"In the language of the NFL, Joe Philbin's one word assessment of the Green Bay Packers' run game the past three years was blunt and critical.

"Average," the Packers offensive coordinator said.

As in run off the mill. As in nothing that keeps a defensive coordinator worrying all week.

Coach Mike McCarthy brought Alex Gibbs' idiosyncratic zone-blocking scheme to the Packers in 2006 anticipating the same results it delivered the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, who seemed to produce big yards every year regardless of whom they played at halfback.

But McCarthy's run game has in fact been average at best, with only one sustained stretch of success, the second half of 2007, when Ryan Grant came from the bottom of the Packers' depth chart to produce a credible ground game in their run to the NFC championship game that season.

Last year, Grant missed all offseason practices and the first week of training camp while his contract was negotiated, and then shortly after his return sustained a hamstring injury that lingered all year. The Packers' run game tanked, and they finished No. 17 in the league in rushing yards and No. 18 in yards per carry. Average."