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The Green Bay Packers may be trying to emphasize the running game more this season - or at least Mike McCarthy says that is the case - but some numbers suggest that they are already off to a better start than usual in that regard. When we look back at Eddie Lacy's career, we find that he has actually struggled mightily in the beginning of the year. This season, he has career highs in almost every major rushing statistic through three games - carries, rushing yards, and yards per carry.
The only thing Lacy has not done yet is find the end zone, but those touchdowns will come. It's really a little funny to see just how the narrative can change after one good performance, but putting his numbers into context with his typically slow starts makes it seem like he's actually beginning this season very well.
However, one player who has struggled mightily recently is cornerback Damarious Randall. Still, despite his rough couple of games, he is finding ways to affect the opposition, as he made one of the best plays of the game on Sunday.
Check out news on both of those players and much more in today's Cheese Curds.
Eddie Lacy and run game are off to good start | Packers.com
Believe it or not, Lacy's 103 yards against the Lions marked his first 100-yard game ever in the month of September. And even though he has not carried the ball more than 17 times in a single game yet, his 5.0 yards per carry average is sell above his career average of 4.3.
Packers patient with struggling Randall | Packersnews.com
For all the struggles that Damarious Randall has had over the past two weeks, he did make one of the biggest plays of the game against the Lions, stealing the football from Eric Ebron and setting up the Packers with great field position.
Packers expect bye week to heal injured Clay Matthews and Co. - ESPN
Mike McCarthy says that four of the injured defensive players - including Morgan Burnett, Letroy Guion, and Datone Jones - should get a boost from the bye week and will have a good chance to play in two weeks.
The Efficiency of Perry, Outside Linebackers Beginning to Radiate | Cheesehead TV
Nick Perry's brilliance early on cannot be overstated, as his 3.5 sacks in three games is only a half-sack off his career-high for an entire season (set in 2013).
The NFL is making it easier for college underclassmen to make smart draft choices - SBNation.com
This is a great move that will allow juniors and third-year sophomores to have a lot more information about where they stand in the draft process before declaring. Among the opportunities is the chance for colleges to allow a few returning underclassmen to work out at their Pro Days in the spring.
McAdoo: Beckham needs to control sideline emotions - NFL.com
The Packers' next opponents have one of the best wide receivers in the game, but his temper has been getting the best of him lately.