Is Ahman Green missing Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera? Well, his numbers are certainly projecting to be down from last year’s mediocre season totals. There’s no way around it: Green looks like a guy who’s just not going to be able to make it happen behind that offensive line.

We’re seeing the same thing in Washington with Clinton Portis. Talented running backs just can’t post yards and TDs when they’re relying on blocks from linemen who get routinely stuffed. Larry Johnson isn’t half-as-good as Priest Holmes. But give him a start with the KC line and he’s posting 150+ yard games.

Now Ahman Green racked up 1,169 yards last year to go along with 8 TDs. He’ll meet those totals again in 2005/2006. But don’t expect an improvement. A thousand yard season from a starting RB should be an absolute given. But with this offensive line I’d say that’s probably your ceiling.

Where this really hurts is in the TD department. Even when Green Bay gets down close to the goalline this line can’t muster the push to get Green into the endzone. More often he’s trying stretch plays that just don’t work. He’s a north/south runner anyway, and more a screen-pass receiver than a deep threat. So where are the TDs going to come from? Well you can expect at least 3 dives on 3rd and goal. This is an offense that is going to have to do it the ugly way. And with the state of their D I wouldn’t hold out hope for an emphasized ground game. They’ll be playing catch-up an awful lot.

If he can stay healthy I say 1,100 yards and 8 TDs is Green’s 2005 total. Too bad it’s a contract year for him, because his stats. have him trending down. I don’t think Najeh Davenport is the better back, but his running style makes him more suited for this team. He’s a power runner who can break the tackles at the line caused by defensive penetration (a result of weak O-line play). At the very least he’s going to steal a ton of carries.