Eddie Lacy on Rushing for 1,000 Yards: "I Really Think I Can"

Eddie Lacy answered questions from Cheesehead TV during a Google+ Hangout at the NFL Rookie Premiere in California.

Eddie Lacy's interview begins at approximately the 25-minute mark.

Say this for Green Bay Packers rookie Eddie Lacy, he's brimming with optimism.

When asked Thursday if he could eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in first season in the NFL, the former Alabama running back responded, "I really think I can."

Lacy wasn't about to let his mouth write a check his legs can't cash, however. He hedged by adding, "We'll see how it all plays out."

Before becoming the first Packers running back to run for 1,000 or more yards in a single season since Ryan Grant in 2009, the Packers would probably be ecstatic if they could first get him to gain 100 yards in a game. That hasn't happened in a span of 43 games in Green Bay since Brandon Jackson gained 115 yards against the Washington Redskins on Oct. 10, 2010.

Even though the Packers made Lacy their second round draft choice with the 61st overall selection in April's NFL Draft, he'll have plenty of competition to carry the football this upcoming season.

In the fourth round of the draft, the Packers traded up to pick Johnathan Franklin of UCLA as somewhat of an insurance policy. Given the concern surrounding Lacy's toe fusion surgery and long-term health prognosis, Franklin will be there to complement Lacy or be used as sort of a one-two punch in Green Bay.

As for how they'll divvy up carries or whether the team uses them in the backfield at the same time, Lacy will leave that up to the coaching staff.

"I honestly have no idea," said Lacy. "I don't know what they're going to do as far as me and him being at running back and if they're going to put us in at the same time. If they do, that would be cool, but I really don't know what they plan on doing."

Lacy's comments on Thursday came during an online event called a "digital card signing" via the social media platform of a Google+ Hangout. He's in Pasadena, Cal. over the weekend for the NFL Rookie Premiere, an annual event sponsored by the NFL Players Association along with Topps and Panini. It's an opportunity for the trading card companies to obtain photography and autographs of this year's NFL rookie class.

Lacy and Franklin were the only Packers invited to this year's event, so in just the short amount of time since they've been drafted by the Packers, they've already begun to spend a lot of time together. The two were roommates during last weekend's rookie orientation camp in Green Bay as well.

"We're extremely cool," said Lacy. "It's like we've known each other for like five years already. We both have a sense of humor, we joke around and we play. Getting to meet him is not as weird as some may think because we both got drafted. He's an extremely cool guy."

No matter who's carrying the football for the Packers in 2013, there's plenty room for growth in the Green Bay ground game. Last season they ranked 20th in the NFL with 1,702 yards, an average of 3.9 yards per carry. In fact, the Packers' leading rusher last year was Alex Green with just 464 yards.

Lacy himself ran for 1,322 yards as a junior at Alabama last season alone to go along with 17 touchdowns and a per carry average of 6.5 yards.

Even with a bigger emphasis on the rushing attack in Green Bay, however, the offense will still revolve around quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a fact not lost on Lacy.

By recently signing Rodgers to a five-year, $110 million contract extension and making him the highest-paid player in the NFL, it's of the utmost importance for Lacy to also be able to provide pass protection for Rodgers.

"That's pretty much the No. 1 rule there, protect the quarterback, protect Aaron," said Lacy. "That's with any team you go to. The quarterback is the guy that runs the whole operation and you have to protect him. But protecting Aaron is pretty much the No. 1 priority."

Lacy said he's No. 4 in the running back rotation as things currently stand in Green Bay, presumably behind veterans Green, James Starks and DuJuan Harris, but it shouldn't take him long to make a climb up the depth chart.

The Packers didn't make an second round investment into Lacy for nothing.  And it shouldn't be long before the Packers find out if he's capable of being the type of ball carrier that's able to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

0 points
 

Comments (17)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
J.'s picture

May 16, 2013 at 06:12 pm

Well, @least he's somewhat realistic (saying he's the # 4)..'cuz it won't be This season & he's Not going 2 be the starter either. That's gonna go 2 Harris. It's a possible toss up after that depending on Green. Starks is garbage anymore so..who knows. Between Lacy & Franklin, I guess we'll find out..but the Foxx is going 2 be the Man this year for sure ..RB's a hard spot 2 stay healthy @ too, so..time will tell I guess.

0 points
0
0
Stroh's picture

May 16, 2013 at 09:06 pm

Lacy starts and is the lead RB when the season opens! Mark it down... He will be a 1000 yd rusher as a rookie and in the conversation for Offensive ROY.

Harris and Franklin battle for the snaps as a change of pace/3rd down RB. For now I give the edge to Harris.

0 points
0
0
JeremeyJ's picture

May 16, 2013 at 06:25 pm

The google+ experience was a joke (live), but thanks Brian for getting the interview set up! I can't wait to see these BACKS in action. Whole new element to the offense (i hope).

0 points
0
0
Ma Linger's picture

May 16, 2013 at 07:30 pm

Hopefullly he won't get hurt in pre season and miss the reg season forcing the pack to keep Starks. They could dump Kuhn too.

0 points
0
0
dawg's picture

May 16, 2013 at 08:57 pm

Whats the stats on Alabams QB sacks for yr. 12.
GBs is 51.
No 1000 yrd. rusher in GB for 5 yrs.
Alabama may have had a better OL than GB in 12.
Lacy--Learn how to block, because you may not be able to run Campen style!
Lacy- this line sucks, good luck to you.

0 points
0
0
RC Packer Fan's picture

May 17, 2013 at 07:35 am

you don't think that Lacy can average 63 yards a game? That's all he has to average to get to 1000 yards. yes he had a great OL in college and won't find the running room that he had their. But Harris seemed to find good running room last year.

If Lacy gets the carries and stays healthy he will gain 1000 yards.

0 points
0
0
Lucky953's picture

May 16, 2013 at 11:50 pm

Well, I think 12 -14 games due to the inevitable accumulation of injuries means 85-90 yds per game. I'm hoping he avgs 4 ypc. I think 15 - 17 cpg. I think he gets 750 - 900 yds this season.

0 points
0
0
Franklin Hillside's picture

May 17, 2013 at 09:50 am

I like this kid.

0 points
0
0
djbonney138's picture

May 19, 2013 at 01:34 pm

+1

0 points
0
0
mani2packers's picture

May 17, 2013 at 10:46 am

Breaks 100 yards in the opener vs San Fran. Write it down!

0 points
0
0
mani2packers's picture

May 17, 2013 at 10:47 am

I also like the kid that has you name as his last!

0 points
0
0
The Delivery Guy's picture

May 17, 2013 at 12:13 pm

I think he's CAPABLE of being the first 1000 yd rusher, but not in this offense. He's going to be a closed fist with a roll of quarters in it whaling at defenses' middle until they drop a safety in the box so the pass game can attack downfield. Also I suspect Franklin to get some mixed duties too. Franklin & Bash combine for 1300 yds on the ground, they each crack 100 at least once.

Caveat - McCarthy WILL be stubborn enough with these backs to keep running it if teams just refuse to come out of two deep safeties. The Mulligan pick up plus the rookie backs is leading me to believe MM had that come to Jesus moment regarding the run game.

0 points
0
0
Stroh's picture

May 17, 2013 at 11:18 pm

Absolutely no doubt in my mind. McCarthy will be much more committed to the run game than in years past. Lacy will crack 1000 yds IMO and Franklin and Harris will split as the 3rd down RB. Lacy averages 20 touches a game easy!

0 points
0
0
Mojo's picture

May 17, 2013 at 02:14 pm

Only way he doesn't get a thousand is if he gets hurt, or they divvy up the running duties amongst him, Franklin and Harris to the point there's no real featured back(which I'd be OK with). As RC mentioned above you only need to average 63 yards a game. Put another way, if the Packers committed to Lacy as their featured back, sans injury, he gets the 1,000 easily.

0 points
0
0
Lucky953's picture

May 17, 2013 at 10:35 pm

BTW, I am REALLY looking forward to Matt Mulligan (6'4 267) lining up next to Don Barclay (6'4 305) and running Eddie Lacy (230 lbs) off right tackle. BOOM!

0 points
0
0
mark's picture

May 19, 2013 at 04:17 pm

You said it man.

0 points
0
0
hayward4president's picture

May 22, 2013 at 09:31 am

Lacy is a beast ...and the best part is even if something were to happen to him (knock on wood) we still have Franklin n DH ...Psh this season is in the bag:)

0 points
0
0