Bull-rushing, power steps and a sweet spin move are just a few tools that the Green Bay Packers 6-0, 220, rookie running back has at his disposal.
His name is Eddie Lacy and he’s ready to captivate the Packers infinite fan base with something as simple as an effective ground game.
Green Bay hasn’t had the luxury of a 100 yard rusher during the regular season since 2010, a feet that’s unacceptable in a league where the opposing defenses adapt so quickly.
It was week five of the 2010 season when Brandon Jackson, yes that Brandon Jackson pictured above, rushed for 115 yards in an overtime loss to the Washington Redskins. Jackson only rushed 10 times and reached the century mark in large part due to a 71 yard scamper.
Not only has Jackson failed to reach 100 yards in a game again, no other Packers running back has done it during the regular season. The streak has reached 43 games which is just mind-boggling when you think about it.
Don’t expect the streak to live long with Lacy who barring an injury will be the Packers No. 1 option at the running back position. He’s more than outperformed fellow rookie Johnathan Franklin and incumbents James Starks/Alex Green during fall camp and the preseason. The only danger to his carry load for 2013 was last season’s starter DuJuan Harris who’s now been diagnosed with a nasty knee injury (put on IR on Tuesday).
Lacy was an absolute beast at Alabama while racking up 17 touchdowns and 6.5 yards per carry with what was a relatively light workload in the college game.
Sometime players are drafted in to situations where it leaves everyone pondering “Was It Meant to Be?”
The situation almost seems to0 perfect to be true when you examine how Lacy fell to the second round because so many NFL scouts read too much in to his foot injury. Prior to the draft, a lot of people had Lacy as the sure-fire first running back off the board but the Packers ended up with him after three other running backs were chosen.
With the best quarterback in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers, at the helm, Lacy himself couldn’t ask for a better situation to enter for his pro career.
A healthy Rodgers and Lacy could mean “Super” things for the Green Bay Packers. Anyone who witnessed the rookie back rush for 40 yards on eight carries against St. Louis Rams in the second preseason game had to be getting chills about what this offense can do with an effective ground game.
How far do you think the Packers will go with Eddie Lacy this year? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
Images obtained from cbssports.com and greenbaypressgazette.com