Grant For Cromarite=Epic Fail
Written by John Rehor Thursday, 18 February 2010 08:48
Over the past few days, a trade rumor has emerged involving the Green Bay Packers. The trade involves trading Ryan Grant for CB Antonio Cromartie from the San Diego Chargers. The trade would provide immediate improvement to the secondary of the Packers, an area exposed in the playoff loss to Arizona.
And I say NO WAY should this trade take place.
We absolutely need help in the secondary, and no Packer fan would dispute that. We were torched four times this year: twice against Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and the Wild Card game against Arizona. The issue I have is not that the trade would improve the secondary. My issue is what it could do to our offense.
Ryan Grant has never been flashy. He has been a steady contributor since he burst on the scene in 2007. A look at his numbers speaks for itself.
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2007- 956 rushing yards, 5.1 YPC, 30 receptions for 145 yards, 8 total touchdowns (in half a season)
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2008- 1,203 rushing yards, 3.9 YPC, 18 receptions for 116 yards, 5 total touchdowns
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2009- 1,253 rushing yards, 4.4 YPC, 25 receptions for 197 yards, 11 total touchdowns
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3 year total-3,412 rushing yards, 4.36 YPC, 73 receptions for 458 yards, 24 total touchdowns
This production comes from a running back playing in a decidedly pass first offense. He does enough to take the pressure off Aaron Rodgers and the passing game so they have another offensive weapon to concern themselves with. Grant can also carry the load at the end of the game when the Packers are trying to run the clock out.
If Grant is moved, the big question will become who will run the ball on offense? Brandon Jackson has shown very little running the ball since he was drafted in 2007. Ahman Green was serviceable after being picked up in 2009, but at age 32 is clearly on the downside of his career. DeShawn Wynn was injured again in 2009 and cannot be relied upon. Kregg Lumpkin couldn’t make it off the practice squad this past season. Do any of those players strike fear into opposing defenses as a running threat?
Cromartie has been a good cornerback if nothing else during his career. He had an excellent 2007 campaign with 10 interceptions, but two very pedestrian seasons in 2008 and 2009. He has also encountered off the field issues, with several paternity suits over the last two years. He has a contract expiring at the end of 2010. Ted Thompson has not been opposed to taking chances on players with off the field issues to improve the team (Koren Robinson), but is Cromartie and his baggage worth potentially one season?
If the Packers pull this deal off, the most important thing they must do is have a plan to replace Ryan Grant. Someone needs to be able to run the ball to alleviate opposing defenses from targeting Aaron Rodgers. Consider the beating he took last season while the offensive line was in a state of flux and we had someone who could run the ball. Both of our starting tackles are free agents at the moment, and we have nobody on the roster that can carry the load like Grant. Imagine of we go into next season with no proven running back and a questionable offensive line. Does everyone remember the first half of 2007? It will be a repeat. The only difference is every team was taken by surprise by the Packers that season. No one will be surprised by Green Bay in 2010.
