Nov 20, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back James Starks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 35-26. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-US PRESSWIRE

Happy 4th of July everyone! What day could be better than to talk about the future of the Packers’ running game?

Last season featured the running back tandem of Ryan Grant and James Starks. Both players played effectively and were enough to keep opposing defenses at least on their feet.

Now with Grant being a free agent, how will the Packers’ running game look this year? Since no major moves were made to add another running back, most can assume it will have James Starks being the featured back and Alex Green, who is coming off injured reserve, to be his back-up. Playing time for these two backs may depend on training camp, though. Alex Green, last year, never really got to show what he was made of because of his injury so this could be his break-out season.

One player I would like to see more of is 2nd year veteran Brandon Saine out of Ohio State. He was undrafted last season and did not even play a snap for the Green Bay Packers until week 12. Although his touches were limited, he made the most out of his opportunities and may play a larger role then most may think for the Pack this coming season. Saine’s main attribute and where he will probably see the most playing time this year, will not be running the ball but catching it out of the backfield. In his limited touches last season, Saine caught 10 catches for 69 yards. It’s not staggering but it shows that he has the potential to become a threat as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Do not be surprised if he becomes a primary third down back for the Packers in 2012.

It’s hard to say how the backfield will exactly look with training camp still to come, but it’s never too early to start thinking about. Although the Packers are known for their prolific passing game, do not be surprised if the Pack can assemble a better running game then last year which could add just another dimension to the Packer offense.

Summary: QB Rodgers ran for one touchdown and passed for one touchdown to help the Packers snap a 2 game losing streak and to beat the Cowboys 17-7.  The 3-4 defense had a solid game rising to its potential getting one interception, 2 fumbles, and five sacks to nearly shutout the Cowboys.

Game Highlights: NFL.  CBS.  ESPN.

Game Headlines: Woodson In Everything.  Line Makes Gains.  Pair of Outside Forces.  Packers defeat Cowboys 17-7.  Linebackers Lead Dominant Effort. Insider: Thumbs Up to Woodson, Down to Pass Blockers.

Quotes:

1. LB Matthews: “[LT] Flozell is one of those guys you can’t get locked up with. The guy probably outweighs me by 90 pounds. If I get locked up with him, there’s not a lot I can do. So I tried to freeze him, get his feet stopped and get on the edge. It’s all about studying your personnel.”

2. QB Rodgers: ”Because of the multiple defenses they run, we put in more of the package at the line of scrimmage. McCarthy just put in more checks at the line for me to run-to-pass or run right or run left. We did some good things with that.”

Game Ball: 1. CB Woodson 2. QB Rodgers 3. LB Barnett.

Turning Point: The Packers recovered a QB Romo fumble scoring 3 plays later on a 2 yard touchdown pass from QB Rodgers to TE Havner and giving the Packers a 17-0 lead with 10:49 left.

Injury Report: 1. FB Kuhn (broke hand).

Report Card Grades–Good, Bad, & Ugly: LA vs SE.

Pass Offense—B vs B-. After an ugly first half, Rodgers rebounded in the second half leading the team to a 17-0 and putting the game away. QB Rodgers completed 25 of 36 passes for 189 yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown, no interceptions, 3 fumbles, 4 sacks, and 91.1 passer rating.  WR Driver had 4 receptions for 50, but he dropped a touchdown pass. WR Jennings had 4 receptions for 45 yards.  WR Nelson had 4 receptions for 32 yards. TE Lee had 2 receptions for 21 yards. WR Jones had 3 receptions for 17. RB Jackson had 3 receptions for 15 yards. TE Havner had 1 reception for 2 yards and 1 touchdown. Although the problematic line allowed four sacks, the entire offensive line had a good day in the trenches.  Dallas did finish with four sacks, but only one can be laid on the line–a second-quarter takedown when Ratliff got an inside push against Wells, forcing QB Aaron Rodgers to step up and run into Ware, who had shed TE Spencer Havner at the far edge. The fourth sack is on Lee, who got walked back by ILB Carpenter. Lee also was called for holding on the play, one of two such flags he drew and both penalties were declined.

Rush Offense—B- vs C+. The Packers had 28 rushes for 105 yards averaging 3.8 yards. RB Grant had 19 carries for 79 yards with a solid 4.2 average.

Pass Defense—A- vs A-. Finally, the 3-4 transition defense played up to its potential causing 1 interception, 5 sacks, and 3 turnovers.  Central to the 3-4 defense, LBs Barnett, Hawk, Matthews, and Jones combined for 20 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for a loss, three QB hits and two fumble recoveries.  QB Romo only completed 24 of 39 passes for 251 yards, 1 garbage touchdown, 1 interception, and poor 78.0 passer rating. Caper’s 3-4 blitz schemes showed improvement getting five sacks and what Capers’ defense is all about up front–eating up blockers, opening holes for the playmakers, and then making the few big plays when they’re presented. CB Woodson has a stellar performance getting 9 tackles, getting 1 interception in red zone, getting 1 sack, and causing two fumbles. ILB Barnett had 8 tackles and 2 sacks. Rookie OLB Jones had 7 tackles. On the downside, Collins blew zone coverage on WR Williams’ big catch before he fumbled and DB Williams gave up a touchdown to Williams with 38 seconds left to spoil the shut out.

Rush defense—A vs B. The front seven had another stout game against the rush. The Cowboys had 14 carries for only 61 yards averaging 4.4 yards.  RB Barber rushed 5 times for 26 yards averaging 5.3 yards. 

Special teams—B vs B-. The coverage team had a good day. The return game had an average game.   PR Williams did all returns setting up Crosby’s field goal to end the first half with an 18-yard punt return to midfield, but he slipped & fumbled (down by contact) on his next punt return blowing a potential touchdown. K Crosby made one of two long field goals.  K Kapinos had 7 punts averaging 43.7 yards but only 35 net yard and a poor hang time.

Coaching—B vs A-. The Packers had superlative game plans in all three phases and for the first time demonstrated some grit and intensity.  After a brutal first half, the second half saw big changes.  The play calling improved getting the offense rolling with two touchdowns.  The solid 3-4 defense nearly got a shutout. In the red zone, they were 2 for 2.  In 3^rd down efficiency, they were 7 for 15.  They had 10 penalties for 100 yards.

Overall Game—B+.  In the 2^nd half, while the 3-4 defense dominated the Cowboys, the offense got going and put the game away.  Overall, the defense had an outstanding game holding the Cowboys to 278 total yards and 3 of 12 in 3^rd downs.

CBS Sports Overall Grade Game–A. What a big day by the Packers defense. The Cowboys didn’t get a third-down conversion until the fourth quarter. Charles Woodson really came up big. The offense didn’t do a lot, but it didn’t need to.

CHTV Good, Bad & Ugly: Good–Woodson, Rodgers, & Barnett; Bad–Crosby, Williams, & James Jones; Ugly–Romo.

Rodgers vs Favre series: week 10. “Silver Fox” Vikings 8-1.  Packers 5-4.

Commentary: If the Cowboys got complacent and an inspired Packers team rebounded to play inspired football, the Packers had a chance to win the game. The predictable game scenario became a reality saving the Packers season.  Fate and officiating helped the Packers.

Preview: A must win home game against the tough 49ers. Behind the NFC’s four division leaders, four teams including the Packers have 5-4 records fighting for two wild-card playoff spots. 

Headlines: Critical Game. Different Views. Bulk Battle. Austin. Cowboys Tough. Fine Line Separates Romo From Rodgers.

Injury Report: Out–TE Finley (knee); LB Kampman (concussion); LB Brady Poppinga (quad); T Mark Tauscher (knee). Doubtful — None. Questionable — LB Chillar (hand). Probable — WR Allen (quad); T Allen Barbre (concussion); FB Hall (calf); DE Jenkins (ankle); S Martin(concussion); WR Nelson (knee); QB Rodgers (feet); CB Woodson (hip).

Previews: CBS. ESPN. FOX: Gameplan & Matchups. NFL: Opposite Directions? Matchups. Keys to Game. Scouting Report.

Things To Watch: 1. OMG. Cowboys’ pass rushers have 20 sacks including five from LB Ware. They have to be licking their chops as the Packers embark on another changeup on their offensive line.  Rookie Lang will start at RT replacing Tauscher. With the Packers’ porous pass protection, QB Rodgers needs to quicken release. 2. Packers’ linebacker depth will be tested. The Packers are down to players who have seen almost no playing time on defense. Rookie Jones is the starter at the LOLB. Jones is a natural OLB in the 3-4 but is unheralded.

Game Reviews:  Packers lose to Buc 38-28.  Ugly from Any Angle  Painful History Lesson.  Shameful: Packers Lose To Winless Buccaneers.  Rants & Raves.

Offensive Headlines:  Rodgers Throws Costly Interceptions.  Thumbs Up to Run Game, Down to Offensive Line.   Six Sacks–Line Heads for Record. 

Defensive Headlines: Special Teams Blunders. Defense Unable To Rattle Kid.  Special teams struggle.

McCarthy Watch Headlines:  Loss to Bucs is low point for coach McCarthy.  Time to talk firings. Loss to pitiful Bucs a low point.

Rodgers Headlines:  Rodgers Plays Part in Packers’ Sack Woes.

K Crosby Headlines:  Crosby Struggling From Long Range.

P Kapinos Headlines:  Kapinos said he needs to kick fewer 50-yard punts and instead get his hang time numbers up to allow the coverage units to get in better position and should in turn improve his net average.

Offensive Headlines: Havner A Happy Surprise. Sitton O-Line’s Strongest Link.   Backup QB Flynn Shines In Practice.  Spitz On IR.

Track Sacks Headlines:  Tracking Sacks Through Games.

Defensive Headlines:  Hawk To Showcase Skills?   Hawk Gets Nod.

McCarthy Watch Headlines:  Losing Season Would Put Heat On McCarthy.

Thompson Watch Headlines:  Oates–Thompson’s drafting hasn’t been great, but it has been above average.  By eschewing free agency and splashy trades, however, he has ended up with the youngest team in the NFL for four years. Despite a solid talent base, the Packers lack stars and still have weak areas that good teams can exploit.  Bloggers–Thompson has had five seasons to prepare for each of these declines and departures. Five years is the old plan, the universally accepted time period that a good GM could turn things around and get a team to a Super Bowl.  He’s not just failing on the high draft picks.  He’s failing at a majority of all draft picks.

Bucs Game Headlines: What: Green Bay (4-3) at Tampa Bay (0-7). When: Sunday–noon Where: Raymond James Stadium–Tampa, Fla. TV: Fox Sports. 

Previews:  Matchup.   Things To Watch.   Keys To Game.  NFL.com.

Mid-Season Report Headlines: Wildcard Team At-Best.

Rodgers Headlines: Sore Foot Injury.   Good Statistical QB or Winning Leader?

Offensive Headlines: Tauscher & Clinton To Start?   Spitz Not Progressing.

Defensive Headlines: Jenkins, Jolly Regret Critical Remarks.  Hawk To Replace Injured Chillar.

McCarthy Watch Headlines:  The Case Against Mike McCarthy.

Bucs Game Preview Headlines:  Bucs Like the Bad Old Days.   Jsonline.   Espn.

Music: Dreamcatcher 

Jclombardi reviews Packers’ NFL power rankings.

ESPN: 12. Rodgers is starting to show signs of his season-long beating.   

FOX: 12.  Now that the circus has left town, can the Packers get on with making a playoff run? Maybe, but not until they fix what’s seriously broken on the offensive line.  Maybe GM Thompson intentionally got rid of Favre so he didn’t get the legend killed behind the line’s friendly fire.

NBC/PFT: 13.  The Packers should have saved some of those boos for a few of the current members of the team.

AOL Fanhouse: 14. Rodgers leads the NFL in passer rating with a mark of 110.4. Of course, he’s constantly being compared to Favre, who has a far superior team due to offensive line, running game, special teams and the entire defense. But that’s not gonna matter to the masses, because the Vikings are 7-1 while the Packers are 4-3.

Yahoo: 15. They got away from the game plan, it appeared, quickly.

Sporting News: 16. Favre has beaten them twice, and pass rushers continue to beat up Aaron Rodgers.

CBS: 16.  That offensive line is bad. If they don’t improve there, Rodgers doesn’t stand a chance.