http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=630935
Running with a new crowd
Herron only holdover from last year's camp
By ROB REISCHEL
Posted: July 10, 2007
If Noah Herron asks for nametags to also be distributed, you can understand why.
At this time a year ago, Herron was one of 10 players in Green Bay's backfield who went to training camp with the Packers. Today, Herron is the only player left from that group.
"That's crazy," Herron said. "I know there's a lot of turnover in this league, but that's really a lot."
You bet it is.
Ahman Green, the second-leading rusher in franchise history, signed a free-agent contract in Houston. William Henderson, a starter since 1996, was released this off-season. The other seven backs who went to camp with the Packers in 2006 are long gone, too.
Vernand Morency, who arrived in a trade from Houston last September and backed Green up, is the front-runner at tailback. Morency figures to be pushed, though, by rookie second-round draft pick Brandon Jackson.
Brandon Miree, who played in 10 games last season after being waived by Denver, is the only fullback among four on the roster with any NFL experience. For the most part, the entire backfield is littered with questions, questions and more questions.
"I look at it as this: we have a lot of players that can help us in a lot of different ways," Packers running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "A lot of different talented guys. People may not be familiar with their names, but I think they're very good competitors. When we get going into training camp, you'll see there's those attributes that you look for in football players.
"Guys that can step up and help you win football games. I'm excited about our group. I think we have a very talented group, some hard workers. One thing I love about the guys that are in that room is really their work ethic. They're passionate about football and they're going to step up to do whatever they can to help us win games this year."
Since 2003, when Green set a franchise record with 1,883 rushing yards, Green Bay's running game has gone backward. The Packers ranked No. 3 in rushing yards per game in '03, but since then they've finished 10th, 30th and 23rd.
And there's nothing to suggest 2007 will be any better.
"I'm not going to sit here and put expectations on individuals," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think we have excellent competition. Who plays how much, or who's starting and so forth, those are all things that will be answered."
Morency (5-10, 220) and Jackson (5-10, 212) are virtually the same size. And neither has yet to prove they're durable enough to carry the ball 300 times in a season.
That could make Green Bay the latest team to use a running-back-by-committee approach. McCarthy, though, emphasized at the end of the Packers' June practices that he'd like to see someone emerge.
"You'd always like to see someone jump up and grab a position, because I think when that happens, obviously productivity increases," he said. "But once again, you want as much competition. It's a long season, God forbid injuries are part of our game. So I'm very comfortable if it takes three, if it takes two, if it takes one. That doesn't bother me at all. That's the job of the coaching staff, to take advantage of the personnel."
There are ways the Packers can take advantage of Morency's skills.
Morency, who came in a trade for Samkon Gado, is a one-cut runner who is a natural in the Packers' zone-blocking scheme. He has more shake in his game than Green did and will try making defenders miss rather than run through them.
After arriving in Green Bay a year ago, Morency averaged 4.6 yards on his 91 carries and scored two touchdowns. But he had some fumbling issues that cut into his playing time and he often failed to gain tough yards inside.
Morency, who spent three years in the Colorado Rockies farm system and is already 27 years old, knows he might never get another chance like this. So he trained diligently this off-season, added eight pounds of muscle and seems focused on making the most of his opportunity.
"He's got really good feet and he's elusive," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said of Morency. "He's got some shake to him, so that's one of the things if you look maybe a year ago at Ahman, he was physical, a slasher, putting the pads down, knock-you-back type of a runner.
"Whereas Mo is kind of a guy, he's going to get to that aiming point. He's got a little short area quickness, he's really very good. So I do think he made some things happen on his own and hopefully we open up some bigger holes for him this year."
Jackson was a surprise pick in the second round after sharing time at Nebraska last season. And had Jackson returned for his senior season this fall, there were no guarantees he would have been the starter.
Jackson missed Green Bay's mandatory minicamp from May 18-20 to fulfill an NFL obligation in Los Angeles. Then, he missed a large portion of the Packers' organized team activities sessions in June with a minor knee injury.
When Jackson was around, he displayed the niftiest feet on the team. The Packers also believe Jackson is a perfect fit for their scheme, although his productivity at the collegiate level (11 career starts, 1,431 rushing yards in three years) has to be a concern.
"I think we got a hell of a player," Bennett said. "He's more than capable of doing it for us. He has fairly decent size, 210, excellent, excellent feet. He can plant and explode, good speed, 4.45 speed, good receiver out of the backfield, has good vision and he's tough. I really like Brandon."
Herron was the Packers' primary third-down back last year, and like Tony Fisher before him, did all the little things to earn the caching staff's trust. Herron, who played at Northwestern, blocks well, has decent hands (29 catches) and is assignment-sure.
Herron's Achilles' heel, though, will always be his pedestrian speed. But because Herron is steady and the coaches trust him, he might be tough to unseat as the third-down back.
"Personally I feel a lot better this year with myself," Herron said. "I have a year that I've been here, played well and I understand the offense as well as anybody.
"You never feel safe, though. Maybe more comfortable, but not safe. I'm just trying to be safe with my play."
The Packers made a surprising move last month when they released running back Arliss Beach, who had been a training-camp hit in 2006 before spending the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury. That leaves seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn and second-year man P.J. Pope to battle Herron for the No. 3 job.
Wynn was the leading rusher (699 yards) for the national champion Florida Gators last season. But attitude issues, questionable work ethic and a lack of toughness caused him to drop to the seventh round.
"I have no issues with the way he's worked," McCarthy said of Wynn. "He's young and he probably recognizes his excellent opportunity, so he's done very well so far."
Pope was signed off the Chicago Bears practice squad midway through the 2006 season and played just one game on special teams. He's strong, thick and has a 37-inch vertical leap, but lacks any special qualities and faces an uphill climb to make the roster.
Miree is a good bet to emerge at fullback, based largely on what he showed a year ago. In 10 games, including three starts, Miree had nine receptions and displayed the athleticism necessary for Green Bay's scheme.
Although Miree lacks great size (6-0, 245), he's a perfect fit for what the Packers do. He's also bright, assignment-sure and reliable.
"Brandon's athletic, he can read, react and adjust like a runner would," Bennett said. "And he's gotten stronger. He's a little bit bigger this year. He's stronger. I love how he's improving his pass protection. I'm excited to see him progress and keep getting better."
Korey Hall, a rookie sixth-round pick, played linebacker at Boise State. He'll try making the move to fullback, but is likely to make the roster more for his outstanding abilities on special teams.
Free agents Ryan Powdrell and Corey White opened some eyes during the Packers' post-draft practices. But their fates will be determined when pads go on.
"Powdrell looks like he has some football in him," Philbin said. "And Corey White . . . you don't have to be a genius. He walks down the hall and he looks like a football player. That's a real positive."
It remains to be seen if Green Bay's backfield will be a positive in 2007. If it is, it will be a surprise to many.
Most national pundits and pre-season publications list the Packers' backfield among the worst in the NFL. Now, it will be up to Green Bay to prove them wrong.
"All the critics and analysts and specialists are saying how bad we are," Herron said. "But who's right and who's wrong? You just have to wait and see. For us, it's just going to be playing uphill and playing against the critics."
I agree with all of this.
