Packers' Ground Game Hits Wall vs. Bears: So What Needs To be Changed?

The week one matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers didn’t show itself to be the high scoring affair most of us thought it was going to be. As we take an analytical look at the Packers, there is one glaring issue that has seemed to rear its ugly head for the past three years. If it’s one philosophy the NFL teaches, it’s the importance of the ground game. Without a competent rushing attack, teams are forced to throw more than they should, which leaves the door wide open for turnovers. You don’t need an Adrian Peterson to utilize the ground game—although it does help—in a way that produces positive results. Without it, there is no play action setup to draw the safeties in, there is little room for proper clock management, and the overall offensive becomes one-dimensional. For the past three years, the Packers have averaged only 19.5 carries a game; a number that's more anemic than it is stout. Last night's opening game w...