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Packers' run game needs a boost

Photo

Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green is hit during a run by Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Chris Prosinski during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay.

GREEN BAY — Even the Green Bay Packers recognize their running game is sluggish.

It's not that they don't want to run. Despite having Aaron Rodgers and his seemingly endless options at receiver, the Packers doggedly cling to the idea of a balanced offense, handing it off about 25 times per game.

They just don't have much, if anything, to show for it.

"You don't want teams just to commit to the passing game. You've got to get respect in the running game," tight end Jermichael Finley said Thursday. "Right now, we're doing an OK job, under average. So we've got to pick it up."

The Packers (5-3) are averaging a measly 3.7 yards per carry, with only Dallas, Arizona and New Orleans worse in the NFC. Their two rushing touchdowns are tied for fewest in the NFL. Not only have they not had a 100-yard rusher in, well, pretty much forever, they haven't had anyone come close since workhorse running back Cedric Benson went out with a foot injury in the fifth game of the season.

In fact, the entire team has cracked the century mark in yards rushing just three times this year, and not since Oct. 7 in Indianapolis.

"We just have to be more consistent," offensive guard Josh Sitton said. "Sometimes, we're creating holes and they're not hitting them. Sometimes, we're just getting stuffed in the middle. It's a group effort and it hasn't been as consistent as it needs to be."

Now, with a quarterback like Rodgers, some might wonder why the Packers even bother with a ground game. After all, when the Miami Dolphins had Dan Marino, they ran the ball about as often as it snows in South Beach and that worked out pretty well.

Rodgers ranks second in the NFL in both completion rate (69 percent) and passer rating (107.9), and is fourth in passing yardage (2,165 yards) and interception percentage (1.35). He has 18 touchdowns in the last five weeks alone.

But defenses have evolved since Marino's playing days, becoming more and more specialized, and teams can't afford to be one-dimensional.

Because the Packers play in Green Bay, there's going to come a time in the year when the snow will be falling, the wind will be howling and they'll have no choice but to run the football.

"There's going to come games where we have to close out games with the run game," Sitton said. "We need to be more consistent, for sure."

It's not as if the Packers have a running back in storage. Benson is on injured reserve, eligible to return, meaning he's out until mid-December at least. James Starks, Green Bay's leading rusher last season, has recovered from the toe injury that cost him the first five games and the preseason, but coach Mike McCarthy does not seem inclined to give him a larger role. Fullback John Kuhn is nursing a hamstring injury.

That leaves it to second-year back Alex Green."I see the holes are there. I have to do a good job pressing the holes and make quicker reads," he said.

Packer notes

-- Wide receiver Greg Jennings had surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, and both he and McCarthy said it went "well."

-- McCarthy said linebacker Nick Perry (knee/wrist) and cornerback Sam Shields (ankle) are doubtful for Sunday's game.

-- Cornerback Casey Hayward was named the NFL's defensive rookie of the month for October. Hayward had four interceptions in three games, a first for a Packers rookie since Tom Flynn in 1984.

-- Rodgers was named the NFL's offensive player of the month. It's the sixth time he's received the honor.