Packers Blog Roundup: Ryan Grant’s Future In Green Bay
By Brian Carriveau on Aug 25, 2011 with 9 Comments
With news that Ryan Grant has accepted a lower base salary in exchange for a guaranteed contract in 2011, Packers bloggers have taken to debating about the running back’s future in Green Bay. J. Krelt of Rock ‘N’ Roll Cecil Club thinks there’s a chance the Packers could trade Grant. “If there is one thing we’ve learned about Ted Thompson over his tenure with the Packer organization is that he not afraid to make bold personnel decisions,” writes Krelt. “We’ve seen this time and time again with players ranging from Al Harris in 2010 to Brett Farve in 2008. Thompson discovers some young, raw, inexpensive and unknown talent and puts them into a position to succeed. These roster changes are often at the expense of a veteran and always seem to blindside Packer nation.”
Amanda Lawson of PocketDoppler thinks it would be unwise to cut Grant, but acknowledges that general manager Ted Thompson isn’t afraid to go against the grain. “Overall, the thought of cutting Grant is absolutely absurd,” writs Lawson. “But with Ted Thompson, you never know the possibilities. Hopefully we’ll know more after tomorrow night’s game against the Colts.”
More on Ryan Grant also appears at Acme Packing Company and Total Packers as well.
A unique perspective on the Packers’ no-huddle offense comes from former Packers safety Matt Bowen at the National Football Post. “The bottom line here is stress, because that is exactly what the no-huddle brings to the field,” writes Bowen. “As (Associated Press writer Chris) Jenkins points out, this is now on tape and something defenses will have to prep for. Will it be a weekly feature in Packers game plan? We will find that out soon.”
The Packers are poised for a letdown. That’s the word from Andy Benoit of the New York Times Fifth Down blog in their Packers season preview. “On paper this is a better team than a year ago,” writes Benoit. “Having worked together in the same system for several years should be advantageous early in this post-lockout season. A prediction for the Packers comes down to a person’s gut feeling about how the team will respond to the emotional demands of defending a title. The personal hunch here is there’ll be some sort of letdown. But that’s just a guess.”
Wide receiver Chastin West could have a breakthrough game on Friday against the Colts, according to Jonathan Liedl of JonBob’s Packer Blog. “For a guy who went undrafted out of Fresno State, stayed on the Packers practice squad for a year, and is trying to earn a roster spot at the defending Super Bowl champions’ deepest and most skilled position, the opportunity West will have on Friday could not be any more golden,” writes Liedl. I thought his “breakthrough” came in the last preseason game.
The strengths and weaknesses of rookie outside linebackers Vic So’oto and Jamari Lattimore are broken down at AllGreenBayPackers.com by “Jersey” Al Bracco. “If we could take So’oto’s size, strength & straight line speed and give him Lattimore’s lateral quickness and burst… Calling Dr. Frankenstein,” writes Bracco. The blog post included several videos to aid in the analysis.
The recent fight at training camp elicited memories of Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas for Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame for not nominating Jerry Kramer for induction, says John Rehor of Eat More Cheese.
The battle at outside linebacker is taken up at Packer Update.
Bart Starr is listed as the no. 4 Packer of all-time at Green Bay Packer Talk.
The effect of Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb not playing on Friday is explained at Acme Packing Company.
The Colts-Packers game is previewed at Lombardi Ave.
A unique look at a different kind of Super Bowl ring appears at The Wearing of the Green (and Gold).
A new episode of Cheesehead Radio airs tonight.
A picture of Jim Taylor appears at Packerville, U.S.A.
A humorous article about Bryan Bulaga is at JonBob’s Packer Blog.
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.
Second-hand news sources are not included in the Blog Roundup unless they also include meaningful commentary.
Filed Under: Packers Blogs • Packers News
I believe Grant will be on the team this year. I noticed in the Cardinal game, Grant was in the backfield protecting Arod on passing plays. Looks like he will be filling in for Brandon Jackson as Arod personal protector. For that reason I think he will be on this team.
I didn’t watch the game, but as I recall pass pro was one of Grant’s weaknesses. Has he improved?
Great post. He will be here I think as well, our other best option in the backfield to protect Rodgers went to Cleveland and the rest of our backs in pass protection situations are suspect at best.
I’m not sure I’d consider Grant, Kuhn or Johnson suspect at pass protection, but perhaps the jury’s still out on Starks, Green and Saine.
“I’m not sure I’d consider Grant, Kuhn or Johnson suspect at pass protection” – well, Grant yes. Kuhn and Johnson are quite excellent actually.
Wasn’t Kuhn used in the majority of 3rd downs against PIT? If so, I believe it will be his job this year to be the 3rd down back.
It may not happen right away, but I think eventually James Starks is going to be the guy in Green Bay. He’s simply a much better player than Ryan Grant. And that’s less a knock on Grant than it is my feeling that Starks has all the tools to be an elite RB in the NFL. Yes, elite. Top 5. I see it when I watch the film. He can catch, he’s fast, he can juke, he can cut, he has it all. I think Grant may stick around to keep some miles off Starks’ tires, but toward the end of the year, when the games get serious, the ball will go to #44.
“It may not happen right away, but I think eventually James Starks is going to be the guy in Green Bay.”
Yep.
Cutting Grant doesn’t make sense. Trading, maybe that does.
Great breakdown of those OLBs by Al. Good development guys.
I think West has a good opportunity tomorrow to play with the starters.