Green Bay Packers: In need of running back depth

By Keegan Matheson | Mar 17, 2015

January 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers running back James Starks (44) runs the ball ahead of Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during the second half in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Following the returns of Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga, the Green Bay Packers are one John Kuhn away from returning all of their offensive starters from 2014. There remains work to be done on defense, but the offensive unit now requires little more than tinkering. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Green Bay Packers have not extended an exclusive rights tender to running back DuJuan Harris, meaning a new face will join Eddie Lacy and James Starks in 2015.

Harris joined the Packers in 2012 as a member of their practice squad, and was activated in December where he would surprise down the stretch and become a fast favorite of Mike McCarthy. Following a strong playoff showing, Harris had a very real shot at winning the starting job entering 2013, but suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his knee just prior to the season.

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This was the same injury that sidetracked the career of Cadillac Williams, and is notorious for robbing skill players of their burst on the field. The patellar tendon works with the thigh muscles to help straighten the knee, and while Harris’ return was extremely impressive, he made little impact in 2014. Harris rushed for just 64 yards, 52 of which came in a 55-14 blowout win over Chicago in Week 10, and averaged 20.7 yards on 22 kick returns.

Aug 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The most important question that Ted Thompson will need to answer is which type of running back he would like to fill the third spot on the depth chart. A jitterbug receiving back in the mold of Harris could help Aaron Rodgers in third down and passing situations, but I’ll suggest that Green Bay should be looking towards 2016 when they make this decision.

James Starks is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2015 season, so the Packers may be wise to seek out a player that profiles as a feature back. It will be important to have a capable backup developed in 2016 if Starks departs, as Eddie Lacy‘s hard running style could lead to injuries or, at the very least, the need for complimentary carries.

Aug 9, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive back Hakeem Smith (38) dives for the tackle against Green Bay Packers running back Rajion Neal (34) during the second half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

One option could already be on the roster, in the form of the 5’11”, 220-pound Rajion Neal. The Tennessee product joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent this past offseason, and will be 23 years old when the season opens. In his senior season with the Volunteers, Neal rushed for 1,124 yards (5.2 average) and 12 touchdowns.

Neal developed a nice one-cut running style at Tennessee, and has better short-area moves than expected. He has the potential to contribute in the passing game and consistently falls forward at the end of his rushes, much like Starks, but lacks top end speed and ran behind an offensive line at Tennessee that often parted the sea for him. Neal should be given an opportunity in training camp and is a truly intriguing option, but he should be competing with several others for the job.

With the depth of this running back class and the limited urgency of this need, the Packers may not address the position until the fifth round and later. The need will become more pressing entering 2016, however, and fans should expect Ted Thompson to address the position one year early.

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