At the 2013 NFL Combine, the Green Bay Packers new running back, 5’10”, 227-pound Knile Davis, ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and did 31 bench presses. That is a bizarre pair of metrics.
As for the strength component, I could only find one Packers’ lineman, offensive or defensive, with a higher bench press total – Nick Perry had 35 reps. This muscle-bound specimen is bound to be able to provide some pretty solid pass protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay hasn’t seen a running back with Davis’ speed for longer than I can remember. DuJuan Harris recording 4.44 speed at his pro-day 40-yard dash. He also had a compact build, at 5’7” and 197 pounds, but Davis has him on the scales by 30 pounds and is also a good deal faster. In fact, Sam Shields is the only teammate who would be likely to beat Davis in a sprint. Davis is only 25 years old, the age that one’s speed usually peaks, so the 4.37 figure should still be a current measure of his ability.
While the Packers have several decent kick returners, Davis might soon jump to the top of the list. He’s been a regular kickoff returner in each of his three years and five games with the Kansas City Chiefs, and has averaged 27.2 yards per return on 69 tries, including two returns for touchdowns.
As a rusher, Davis has always been a backup. His total of 233 rushes for 775 yards averages out to only 3.33 yards per carry. Given his speed, it is also surprising his longest run is only 48 yards. He’s lost three fumbles, all as a runner.
Davis’ receiving stats don’t jump off the chart either: 31 catches for 264 yards, an average of 8.4. However, the Packers are in dire need of getting screen passes back to being an integral part of the passing attack. Davis should get his opportunities right away to show us what he can do as a receiver coming out of the backfield.
For a player in danger of being cut just two months ago, Davis suddenly has an opportunity to be a major contributor on the Packers – at least until Eddie Lacy and James Starks are healthy. Unlike some other running backs that the team passed on, Davis is just into his fourth year in the NFL – still on the upside of his career. A great opportunity just landed in his lap.
I suspect the Packers were hoping to add youth to the roster, even for what was being looked at as a backup role a few weeks back. It’s no longer a backup role at present. Fans can expect to see the new running back on the field quite a bit on Thursday.
If you put credence in metrics, shouldn’t this dude be a 1,800 yard rusher each season? Maybe regarded as the best back ever? His metrics don’t tell you that you have a rusher who gains 3.3 ypc. So much for metrics.
Reality tells us, he was 4th on a depth chart. Some say he was about to get released. Something’s wrong with this cat. Kind of like something is wrong with TT and MM when you’re using Montgomery as a running back.
He’s a body, the Packers no doubt need him because they were unprepared (again), just as they needed Wallace and V. Young (i guess). But make no mistake about it, with a couple days to learn a playbook, this dude will be lost out there. By lost i mean, he’ll have to be coddled on where to line up, told which way the play is going. and will not recognize play calls and audibles.
In this case, off the chart metrics, equates to a limp band-aid, based on this guys performance thus far in the NFL.
I don’t know the guy, but I’ve seen a photo showing so much muscularity I don’t know how he can dress himself. That of course leaves him with below average burst and agility percentages. He’s definitely an under-performer, though on September 1 he had 14 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown in the Pack’s final preseason game. I’d order him away from the weight room for a month or so.
He might not be completely lost. KC runs the west coast offense, so that might speed up his progression, terminology being the big hurdle perhaps.
I look for Don Nelson to get a lot of carries.
You really think this guy is going to come out and return kicks and then line up in the backfield for half the game? Maybe once Ed and Starks are back but not now. Then again, MM has done dumber shit in the past so who knows, maybe he will play fucking corner too with that amazing speed.
Be nice if he turned out to be Ahman Green????? BUT KC didn’t trade him for bowl of soup cuz he can play! He apparently has fumbling issues also.
If you recall that is why Seattle traded Green too, he had fumbling issues.
I wouldn’t worry to much about the rushing average. The attempts are to low to get a real feel. I do wonder about fumbles. He has had to many for the amount of carries. In addition Davis has a knock about being able to pass protect. If one or both of those problems come up the Packers will not be sending a conditional pick to the Chiefs.
Holy shit,
Lacy put on IR. Needs surgery…
LMAO……Yea, that’s a real shocker huh?
Chalk another one up for the Packers medical.
I mentioned it before it was posted on this site, when there was only speculation Lacy wouldn’t play for several weeks. McCarthy broke the fucking guy!
Eddie Lazy to IR… he will never play again in Green Bay. Rookie contract…done
Beat reporter Bob McGinn has an article out labeling Davis as a fumbling failure. To clarify, his NFL regular season record is four fumbles, three lost, as a runner, two fumbles, none lost, as a receiver., and I don’t believe he had any on his 69 kick returns. Not so terrible – I know of a QB that rivals this record in the last two games. Let’s give the guy a chance.