RealGM

Is it an injury, is he overweight, is it the blocking?

He is on pace for 681 yards after getting 1178 in his first year and 1139 last year.

He was hurt.
Linebackers and safeties are playing closer to the box and are cutting off running lanes.

He might be a few pounds overweight, but I think that's largely inconsequential. I actually don't see him as much bigger than he was last year.

He has horrible vision for an RB and he doesn't do a good job breaking through tackles for the most part for a guy his size.

humanrefutation wrote:He was hurt.
Linebackers and safeties are playing closer to the box and are cutting off running lanes.

I haven't tracked this closely, but my guess is that with defenses no longer so terrified of getting beat over the top, they aren't playing as much Cover 2 with both safeties deep which makes running the ball easier. Defenses also seem to be blitzing more often with less fear of exposing their corners and that can clog running lanes.

As for Lacy himself, he lacks short area quickness and shifty feet, so he needs clear running lanes to get going and there just haven't been as many of those vs last year. He's not the type of back who out run linebackers to the outside if things are bottled up inside or juke a defender with quick feet when the line can't create a clear lane to run through.

trwi7 wrote:He has horrible vision for an RB and he doesn't do a good job breaking through tackles for the most part for a guy his size.

Coming from me a guy who wanted him in the first round that year, I agree that this is his major issue. He has no vision and it seems like the game goes too fast for him.

Lacy has no vision? Have you guys watched him the last two years?

Something is definitely wrong but he's always displayed good vision between the tackles. If anything he's lacking his usual burst and ability to power through guys at the 2nd level. Teams are also stacking the line because no one respects our WRs ability to get open down the field. Add in the injury and I'm sure it's a combination of a lot of things.

Ron Swanson wrote:Lacy has no vision? Have you guys watched him the last two years?

Umm, yes. People are actually going to argue this? His vision is poor but it works because he's huge and can typically get past smaller guys trying to tackle him.

He's pregnant.

My biggest annoyance with Lacy is that he runs into the pile way too often. He doesn't cut back. But that's not new with him.

trwi7 wrote:

Ron Swanson wrote:Lacy has no vision? Have you guys watched him the last two years?

Umm, yes. People are actually going to argue this? His vision is poor but it works because he's huge and can typically get past smaller guys trying to tackle him.

He needs to get a head of steam going though through the initial wave of lineman to where those smaller guys are to power right through. Those holes haven't been there as much, likely for a variety of reasons and he doesn't have the quick or shifty feet to create longer runs on his own when the blocking isn't there as more skilled backs can at times.

humanrefutation wrote:My biggest annoyance with Lacy is that he runs into the pile way too often. He doesn't cut back. But that's not new with him.

In other words, his vision is crap. It probably has something to do with his size going back to when he was a kid. Run into a pile and you're probably the biggest dude there and can just go through them. That doesn't work in the NFL though.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of8kY_IbYq4[/youtube]

I was reading Rodgers said something about 7 guys in the box. Sounds like defenses are starting to crowd the LOS taking away the run game and short passing game. Need that vertical to offset it. Was hoping Davante would be that spark, maybe it's too much for the 2nd year player his first game back, and JJ on the outside seems covered in one on ones more often than not.

The ankle injury could still be a factor, but he looks heavy and slow.

I think there's a cumulative effect from a few things.

1. one of the WSSP Packer insiders last week ( can't remember if it was Clemens or Imig ) mentioned that Lacy himself admitted that he was running too high, not getting his pads down low enough when he was hitting the hole.

2. the lack of any deep threat from the Packer receivers has definitely brought the defenders up closer to the LOS. Just look at the Broncos game, where they routinely had ten defenders within 4 yds of the LOS. That's gonna be tough sledding for any RB.

3 & 4. I think the ankle has not recovered as quickly as one might expect, due to Eddie carrying around about 20 lbs. more than he should be.

He's fat.

Hasn't he started past seasons slow and then come on toward the end of the season? I'm hoping that's what is going to happen this season. So far, Starks has looked better than Lacy.

He accidentally swallowed a bowling ball.

I'm hesitant to throw big money at him, next year is his contract year right? Might have to draft another RB this April 16.

Still has 1.5 years to go, so long ways away but he's not breaking tackles like the last 2 years.

James Starks is the starter headed into Detroit game per Rob Demovsky. Starks is averaging 5.9 yards per rush the last 4 games and Lacy is averaging 2.4.