I was curious to see how the Pack's run game stacked up yesterday so I did some investigation into the stats.

Pardon if some of it seems incomprehensible I am going to bed now after working all night and doing chores this morning but I hope this brings some fruitful discussion.

A comparison of Grants performance versus Peterson's

1st and 10 at GNB 24A.Rodgers pass short right to R.Grant to GB 35 for 11 yards (B.Sapp, K.Paymah).
1st and 10 at GNB 35R.Grant right tackle to GB 37 for 2 yards (C.Greenway).
2nd and 10 at GNB 20(Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short left to R.Grant to GB 17 for -3 yards (C.Greenway)
1st and 10 at MIN 21R.Grant left end to MIN 14 for 7 yards (M.Williams).
2nd and 3 at MIN 14R.Grant left end to MIN 16 for -2 yards (J.Allen).
1st and 10 at GNB 15R.Grant left end to GB 20 for 5 yards (K.Williams).
1st and 10 at GNB 21(Shotgun) R.Grant left end to GB 23 for 2 yards (P.Williams).
1st and 10 at GNB 34R.Grant right end to GB 35 for 1 yard (C.Greenway).
1st and 10 at MIN 40R.Grant left tackle to MIN 37 for 3 yards (K.Williams, P.Williams).
2nd and 7 at MIN 37R.Grant left tackle to MIN 35 for 2 yards (R.Edwards).
1st and 10 at MIN 41(Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short right to R.Grant pushed ob at MIN 28 for 13 yards (C.Greenway).
1st and 10 at MIN 18R.Grant left end to MIN 16 for 2 yards (E.Henderson, C.Griffin).
1st and 10 at GNB 26R.Grant left end to GB 34 for 8 yards (C.Greenway, C.Griffin)
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. A.Rodgers pass to R.Grant is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. Pass tipped by Minn 93.

14 plays Grant touched or got the ball in his direction. 4 passes, One deflected(still could have been caught had he reacted sooner), and one tackled for loss other two total 24 yards net 21 or 7 yards per completion.

10 runs, all but 2 on 1st down. None of the 1st down runs ended in negative yardage, in fact Grant only had one negative run in all, and only one other that got him less than 2 out of 10 total.

Disclaimer: I do not believe that Grant is a terrible running back, not hall of fame bound either but a good starting NFL running back.

After all wouldn't it seem to reason that if Grant was so terrible combined with Minny knowing we were running the ball almost always on 1st they would have been tackling Grant in the backfield all night on first? Instead Grant had a 3 ypc average with only one negative run of -2 coming on second down, without the one negative Grant averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

Peterson on the other hand got the ball 25 times in the run with a net average of 3.9 yet you take away his two big runs and he only averages a very pedestrian 1.8 yards on the other 23 carries.

Here is the break down:

2,1,0,4,1,-2,7,1,1,4,33,2,-1,5,3,2,3,2,-1,7,21,0,2,1,0

11 of those were for either a loss, no gain or a single yard, mostly ineffective runs, with the exception being his one yard td dive. Or 44% of his total runs or touches.

8 were just ok runs that were positive between 2-5 yards. 32%

4 runs were for 7 yards or more with two of them combining for 54 total yards. 16%

In other words in Grants 10 runs and 4 pass chances he only had 2 negative or ineffective runs 20%. Peterson on the other hand has 6 of his first 10 that are ineffective then bam on the 11th he breaks off a 33yarder. Then he is fairly subdued again for another 9 plays and then on the 10th gets a 21 yarder.

Of Grants 10 runs 6 are effective, 2 ineffective or loss, and two explosive runs of 7 or more yards.

Grant is a good back who can actually catch the ball and is called upon to do so once in a while, (I will also add that he only one fumble this season.) But proven by Petersons stats also is the fact that the running game is a combo of rhythm and chemistry between the running back and the O line and it takes time and commitment in the game to get going. For the most part it is going to be pretty pedestrian unless the oline and back are just having a field day, but with commitment the big game breaking runs will happen.

Grant needs more carries, and on more than 1st down. McCarthy needs to start letting the o line and Grant gain some confidence, rhythm, and chemistry and run it 1st and 2nd and be happy with 3rd and 5-6 if need be for a while, this will protect Rogers as well as cause the lb and safeties to have to sit which will open up the middle of the field for Driver, Jennings, and company.

Also considering all of Grants offensive production:

14 total plays called his way. 10 runs 4 passes

4 negative or ineffective plays 28%

6 are just basic effective contributions 43%

and the other 4 are explosive gains of 7 or more yards totaling 28%.

Just some food for thought.

Edited for recognition of Grant's one fumble.