Packers Position Profiles
Brian Carriveau
packers Running backs and Quarterbacks There’s little doubt that Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks, and indeed, one of the best players in the NFL. Packers fans hardly need to be reminded of that any more. He can make throws to all parts of the field with strength and accuracy. About the only thing Rodgers can’t do is run the read-option. Actually, he probably could but the Packers won’t want to take the risk of him being hit. In the never-ending quest of improvement, however, one area Rodgers arguably needs to tweak is getting rid of the football as his 51 sacks were the most endured by any NFL quarterback last season. Of course, there’s a chicken or the egg argument whether it’s Rodgers’ fault or his protection. Graham Harrell was Rodgers’ understudy in 2012 but won’t be guaranteed of the same job in 2013. In limited playing time, the only memorable thing about Harrell this past season was his goal-line fumble that was returned for a touchdown by the New Orleans Saints. Last year’s seventh-round draft choice, B.J. Coleman, will be given an opportunity to win the No. 2 job in training camp, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Packers won’t draft another quarterback in the mid to late rounds if they think they can find a better option that Harrell or Coleman.
Because of injuries and ineffectiveness, five different players led the
Packers in rushing in different games during the 2012 season. Among them, Cedric Benson is currently an unrestricted free agent. It’s possible the Packers bring him back on an NFL minimum contract that carries little risk like they did last season, but they’ll want to make sure he’s recovered from the lisfranc injury in his foot first. Ryan Grant is also a free agent and appears unlikely to return unless the injury situation becomes dire like it did at midseason in 2012. The best chance for stable production may come from DuJuan Harris who was a revelation as a midseason pickup. Harris exhibited a quickness that no other player on the roster could replicate and deserves at least an opportunity to see if he can become the Packers’ starter at the position. That being said, it would behoove the Packers to find a complement to Harris in the Draft. Among those running backs remaining on the roster are a bunch of question marks. James Starks simply can’t stay healthy for an entire season. And after suffering a torn ACL in 2011, Alex Green returned to action in 2012 but was never 100 percent healed and was benched late last season. John Kuhn returns as the Packers only fullback, although his skills may be in decline. 91 | Cheesehead TV 2013 Draft Preview
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