It's hard to find fault with most of the Green Bay Packers' roster, especially on offense. The big exception is at running back, where the team is doing a lot of hoping and projecting.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette calls it the "thinnest position group" on the team. We agree. Let's take a look.
No. 1 James Starks: The Packers are projecting he can be a dynamic lead back. Starks has shown flashes of being a centerpiece back, but he has struggled with nagging injuries and only carried the ball 133 times last season.
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Primary backups Alex Green and Brandon Saine: Green is a third-round pick from a year ago that is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. He hasn't practiced at all this summer and it's unclear if he'll be ready for camp. Saine looked passable in a third-down role last year, but his ceiling looks limited.
The depth is provided by undrafted running backs Marc Tyler and Du'ane Bennett: Neither player made a huge impression in OTAs, but it's hard for running backs to shine in non-contact practices. Fullback John Kuhn can also help out with carries.
If you are going to be thin anywhere, running back is not a bad option. They can be replaced. Still, this is not an overly promising group. If Starks gets hurt again, it looks particularly ugly.
"I think the coaches feel comfortable with what we got now," Green said earlier this month.
