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Packers Don’t Plan to Overwork Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

Green Bay Packers’ running back Eddie Lacy is entering his third season with the team and the Packers want to make sure not to overwork him this coming year.

Last year the Packers lessened Lacy’s touches on early downs. He totaled 246 overall carries in 2014 compared to 284 from his rookie campaign. However, Lacy’s rushing yards remained nearly even with just 39 less rushing yards this past year.

Lacy was utilized more in the passing game, tallying 427 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2014.

Now that Packers and Lacy have developed what works best for their offense, it appears that the team will proceed to follow this recipe for Lacy moving forward. Head coach Mike McCarthy had this to share last week (via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

I really felt that last year’s conversation was more important than this year’s, the ability to make a huge jump from Year One to Two, being a three-down player, that was something we stressed from Day One, and I thought he delivered.

Where Lacy might develop further if the team did increase his rushing attempts, McCarthy doesn’t necessarily buy into this.

Maybe not run attempts. But I thought we were really smart the way we used him. … I thought his pass protection he made a huge jump, and his ability to play out of the backfield. Eddie has excellent hands, and just his understand and his feel with Aaron, he definitely made a step.

Overall, the team has to figure out what the perfect blend is for Lacy. All this while trying to keep him effective and prolong his career as long as his legs can carry him. At only 24-years-old, Lacy’s overall mileage is still fairly young.

Photo: USA Today Sports

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