Gado may start for rest of season
Samkon Gado might have won himself a starting job for the rest of the Green Bay Packers’ season.
The undrafted rookie halfback is raw, but in gaining 165 yards in 51 carries against Pittsburgh and Atlanta in the past two games, he looks like the fastest and most powerful back left on the roster.
Even if veteran Tony Fisher returns from a rib injury for Monday night’s game against Minnesota, Gado still might be the Packers’ primary running back on early downs. Fisher had been the starter after Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport were lost for the season because of injuries.
“Fish hasn’t had a lot of early-down back experience,” said Tom Rossley, the Packers’ offensive coordinator. “He may be better than we all give him credit. But Sam showed that he can do a pretty good job on first down.”
Gado has become the feel-good story of the Packers’ disappointing 2-7 season because of his humble football background, polite manner and seemingly genuine appreciation for playing in the NFL.
He played in college at Division I-AA Liberty University, where he never was a full-time starter; went undrafted last April; then signed with the Packers last month, after the Kansas City Chiefs released him from their practice squad.
Gado played a major role in the Packers’ 33-25 win over Atlanta on Sunday, rushing for 103 yards on 25 carries — a 4.1-yard average — and scoring three touchdowns.
Amazingly, he did so despite misreading the blocking on several players. Coach Mike Sherman said he counted at least three plays in which Gado either cut back too quickly or missed a running lane.
The question is whether the missed cuts and premature cut backs were more the result of Gado’s inexperience against NFL defenders or that he lacks running instincts that can’t be taught.
Sherman estimated Gado would have gained about 135 yards against the Falcons if he’d hit all the correct holes. The coaching staff will go over the game videotape with him, then will run the same plays on the practice field to get him another look at the blocking.
Ultimately, though, a running back must make those decisions and has only a split-second to pick a hole or running lane. Too much thinking is stifling.
“He made some pretty tough yardage as well,” Sherman said. “He made some good reads. He made some good plays on his own. He’s physical. Some guys cut it back or bounce it (outside) because they don’t like contact. This guy’s not afraid of contact. He just needs repetition. We’re talking about a very inexperienced — it’s not like this guy is coming out from the starting tailback at the University of Nebraska the last three years.”
Gado had a much better performance against Atlanta than Pittsburgh. He gained only 62 yards averaged 2.4 yards a carry against the Steelers. That isn’t surprising because Atlanta has one of the NFL’s lowest-ranked run defenses — it’s 27th of 32 teams in fewest yards allowed per carry — whereas the Steelers lead the league in that category. This week, the Packers face a Minnesota Vikings defense that’s No. 23.
Gado just as easily could have been one of Sunday’s goats with two fumbles against the Falcons. However, teammates Vonta Leach and Andrae Thurman recovered. Gado’s first fumble came on the fourth play of the game, and Sherman said that if the Falcons had recovered, he probably would have benched the rookie.
The Packers haven’t seen any fundamental problems with the way Gado carries the ball — high and tight to his body, as instructed.
But Rossley said Gado will have to run lower than he did in college, where defenders were more worried about getting him to the ground than knocking the ball loose.
“He has to carry his pads over it, kind of protect the ball with his pads as well,” Rossley said.
Even if Gado continues to run as he did against Atlanta, the Packers’ offense has a major shortcoming that doesn’t appear likely to go away. Without Green and receiver Javon Walker, who’s also out for the season, the Packers don’t have the big-play talent to set up quick and relatively easy scores.
The Packers’ longest run from scrimmage this season is 24 yards, and they have only four pass plays of 40 yards or more. Last year, Green had a 90-yard touchdown run and Walker had six catches of 40 yards or more.
Receiver Robert Ferguson should be back from a sprained knee in the next couple of weeks, but even with two 40-yard receptions, he’s still not the big-play threat Walker presented.
So, the Packers might have to continue grinding out long drives, which increases the chances for making a crucial error such as a penalty or turnover. Against the Falcons, they had four scoring drives of eight plays or more.
“We can still be a very good offense,” Rossley said, “but somebody’s going to have to jump up and give us those explosive plays, those 30-, 40-, 50-yard gains.”
source : www.packersnews.com
The undrafted rookie halfback is raw, but in gaining 165 yards in 51 carries against Pittsburgh and Atlanta in the past two games, he looks like the fastest and most powerful back left on the roster.
Even if veteran Tony Fisher returns from a rib injury for Monday night’s game against Minnesota, Gado still might be the Packers’ primary running back on early downs. Fisher had been the starter after Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport were lost for the season because of injuries.
“Fish hasn’t had a lot of early-down back experience,” said Tom Rossley, the Packers’ offensive coordinator. “He may be better than we all give him credit. But Sam showed that he can do a pretty good job on first down.”
Gado has become the feel-good story of the Packers’ disappointing 2-7 season because of his humble football background, polite manner and seemingly genuine appreciation for playing in the NFL.
He played in college at Division I-AA Liberty University, where he never was a full-time starter; went undrafted last April; then signed with the Packers last month, after the Kansas City Chiefs released him from their practice squad.
Gado played a major role in the Packers’ 33-25 win over Atlanta on Sunday, rushing for 103 yards on 25 carries — a 4.1-yard average — and scoring three touchdowns.
Amazingly, he did so despite misreading the blocking on several players. Coach Mike Sherman said he counted at least three plays in which Gado either cut back too quickly or missed a running lane.
The question is whether the missed cuts and premature cut backs were more the result of Gado’s inexperience against NFL defenders or that he lacks running instincts that can’t be taught.
Sherman estimated Gado would have gained about 135 yards against the Falcons if he’d hit all the correct holes. The coaching staff will go over the game videotape with him, then will run the same plays on the practice field to get him another look at the blocking.
Ultimately, though, a running back must make those decisions and has only a split-second to pick a hole or running lane. Too much thinking is stifling.
“He made some pretty tough yardage as well,” Sherman said. “He made some good reads. He made some good plays on his own. He’s physical. Some guys cut it back or bounce it (outside) because they don’t like contact. This guy’s not afraid of contact. He just needs repetition. We’re talking about a very inexperienced — it’s not like this guy is coming out from the starting tailback at the University of Nebraska the last three years.”
Gado had a much better performance against Atlanta than Pittsburgh. He gained only 62 yards averaged 2.4 yards a carry against the Steelers. That isn’t surprising because Atlanta has one of the NFL’s lowest-ranked run defenses — it’s 27th of 32 teams in fewest yards allowed per carry — whereas the Steelers lead the league in that category. This week, the Packers face a Minnesota Vikings defense that’s No. 23.
Gado just as easily could have been one of Sunday’s goats with two fumbles against the Falcons. However, teammates Vonta Leach and Andrae Thurman recovered. Gado’s first fumble came on the fourth play of the game, and Sherman said that if the Falcons had recovered, he probably would have benched the rookie.
The Packers haven’t seen any fundamental problems with the way Gado carries the ball — high and tight to his body, as instructed.
But Rossley said Gado will have to run lower than he did in college, where defenders were more worried about getting him to the ground than knocking the ball loose.
“He has to carry his pads over it, kind of protect the ball with his pads as well,” Rossley said.
Even if Gado continues to run as he did against Atlanta, the Packers’ offense has a major shortcoming that doesn’t appear likely to go away. Without Green and receiver Javon Walker, who’s also out for the season, the Packers don’t have the big-play talent to set up quick and relatively easy scores.
The Packers’ longest run from scrimmage this season is 24 yards, and they have only four pass plays of 40 yards or more. Last year, Green had a 90-yard touchdown run and Walker had six catches of 40 yards or more.
Receiver Robert Ferguson should be back from a sprained knee in the next couple of weeks, but even with two 40-yard receptions, he’s still not the big-play threat Walker presented.
So, the Packers might have to continue grinding out long drives, which increases the chances for making a crucial error such as a penalty or turnover. Against the Falcons, they had four scoring drives of eight plays or more.
“We can still be a very good offense,” Rossley said, “but somebody’s going to have to jump up and give us those explosive plays, those 30-, 40-, 50-yard gains.”
source : www.packersnews.com
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