Packers coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Tom Clements' aim continues to be getting Lacy 20 touches per game, though he's surpassed that threshold only once this season with 21 touches for 182 total yards against the Saints. His reward was capturing NFL offensive rookie of the year, but things were bound to change with Aaron Rodgers' return to full health. The Packers needed every inch of Lacy's 1,178 rushing yards to stay in the playoff chase last season. I didn't have a problem transitioning to it at all." If you can't, somebody else is going to do it. I felt comfortable running from under center and coming here and running from shotgun. "I don't have a problem (with it)," Lacy said. His 11.5-yard per reception average is third-most in the league behind Philadelphia's Darren Sproles (12.2) and Washington's Roy Helu (11.8) for backs with at least 20 receptions. It's helped rejuvenate what had become a lost art of the Packers' explosive offense and has Lacy ranked eighth in receiving yards among NFL running backs. Lang and Josh Sitton, and the second effort of receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. He got assistance from injured guards T.J. A lot of that production has come off the screen pass in the Packers' past two games.Īfter busting out a 67-yard gain against New Orleans before the bye, Lacy caught Chicago completely off guard in burning the Bears for a 56-yard touchdown in Sunday's 55-14 win at Lambeau Field. Lacy has 24 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown, already surpassing the 256 receiving yards he had in 15 games as a rookie. "Something unbelievable is going to happen." "Any time that guy touches the ball, it's unbelievable," center Corey Linsley said. As the NFL is quickly learning, the second-year running back can burn you in a multitude of ways, including as a receiver out of the backfield. Like his rookie season in Green Bay, roughly 90 percent of Lacy's touches in three collegiate seasons came out of the backfield with the quarterback operating under center.ĭon't confuse lack of opportunity with lack of ability, however. ![]() In both cases, Lacy admits opportunities to catch the ball were "rare" and the stats reflect that. ![]() ![]() The 5-foot-11, 230-pound back was brought to Tuscaloosa to run the football, and his first year with the Green Bay Packers followed a similar path - charge downhill and produce yards. It just wasn't a job requirement for running backs at the University of Alabama. Catching the football never has been a problem for Eddie Lacy.
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