The Real Problem in Green Bay: Taken for Granted

Contrary to the hype and build-up of the offseason duel between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers is not buckling under pressure. He's not folding like a lawn chair. And no, he's not looking awful, as the Packers struggle to win as many games as they're losing.

In fact, he's looked every bit as good as advertised, and if I can say it this early, has lived up to and surpassed everyone's expectations.

In only six weeks, Rodgers has done all he can do to quiet his critics, while doing his best Favre impersonation (voluntarily or not), in guiding his new team to three victories. He's held his own, as he's been compared to Favre and the Jets, keeping up with Favre in touchdowns, yards, and even wins.

And he's done all this despite a shady offensive line, a conservative scheme, a passive coach, and a horrible ground game. For the final time everyone, this is not Aaron Rodgers' fault.

However, the blame can't go to the offensive line, either. They're not quite used to someone as mobile as Rodgers. There are new plays in the offense, specifically drawn up for his abilities, and the line needs time to adapt to him.

However, there is more to this than meets the eye. The transition from Favre to Rodgers brings on the thought that defenses may not respect Rodgers game-changing ability, as they did Favre's. This allows defenses to put more men on the line, keying in on the run game.

Hence, Ryan Grant looks slow as molasses, can't find the right cuts, and is a shell of last season's fantasy stud.

It has to rest on coach Mike McCarthy then, right? Wrong. McCarthy's conservative approach is no new thing, but his playcalling has been even more passive, considering his fledgling quarterback and change in his team's iconic status. Still, he's been solid enough to win three out of six games, so it doesn't rest with him and the other coaches.

And don't point to the defense. If they had all their healthy bodies from last year, they'd be just as good as they were then. True, Al Harris is no longer a burner (not that he ever was), but a slower Harris is better than a Tramon Williams or Jarrett Bush, any day.

Also, it doesn't help matters when you have hindering injuries to A.J. Hawk, Atari Bigby, Ryan Pickett, and then lose a great run-defender in Cullen Jenkins for the season. Do you still think they pulled the trigger on letting Corey Williams go a tad early? I do.

But, like I said, you can't blame the defense, either. Injuries are going to happen. You can't go 13-3 two seasons in a row very often, and you can never go two seasons in a row in the NFL without getting hit by a significant injury. See New England Patriots and Tom Brady.

So, whether you like it or not, it all boils down to the man with the incentive-laden contract, Mr. Holdout, the guy who came out of nowhere to light up the highlight reels, only to get the big bucks and fade into nothingness. Your main man? None other than the underachieving Ryan Grant.

Last season, he had the luxury of the legendary Brett Favre torching defenses and opening up the field, allowing him to find holes easily in defenses. But now that's all changed. Injuries have hit the team, Rodgers isn't Brett Favre, and the offensive line has become extremely timid.

And I know what everyone is thinking. That I'm jumping on the "Hate Grant" bandwagon, simply because he hasn't ran for 100 yards in a single game yet this season, or that he has a paltry rush average.

And you'd be right. The truth is, I’m not buying into his hamstring woes, or his missed cuts. He flat-out doesn’t have the vision he had last year, which means last season was a fluke, or he’s having one heck of a slow start.

Only after Grant ran for a sad 2.7 yards per carry, rushing 33 times for only 90 yards against Seattle, I am finally convinced that he is the problem. He is the dead weight holding this offense back, and for some reason, no one else is willing to admit it.