Today is the third day of two weeks of Green Bay Packers coverage leading up to the April 26 beginning of the NFL draft.
April 12: Five best first-rounders in the past 25 years
April 13: Five worst first-rounders in the past 25 years
April 14: Quarterbacks position preview
Today: Running backs/fullbacks position preview
April 16: Offensive tackles position preview
April 17: Guards/centers position preview
April 18: Tight ends position preview
April 19: Wide receivers position preview
April 20: Defensive linemen position preview
April 21: Linebackers position preview
April 22: Cornerbacks position preview
April 23: Safeties position preview
April 24: Ted Thompson's draft strategy
April 25: Forecasting the first-round pick
TODAY'S POSITION: RUNNING BACKS / FULLBACKS
Importance (1-to-10 scale): 7
On the roster
James Starks was becoming the Packers' best running back early in the 2011 season, but injuries limited him to 13 carries over the final five regular-season games.
Alex Green was about to start getting the ball more in the running game midway through last season, but he then tore his ACL in Week 7 and was out for the remainder of the season.
Ryan Grant was the relatively steady veteran of the group as he split carries with Starks. Grant, though he could still re-sign with the Packers, is currently a free agent and is 29 years old.
It's possible that Green -- the highest-drafted player of these three coming out of college -- could turn out to be something special, but the top priority for him this season will just be getting back to full health after major surgery. Starks seems to be injury-prone, and, even if Grant returns, he is an average running back at this point in his career.
Yes, the Packers have an outstanding passing game led by Aaron Rodgers, but having a solid every-down running back who averages 4-plus yards a carry and consistently catches passes would do wonders for the team's ability to have a more balanced offense. The desire to find such a player could very well lead general manager Ted Thompson to look at a running back in the draft, perhaps even as early as the second round.
Last five running backs / fullbacks drafted
2011: Alex Green, Hawaii: third round (96th overall)--still with the Packers
2010: James Starks, Buffalo: sixth round (193rd overall)--still with the Packers
2009: Quinn Johnson, LSU: fifth round (145th overall)--traded, September 2011, now with the Titans
2007: Brandon Jackson, Nebraska: second round (63rd overall)--signed with Cleveland, July 2011, now with the Browns
2007: DeShawn Wynn, Florida: seventh round (228th overall)--signed with Saints, August 2010, now in the Canadian Football League
Philosophy at the position
In Thompson's seven years with the Packers, he has used a second-round pick and a third-round pick to select a running back. However, despite his success in building other aspects of the team, Thompson has yet to find a top-tier runner to pair with Rodgers. Even though coach Mike McCarthy has said he doesn't need a 1,200-yard rusher to execute his offense, his tone would likely change dramatically as soon as that player was actually on his roster.
In this year's draft, with five running backs all closely ranked and expected to go somewhere between the second and fourth round, one of those five players could fall to a spot where Thompson is comfortable using a high draft pick to bring him to Green Bay.
Day 1 name to remember (Round 1)
Trent Richardson, junior, Alabama (5-9, 228). Richardson is the only first-round talent in this draft at running back, and there is an incredibly slim chance that he slips out of the top 10 picks. Therefore, he won't be wearing a Packers uniform next season without a very unlikely series of circumstances first occurring.
While the running back position is largely considered to be Green Bay's third-biggest position of need in the draft, Richardson won't fall to No. 28 and there isn't another player worthy of the Packers using their first-round pick to select.
Day 2 name to remember (Rounds 2-3)
Doug Martin, senior, Boise State (5-9, 223). If Martin is available when the Packers are up in the second round at No. 58, be prepared to hear his name called. With incredibly similar measurables to Richardson, Martin does everything well. He has good speed, terrific vision as a runner and is considered to be a hard-working, smart player. Martin would almost certainly step in as a rookie and be the Packers' starting running back.
Martin is part of a pack of four running backs who are similarly ranked by most scouts and draft analysts. He could be the second overall running back selected and possibly go late in the first round. However, if Miami's LaMar Miller, Virginia Tech's David Wilson and Oregon's LaMichael James all go before him, Martin could be there at No. 58. While Miller, Wilson and James could also be possibilities for Green Bay, Martin seems like the best fit of those four for the Packers.
Day 3 name to remember (Rounds 4-7)
Tauren Poole, senior Tennessee (5-10, 205). At this stage in the draft, every running back will have weaknesses. Poole is not strong in the passing game and won't be the fastest guy still on the board. However, he is a smart, hard-working player who excelled in the classroom at Tennessee, being named Academic All-SEC in each of his four seasons. After finishing his Bachelor's Degree in three years, Poole is nearing completion of his Master's. Plus, he has no history of injuries. If he's still available late in the fifth or sixth round and the Packers have not yet drafted a running back, keep an eye on Poole.
FOXSports.com's draft expert Taylor Jones says:
"I think Doug Martin would be a really good fit for the Packers if they want to go that route, but I don't think he's there for the Packers' pick in the second round. I have Martin going early second round. But I think he's the blended, spread-offense kind of guy that can give yards in the running game but is also a dynamic receiver out of the backfield. From a fit perspective, Doug Martin is the best option (for Green Bay), but I don't think they'll want to take him in the first round.
"I think the problem the Packers have from the running game is the reliance on the spread offense. Neither (Starks or Green) are that dynamic in the passing game itself. Starks' receptions are usually just dump-off passes. A couple guys in this year's draft can actually create and you can scheme from them instead of just dumping off to them."
