GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Between now and the Green Bay Packers' first training camp practice on July 30, we will break down each position group.
Next up is running back.
Returning players: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Kuhn (fullback), Rajion Neal (practice squad).
Gone from last season: DuJuan Harris.
New this season: Aaron Ripkowski (fullback, sixth-round pick), John Crockett (rookie free agent), Alonzo Harris (rookie free agent).
Position coach: Sam Gash (second season).
Biggest issue: The Packers almost never used their No. 3 halfback (Harris) last season on offense. He played only 51 snaps from scrimmage last season and by the end of the year, he was a healthy inactive. This offseason, they didn't even bother to offer him an exclusive rights contract. So the question is this: Do they even need a third halfback? The way Lacy and Starks performed last season -- and more importantly stayed healthy -- the answer is probably not. Neither missed a game and both proved they can handle playing on third down. Lacy rushed for 1,139 yards and became more involved in the passing game (42 catches for 427 yards and four touchdowns) than he was as a rookie in 2013. Meanwhile, the once-injury prone Starks was effective in small stints and averaged just under 4 yards per carry on his 85 attempts.
Player to watch: Given the wear and tear on Lacy after just two seasons, don't be surprised to see coach Mike McCarthy limit his reps during training camp and in preseason games. They were careful with him during organized team activities and minicamp practices, and expect that to continue this summer. Lacy has quickly become one of the league's premier backs, and the Packers want him fresh for the end of the season.
Medical report: Crockett, who posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons at North Dakota State, sustained a sprained left ankle on June 16 and was unable to finish the minicamp.
Help wanted: Some NFL teams don't even bother with a fullback anymore. The Packers have two that might be worth keeping. Not only did they re-sign Kuhn for a 10th season, but they spent one of their draft picks on Ripkowski. So what will they do will two fullbacks? It's possible they won't keep them both, but they value Kuhn's leadership and they rarely cut draft picks. So don't be surprised if both make the roster.
Quotable: "I think they’re both competitors,” Gash said of Lacy and Starks. “I think if one guy is doing well, the other guy wants to continue to do well. If one guy isn’t doing well, the other guys wants to come in and be that guy. I think they work hard in practice. They’re great people, which is a big part of it, too, is that you know what you’re going to get every day.”
Previous installments
Part 1: Quarterbacks