Eddie Lacy hasn’t been anything to write home about this season.
He has seemingly been overtaken by James Starks as the Green Bay Packers’ No. 1 back. Starks has more rushing yards than Lacy and has out-touched him in two of the Packers’ last three games.
So there are all kinds of questions about Lacy.
Some people — reporters, mostly — have been harping on the idea that Lacy is overweight. Packers coach Mike McCarthy says that isn’t the case and so does Lacy, himself.
Other people have suggested Lacy might be being hindered by injuries. Lacy dealt with an ankle injury earlier in the season, but hasn’t missed a game.
What we do know is Lacy isn’t producing. He’s averaging only 3.7 yards per rush.
So what’s the problem?
No one seems to have a good answer.
For example…
Asked what’s wrong with Lacy, associate head coach/offense Tom Clements replied simply, “I don’t have an answer for you.”
And that pretty much sums it up. The rest of the coaching staff, from head coach Mike McCarthy to offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett, says there’s nothing wrong with Lacy. Then they give us their best, “We’ve got to get him going” cliche.
A couple weeks ago, Lacy — using his best McCarthyism — told us pad level was his issue. And he’s gone out and done nothing of note since.
In other words, that seems just about as absurd as every time McCarthy blames pad level for whatever else is ailing the Packers.
We’ve got a couple more realistic ideas.
- The offensive line play. Have you noticed? It’s been nothing short of crap lately. It’s as if these guys have been busier worrying about getting in Pitch Perfect 3 than actually blocking anyone. It would probably be tough for Walter Payton to run behind this line right now.
- An actual commitment to the run game. The coaches say things like, “We’ve got to establish is running game.” The problem is, that’s all they do. I don’t care whether it’s James Starks or Eddie Lacy, if you’re going to establish the run game, then you actually have to go out and run the football.
Let’s take a look at No. 2, since there probably isn’t much that can be done about No. 1.
Here’s how many times the Packers have run the ball in the past five games: 19, 21, 17, 27, 33.
That 27, which came against the Rams, is a bit misleading. Aaron Rodgers ran the ball eight times in that game, so the Packers ran only 19 designed run plays.
You have to go all the way back to San Francisco, when the Packers ran 33 times, to see any commitment to the run. Only three of those runs were by Rodgers, so there were actually 30 designed running plays that were executed.
Eighteen of those carries went to Lacy and he ran for 90 yards, his best game of the season.
What does that tell you?
If you actually run the ball on a regular basis, you might have some success.
The Packers haven’t executed more than 19 designed running plays in a game since week 4.
But we’re gonna establish the run!
Honestly the he isn’t getting enough touches and when he does its a half back dive on first down (which teams load the box on). We need to get him involved in screens a little bit more because defenses don’t view him as a receiving threat so the load the box when he is in. He isn’t looking too explosive this season though, part of me would like to see how he would do if we got him down to his Alabama weight. The dude looks so much different when he was playing for the tide, more explosive, better cuts, better top end speed, and not to mention his agility was a lot better. Check out his college highlights and you’ll see what i’m talking about. He probably has an extra 15 pounds on him now.
And of course I got a Lacy jersey this season… I hope i didn’t just waste $150 on it haha
You bought a 3rd year running backs jersey & dropped 150$ on it?
Man, I thought only chicks spend $ on stupid shit…
Yeah that is better than going mainstream and getting a Rodgers, Matthews, or Nelson jersey. All of which you probably have. Eddie is a beast and definitely my favorite player on offense even though he hasn’t done shit this year. Why don’t you get your boyfriend to buy you something nice Tyko. We all know you take it in the ass. Go ahead say something about my screen name, it don’t matter.
Ha. Im jus jacken with you, Big Gay. We’re both Packers fans so we’re brothers…
Just tell your friends or whatever your girlfriend bought you that jersey…
Also, I don’t wear Jerseys because im a man with my own last name. Not some dork with some other man’s last name on my back…
Well lets just be nice ok? If you want to talk shit you should go on bleacherreport and comment on other teams pages. I know most of our fan base actually knows what they are talking about when referring to our team so I have respect for that unlike other clubs. And that’s fine if you are embarrassed to wear a jersey, I’m not.
I think a lot of it is offensive line play. I think a lot it is trickle down from jordy Nelson’s absense. He was a very underrated blocker in the run game. I have noticed teams are playing a lot of one on one with the receivers trying to make them beat the single coverage. They arent, which defenses have been playing safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, something I have not seen very much at all since Rodgers 2011 season. I also wonder how much play calling has had to do with this.
I hear you, our line has been underperforming since the San Fran game (when I first noticed Rodgers getting hit a lot). I don’t think Eddie losing a little weight would hurt though, and maybe calling plays that aren’t designed to go up the centers asshole would help too.
Yeah whether he’s fat or not, losing some weight wouldn’t hurt anything. I know Pittsburgh made Leveon Bell lose some weight, thinking it’d make him a little quicker… and boom, arguably the best rb in the league. Now granted they’re two completely different guys with completely different styles, but, shit, Eddie could use a little bit more quickness
Yessss! I forgot about Bell losing weight, I definitely noticed a difference in his (Bell) play this season compared to last. He looked way more explosive and moved really well for a 6’3 240 pound back
The guy looks absurdly slow. Don’t know whether that has to do with being fat, or gimpy, or what. I just know that he looks really, really slow
The terrible oline doesn’t do anyone any good, or course
Also feel like I can’t be the only one that isn’t a fan of those pitch plays
But most of all, we’ve got a rotation of rb’s. First Lacy, then next drive it’s Starks, then Cobb in the backfield, and then it’s anyone’s guess. How does this help get anyone in rhythm? Especially a dude like Lacy, whose supposed to keep pounding those clowns until the run defense wears down?
Entire situation is fucked
Doesn’t Lacy have asthma and a bad foot? The physical limitations may be catching up with him, Starks is clearly our #1 back.
“I saw Eddie Lacy display a spin move upon entry then hit the lane with fiery velocity. He then made 3, no, it was 5 serious stiff arms to the zone. He’s made some serious gains too. He consistently did this all week long this season. I’d say he’s our MVP. People here fear him.”
-Todd Martens, Senior evening shift manager, Old Country Buffet on 805 S. Military Ave.
lmao
Bad premise. The most idiotic notion is that the Packers need to run more. They can’t run! Early in the 4th quarter the Pack was down 3 scores and when the got the ball near midfield what did they do…that’s right, they ran twice for about 2 yards (I’m sure that was for all you out there that wants the team to not give up on the run). On third and 1 the Pack go into the shotgun more than half the time because they know it’s iffy to secure a first down running. You call plays to win not to have a “balanced” attack (see Coach Belichek). After the Pack lost to Seattle in last year’s NFC championship coach McCarthy was proud that he hit his goal of 21 run attempts in the disgusting loss. When the Packers can get the 3rd and 4th and 1 consistently running I would change my mind but that hasn’t been a fact for many, many years. The more the Packers run the more the Packers punt. The Packers most lethal weapon is Rodgers. They will either win or fail on his performance.
Amen . . .
1) O-line.
2) Lacy (fat, hurt, playing bad, whatever)
3) Jordy out.
4) Peppers declining.
5) Rodgers playing bad.
6) Receivers playing bad.
7) Rodgers’ audibles.
8) New play caller.
9) Past two teams played lights out, we didn’t.
10) O having a lot of problems playing together.
Eddy is still my favorite player on O too. He’ll be back.
Clements thinks he can have a dominant “we take what we want” running game even from single back pistol sets. You want to be able to run against a stacked box even when they know it’s coming? You need some QB under center with lead blocker and a full head of steam action.
The problem with Lacy is all of the above, everyone is correct.
The 0 line doesn’t help him. Problem is, Starks still looks respectable behind the same line.
Eddie is slow and yes, he IS fat. When the line can open a hole. big enough for his body, he can do damage. When they can’t, Eddie starts do dance, and nothing looks worse, than Lacy trying to impersonate Barry Sanders.
Lacy isn’t committed to football. This was the pre-draft report on him. So it’s no surprise that pizza trumps football. The word is Lacy is kissing 260 lbs.
The Packers handled Lacy’s weight problem as follows……As most people come into camp in shape and use camp, to learn plays, new schemes, ect. Lacy uses camp to just get in shape, this is well known in Packer circles. so what the Packers use to do in past years is have Eddie run sprints after practice, to get him in better shape. But this year was different. He came in so far out of shape, the Packers basically threw their hands in the air and gave up and don’t even try to help him anymore. Several current and ex-Packer players have tried to convince Lacy to lose weight and get in better shape, but that clearly had no influence on Lacy.
The bottom line is……Lacy apologist can blame it on the 0 line, some phantom injury. But at the end of the day, this man refuses to commit to hi craft by getting and staying in shape. this is the NFL and Lacy isn’t Jerome Bettis. In this league, if you refuse to get in shape, and the 0 line is struggling to open big enough holes for you to compensate, you might have a tough time performing in this league and you’ll have a tougher time signing that 2nd contract for big money.
Personally, i think this guy is eating his career away. An in shape, and quicker Lacy could tear this league up, not to mention make him a rich enough to set him up for life. but we all make our own choices, and he’s made his. Now, if he gets in shape this next off-season, just because it’s his contract year, that would piss me off. That would tell me he gives no fuck about this team based on his past unwillingness to get in shape.
Due to this site’s shitty netcode I can’t reply directly to Tyko for some reason but holy shit dude, that quote is comment of the year, hands down.