How good is Ryan Grant?

[Ayt]

We surprisingly haven't had too many threads about this guy. Here are his stats over the last 6 games.

115 carries (19.2 per game)
561 yards (93.5 per game)
4.9 YPC
4 TDs

For the sake of comparison of how great that production is, 11 RBs in the NFL average over the 19.2 carries per game, but only Peterson averages more than 93.5 yards per game (a sick 119.7 per game, with Parker second at 91.1).

Grant has basically given us superstar production the last six games. Is he a fluke? Is he not a fluke, but much more average than his production would suggest?

I honestly don't see his play as a fluke. I've argued on other boards about Grant the last several weeks, and was sold on him after the Minny game.

I think we have a guy that could finish in the top 5 in rushing in coming seasons. He has sick physical skills and knows how to use them. His vision has also gotten noticeably better as he's gotten more PT, which was my main concern after his first two starts.

There were comparisons to Gado made since they both came out of nowhere to get some production after Grant's first few good games, but Grant has looked superior to me in nearly every aspect of running compared to Gado. He hits the hole much better, he finishes runs better, he's better at making cuts without dropping much speed, and he has better top end speed in the open field. A more apt comparison would be a younger Ahman Green if we want to compare him to former Packers.

RB is of course the hardest position to predict from year to year in terms of production, but I think we have a potential 1,400 yard back with explosive play ability and the physical ability to carry a heavy workload.

At this point its possible I'm preaching to the choir here, but I thought I'd bring it up on this board since I've been posting more at a couple other sites recently and haven't talked about Grant here very often.

[ReasonablySober]

Three things really stand out when I see Grant.

One is how hard he hits the hole. It's a night and day comparison between Grant and our other backs. Even last night I made note of how Willis McGahee ran. He had a great game, but he was more tentative in the way he ran. He let his mammoth blockers up front create something and McGahee sort of picked his way to the second level. Obviously it was effective. Grant, however, sees a crease and gets up field. It really is 'Ahman Green-esque'.

Second is the cut back ability. He just seems like he naturally looks for that lane. At first I didn't know if he got lucky or stumbled into those lanes. But once he's into the backfield he's looking to go back across the grain. He's creating those lanes for himself. Very remarkable for a young back, especially one coming from the practice squad.

Lastly it's the way he finished runs. Like a couple of our WRs, he doesn't go down with first or even second contact most times. He's a load to bring down.

When I see Ryan Grant I see Fred Taylor.

[Kerb Hohl]

When I see Ryan Grant I see Fred Taylor.

Thanks, you just got us a heap of injuries with that statement.

[brewcityboii]

Ryan Grant Reminds me alot of Robert Smith he isn't quite as explosive but he hits the hole and cuts in the second level alot like smith. Lets just hope he doesn't retire early.

[ReasonablySober]

Good call on Robert Smith.

[eagle13]

the interview he did this past game sold me on his character and attitude. Great kid. Defintely runs hard and quick and as DB said finds the crease. that seems to be critical in ZBS.

Still take away his 60 yard run last week and his (was it?) 25 yard run against MN and is average per carry ain't great. but thats on the Oline.

Overall I like the kid. He is certainly one of the 2 RBs we need.

[jakecronus8]

I think he is starting material but certainly hasn't done it in enough games yet. I think it would be smart to try to sign him to a cap friendly long term deal and still try to find another running back. It is imperative now in the NFL to have 2 backs, and Morency and Jackson have shown nothing. I would love to get a back in the second round of the upcoming draft. With the amount of quality in this draft, someone is going to slip. It would be sweet to pick up a Slaton or a Felix Jones in round 2.

[eagle13]

PS - another coup for TT.

[bigkurty]

the interview he did this past game sold me on his character and attitude. Great kid.

I totally agree. He is also very well spoken and is the type of guy I could see the media liking since he is intelligent. I really appreciate players like that. Too often you hear these interviews from players where they sound like total idiots and that is a big pet peeve of mine.

[xTitan]

He is no fluke, the offensive line has still been very uneven, he has been getting some great (at times) fullback blocking, using the fullback is something I advocated from the start, but Grant is improving weekly with his cuts, plus ge has not only shown quickness but and extra gear in the open field. I agree GB still needs to add another back but you can concentrate on the defensive backfield and Offensive line with your early draft picks....look at LB as well.

[Siefer]

I've been liking Grant more and more, every week I see him go out there and get it done. He's got great vision, great cutback ability, and is hard to bring down. On that big run against Dallas, he also showed off his top end speed in the open field. This kid can flat out play.

[jligon]

I love the way Grant has been running the ball and he's definitely not afraid of contact. The only thing that I see that's just a little worrisome is that he sometimes carries the ball on the "wrong side." Reminds me of how Green was only comfortable carrying the ball one way, regardless of where the defense was. Should I be worrying about this or is it more common these days?

[Fandom]

I don't know, I'm recalling the long run he had against Dallas and looking at the replay, as he was bursting through the hole, he had both hands on the ball protecting it perfectly (like you're taught).

[jligon]

I don't know, I'm recalling the long run he had against Dallas and looking at the replay, as he was bursting through the hole, he had both hands on the ball protecting it perfectly (like you're taught).

It's not something I've noticed on every play. Just a couple times I've seen him in the open field with defenders pursuing and I assumed he'd shift the ball to the other side and he doesn't.

[th87]

Ryan Grant Reminds me alot of Robert Smith he isn't quite as explosive but he hits the hole and cuts in the second level alot like smith. Lets just hope he doesn't retire early.

Haha, that's exactly what I was going to say, and be showered with praise. Looks like you beat me to it.

[xTitan]

I actually thought Grant had alot of Ricky Waters in him...similiar build similiar power.

[Rapcity_11]

the interview he did this past game sold me on his character and attitude. Great kid. Defintely runs hard and quick and as DB said finds the crease. that seems to be critical in ZBS.

Still take away his 60 yard run last week and his (was it?) 25 yard run against MN and is average per carry ain't great. but thats on the Oline.

Overall I like the kid. He is certainly one of the 2 RBs we need.

You can't just take away long runs...Grant isn't the only guy doing that, look at Peterson or LT...every good back has long runs that inflate their numbers.

[Ayt]

the interview he did this past game sold me on his character and attitude. Great kid. Defintely runs hard and quick and as DB said finds the crease. that seems to be critical in ZBS.

Still take away his 60 yard run last week and his (was it?) 25 yard run against MN and is average per carry ain't great. but thats on the Oline.

Overall I like the kid. He is certainly one of the 2 RBs we need.

I'm not sure why you would do this -- his big play ability is one of the reasons he's been so productive -- but here goes. Subtract the 62 yarder and the 30 yarder and subtract those two carries and he's still averaged 4.2 YPC in the last six games.

Despite not having a 20+ yard run until the last six games, he ranks 6th in the NFL in those types of gains on the season. He has the most runs of 20+ yards in the last six weeks in the NFL. The only game he didn't break a 20+ yarder was KC, when his long was 12.

His long gains aren't a fluke, which is what you seem to be implying.

[jligon]

I rarely see him stopped for no gain. He's not just a 2 yard gain all day and then break one big type guy. He gets a lot of 7-8 yard gains, from my memory.

[eagle13]

-= original quote snipped =-

I'm not sure why you would do this -- his big play ability is one of the reasons he's been so productive -- but here goes. Subtract the 62 yarder and the 30 yarder and subtract those two carries and he's still averaged 4.2 YPC in the last six games.

Despite not having a 20+ yard run until the last six games, he ranks 6th in the NFL in those types of gains on the season. He has the most runs of 20+ yards in the last six weeks in the NFL. The only game he didn't break a 20+ yarder was KC, when his long was 12.

His long gains aren't a fluke, which is what you seem to be implying.

NO I am not implying this. Big runs are great. BUT my math was wrong on YPC w/o them. My bad.

Anyway I guess I'm hpeful but skeptical.
Gado looked great for a few games.
Morency looked great fora few games.
I'm hopeful about Grant - I like his attitude and running style but I'm just gonna wait to annoint him as our saviour just yet.