The Seattle Seahawks stunned pretty much everyone when they released their leading rusher, Christine Michael, on Tuesday.
People probably shouldn’t be that stunned. In is four-year NFL career, Michael has been traded by Seattle (to Dallas), cut by both the Cowboys and Redskins and now cut by the Seahawks for the trifecta.
The Seahawks are kicking Michael to the curb this time because Thomas Rawls is returning from injury.
Now, all of that being said, the Green Bay Packers are terrible at running the football right now. They barely even try and when they do, they don’t get very far. That was increasingly the case when Mike McCarthy decided to hand the No. 1 job to James Starks last week, even though Ty Montgomery is clearly the best running back on the active roster.
Starks is averaging just 2.4 yards per carry this season. Montgomery is averaging 5.3, but who cares about statistical analysis when you’re the Green Bay Packers?
Clearly, Starks started the season ahead of Montgomery on the running back depth chart, so that’s where he needs to be when he’s healthy. Just ask Mike McCarthy.
Nonetheless, the Packers’ running game is devolving into a nonexistent entity.
That said, you might be surprised to look at the statistics. The Packers are still averaging 102.4 yards per game, which ranks them 19th in the league. The ranking isn’t exciting, but the fact that they are over 100 yards is almost stunning.
How are they doing that, you ask? Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now accounting for an increasing percentage of that total.
But quarterback scrambles a running game does not make.
Could Michael help the Packers achieve some balance?
Maybe, if they actually give him the ball. Michael has run for 469 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Those numbers would lead the Packers, especially the latter one. The Packers’ only rushing touchdowns this season have come courtesy of Rodgers.
This wouldn’t be a solution to all of the offensive woes, however. Michael is averaging a decent, not great, 4.0 yards per carry.
By comparison, Eddie Lacy was averaging 5.1 per carry before he went down.
On the bright side, while Michael isn’t Lacy, the Packers do have a much better offensive line than the Seahawks. At least when they’re healthy.
So two questions remain.
Since Michael will have to go through waivers, would the Packers have a chance at him? Interestingly, the majority of teams with fewer rushing yards per game than the Packers actually have better records than they do.
The exceptions are the Rams (4-5), Jaguars (2-7), Steelers (4-5), Colts (4-5), Browns (0-10) and Bears (2-7). The Rams and Steelers aren’t in the running back market.
It’s possible.
Would the Packers actually make a claim?
Knowing Ted Thompson, we doubt it. He wouldn’t want to upset the delicate roster balance with — gasp! — an outsider!
On the other hand, this season is starting to look like a dumpster fire, so what do you have to lose? It isn’t as if McCarthy is suddenly going to give Don Jackson 25 carries in a game.
Hahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahaha
Is this a joke? We know Ted won’t date bring this guy in. He is an outsider. And has some supposed character issues. Can’t have any of those guys. Say didn’t Ron Wolf bring in Andre Rison? He has some character issues, but also made significant contributions for a super bowl team.
Well I’ll be damned. Miracles do happen.
They’d be more likely to declare Aaron Rodgers the running back than to bring in someone else’s cast offs.
They should kick the tires on Blair Walsch. Maybe they can convert him to running back.
Last time the packers had no running game they won a super bowl.
I guess they could break out the CPR Paddles get Ted up to check??? He will most likely Pass though! Gotta be a street free agent FB with 7.6-40 we need roster spot for.
I’ve heard from few people, Pack considering Coughlin as next HC ?? Anyone else hearing that? curious.
No. I don’t think we want a 65 year old dude
Not my first choice either?? But anythings better than McTitanic
Hadn’t heard that but funny enough I heard him on Sirius this morning on my way home. He wants to get back into coaching again. He was in Green Bay once upon a time, along with Dick LeBeau.
Other random thoughts today. Maybe Chuck Cecil wants to be a head coach. Maybe Sean Payton and McCarthy could be traded for each other, bringing “juice” to their new teams. Maybe the Packers back into the playoffs and McCarthy gets another 6 year reprieve. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit at that thought.
They’d have to add him to the active roster. I wish we had a second fullback not named squirewell we could cut off the active roster if we had a chance to claim him as a no/low risk option.
Lol. Nah. Makes too much sense
This article is a disgrace. Where is Shawn? Articles like this put this site up there with The Onion. Ty Montgomery is NOT a RB. He doesnt have the build to be a full time RB in the NFL. If he was better than Starks, he would be a RB and not a WR considering Starks is a pretty good backup up RB as we have seen in the past.
As for Michaels do you even research before you write this shit? The guy got cut by Seattle for character issues. You dont cut your starting RB just because a guy is coming back from injury. Whose to say the guy coming back wont get hurt again the first run from scrimmage? No they cut this guy because Rawls coming back gives them a perfect excuse to remove a cancer. Holy shit if Pete Carol doesnt want the guy then we sure as hell dont!@!
Montgomery was viewed as a running back by MULTIPLE NFL GMs. This isn’t like Cobb.
Why don’t the Packers just sign one of their ex-preseason backs? Brandon Burks?
Dujan Harris was one of these Packers preseason heros, and he has lit it up in San Fran now that he’s been given a chance.
I’ve got sizzle.