The Green Bay Packers are focused on becoming more of a consistent running team after being way out of balance over the past few years with Aaron Rodgers, but in 2013 they will do it without their incumbent leading rusher, as the Pack decided to release running back Alex Green ahead of the 53-man roster cut deadline, leaving Eddie Lacy and James Starks as the top backs.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Packers released Green on Saturday as they were making cuts to the roster before the deadline at 6 pm on Saturday to get down to 53 players, meaning that coach Mike McCarthy is okay with Eddie Lacy and James Starks at the top after already losing presumed starter DuJuan Harris to a season-ending injury. The team also has rookie Jonathan Franklin on the depth chart after releasing Green, who was tops for the Packers last season with 464 yards.
The Packers haven't had a consistent running game in a few years and it has been a couple seasons since a running back has had a 100-yard game, but McCarthy drafted both Lacy and Franklin to change that and now it appears that the two young stars will get their chances. Lacy is looked at as the more polished of the two after winning the national championship with Alabama last year and Starks comes back after breaking out a couple seasons ago. Harris was placed in IR to end his season and had surgery and it comes after he dealt with an injury earlier in the offseason.
The Packers like what Lacy did during training camp and the preseason and after Rodgers dealt with a tough offensive line and no running game last year, Green Bay is going to work on being more consistent. According to ESPN.com, Josh Sitton already said that Lacy will have a bigger role, as he will be in the one-two spot with Starks and he will have the chance to be a consistent threat in fantasy. Franklin could be a nice option in deeper leagues since he is skilled at catching the ball out of the backfield and he could also step up if the team deals with another injury.
Lacy was solid in his debut in the preseason before struggling a bit and now he will have to get ready for more playing time in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Packers will play the Redskins and the Bengals next before a much needed bye week and then will have a long stretch to end the season by playing 13 games in a row, including tough games against the Giants, Bears, Steelers and Eagles.
