Packers' Grant feels 100 percent

By The Associated Press

Friday, September 26, 2008 9:02 PM CDT

GREEN BAY — Ryan Grant feels like himself again, and the Green Bay Packers are hoping their running game will look the way it’s supposed to as a result.

Grant was limited to one preseason snap because of contract negotiations and a hamstring injury. He’s been limited to roughly 25 snaps per game so far in the regular season but is practicing this week more than he has all season.

That should bode well for the Green Bay ground game Sunday at Tampa Bay.

“It’s encouraging to see Ryan Grant out there taking all his reps. I think he’s put together two solid practices,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Thursday’s in-pads practice. “It’s been great to have him healthy and feeling good the next day.”

Grant carried 12 times for 92 yards in the regular-season opener against Minnesota, 15 times for 20 yards in Week 2 at Detroit and 13 times for 54 yards in last Sunday’s loss to Dallas. He said after practice he could handle at least 20 carries against the Buccaneers.

“This is the best I’ve felt, definitely,” said Grant, who rushed for 956 yards last year, including 929 in the final 10 weeks of the season. “Initially when I would practice, I was really kind of frustrated because the coaches (would) tell me to ‘manage it.’ They didn’t really want me to open it up. I felt I was kind of all at the same speed (and) focusing on pad level, I almost felt like I’m not naturally running. (Now), I am feeling more natural out there.”

One of the problems with Grant “managing” his hamstring has been the way it has kept him from hitting holes as hard as he normally would or finishing runs with power. Through three games, he has only two “explosive” runs — defined as runs of 12 yards or more — and hasn’t had one since his 57-yard burst against Minnesota.

Against Dallas, the Packers didn’t have any negative-yardage runs but their longest runs went 9 yards, one by Grant and one by backup Brandon Jackson.

“We were having some solid runs (against the Cowboys), but we weren’t cracking ’em for 10, 12 and 9; we were getting 4, 3 and 5,” offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. “It just didn’t feel like we were ourselves.”

Another problem with Grant missing practice time was the lack of cohesiveness with the offensive line.

“It certainly helps as far as rhythm, tempo. Everyone’s on the same page — he has a feel for the linemen, the linemen have a feel for him,” running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. “I thought the last game he was getting back to being himself. And he felt like he was coming around. Certainly week-in and week-out he’s gotten better as far as feeling himself, he’s not thinking about it as much, maybe get to the point of opening it up.”

Grant said he is feeling more like himself. In practice Wednesday, he accelerated to catch up to a deep pass and surprised Bennett with his burst.

“When I came back, E.B. was like, ’Uhhhh, I don’t know.’ I was like, ’I caught it.”’ Grant said. “The fact that naturally my mind just took me there and I was able to do that, that’s a good thing. Without thought, I’m able to open up and do different things.

“I’m recovering every day. Each week is progress. I’m excited.”

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