 1
Long: 26
Rec: 2
Yards: 6
TDs: 0
AVG: 3.0
Long: 5
Grant proved to be somewhat of a savior for the Packers offense in 2007. At the beginning of the season, the Packers offense was almost strictly one-dimensional, but after Week X vs. Denver, Grant helped turn the tide of the offense. Despite his great performance, Grant displayed some glaring inconsistencies. He never ran for more than 100 yards in consecutive games, and his statistics were the benefactor of the big play multiple times. In Week 16 against Chicago, Grant ran 14 times for 100 yards, an average of 7.1 yards per carry. However, 90 of those yards came on two carries, his 66-yard touchdown run and a 24-yard scamper later in the game. That leaves him with 12 carries for 10 yards, and average of 0.83 yards per carry. If Grant wants to stick around and be a great back, he will have to avoid more situations such as this one. Regardless of these problems, Grant proved he could be an NFL running back. He does require an insurance policy in my opinion, however.
Brandon JacksonRushes: 75
Yards: 267
AVG: 3.6
TDs: 1
Long: 44
Rec: 16
Yards: 130
TDs: 0
AVG: 8.1
Long: 16
Best Game: Week 17 vs. Detroit
Rushes: 20
Yards: 113
AVG: 5.6
TDs: 0
Long: 46
Rec: 2
Yards: 22
TDs: 0
AVG: 11.0
Long: 13
Jackson left camp as the starter, although he was on rocky footing for most of the time. As three games as the starter, he failed to perform up to expectations. Jackson was then demoted to spot duty and special teams. Coach Mike McCarthy feels that Jackson could become a special teams ace in the future.
Rushes: 50
Yards: 203
AVG: 4.1
TDs: 4
Long: 44
Rec: 9
Yards: 73
TDs: 0
AVG: 8.1
Long: 18
Best Game: Week 5 vs. Chicago
Rushes: 13
Yards: 78
AVG: 6.0
TDs: 1
Long: 44
Rec: 1
Yards: 13
TDs: 0
AVG: 13.0
Long: 13
Wynn seized the starting job in Week 4 after seeing limited action in the first three games of the season. Wynn was successful, but was injured on his first carry in Week 8 at Denver. If he had not been injured, he most likely would continued to be the feature back in McCarthy's system, and we would have never heard of Ryan Grant. I would expect Wynn to be the second string running back at camp next year unless Jackson makes significant strides.
Vernand Morency, the primary third-down running back last year, is expected to leave in free agency, along with Noah Herron, was put on IR after a knee injury in training camp.
2007 Grade: B
2008 Outlook
The outlook for 2008 is much clearer than it was for 2007. In 2007, no one knew who the starting running back would be week-in and week-out. After Week 8, however, Grant emerged and helped carry the team into the playoffs. I do not think Grant will be able to repeat his 2007 performance. People now know who he is and they will be sure to put someone on him and start to gameplan around him. Grant will not be able to take the league by storm as he did in 2007. Also, Grant needs to develop some consistency and gets his yards per carry average up and not rely on really long runs for most of his yards.
2008 Projected Grade: B
Draft Needs
None at the moment. I could see the Packers making a minor veteran pickup in free agency or drafting one the guys ranked outside the top 15 on NFL Draft Watch in the late rounds.
Grant was a virtual unknown after being acquired on September 1 from the New York Giants for an undisclosed draft pick. Grant entered a Packers backfield that was crowded with rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn and veteran Vernand Morency. No one expected Grant to really get an opportunity. However, he seized the starting job after the aforementioned Week 8 game against the Broncos and did not let go of it. Grant proceeded to break the 100-yard marks in Weeks 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. During the regular season, Grant had a career long touchdown run of 66 yards in Week 16, a 35-7 loss to the Chicago Bears. Grant also set a career high in Week 14 during a 38-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Grant rushed for 156 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries.
In Week 10, Grant won FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week after rushing for 119 yards on 19 carries and his first career touchdown, which came on a 30-yard run. He also won the award again during Week 14 against Oakland. Grant carries a streak of six consecutive games with a touchdown into 2008. It is the second longest streak in Packers history behind Paul Hornung's streak of seven games in 1960.
Grant showed up to play in the playoffs as well. In the Divisional round playoff game against Seattle, Grant fumbled twice to put the Packers in a 14-0 hole. However, Packers coach Mike McCarthy stuck with the running game and Grant racked up a Packers playoff record 201 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. Grant also had a long run of 43 yards in the winter wonder land. In the NFC Championship Game, Grant was stifled by his former team, gaining only 29 yards on 13 carries.
But is Grant the long-term answer to the Packers running game? In my opinion, only time will tell. Grant was somewhat inconsistent, never rushing for over 100 yards in consecutive games. Also, outside of a few big runs, Grant was ineffective. Against Chicago in Week 16, Grant rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries. However, 90 of those yards came on two carries of 66 and 24, leaving him gaining just 10 yards on 12 carries. If Grant wants to be a number one back, he will have to improve on that. He is doing a good job of taking the pressure off of Brett Favre and the passing game.