Packers may run more, but 49ers wary of Rodgers

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In last year's season opener against the 49ers, the Packers' starting running back was then-29-year-old Cedric Benson, who had been signed four weeks earlier and is currently out of the NFL.

In last year's divisional playoff meeting against the 49ers, the Packers' starting running back was DuJuan Harris, who had been signed to their practice squad in late October and had a dubious claim to fame: Before joining Green Bay, Harris spent a week working as a car salesman in Jacksonville, Fla.

Any guesses on what position the Packers upgraded in the offseason?

After ranking 20th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (106.4) and 22nd in yards per attempt (3.9), Green Bay spent two its first five draft picks on running backs. In the second round, the Packers selected Alabama's Eddie Lacy before grabbing UCLA's Johnathan Franklin two rounds later.

Now, entering Sunday's season opener against the 49ers, Green Bay will find out if its new-look running attack can provide its Aaron Rodgers-led offense with some balance. In two losses against San Francisco last season, the Packers passed on 73 percent of their offensive plays (83 of 113).

"I think any time you go play a game you want to have some semblance of balance," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I feel good about our backs and the direction we're going to attempt to go with our offense."

Green Bay hopes Lacy, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound bruiser with some shiftiness, can provide the ingredient that helped other teams topple the 49ers last year.

The Packers expect that Eddie Lacy, a rookie from Alabama, will help them have an improved running game this season. The Packers expect that Eddie Lacy, a rookie from Alabama, will help them have an improved running game this season. Photo: Jeffrey Phelps, Associated Press Photo: Jeffrey Phelps, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Packers may run more, but 49ers wary of Rodgers 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

In 2012, San Francisco went 10-1 in the regular season when it allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards, and 1-3-1 when opponents topped the century mark. The teams that beat the 49ers - the Vikings, Giants, Rams and Seahawks - each had a 1,000-yard back: Adrian Peterson (2,097 yards), Ahmad Bradshaw (1,015), Steven Jackson (1,042) and Marshawn Lynch (1,590), respectively.

So Green Bay will obviously go the ground, right?

The 49ers have their doubts, given the presence of Rodgers, the 2011 NFL MVP who signed a five-year, $110 million contract extension in the offseason. The Packers have proved, quite recently, that an elite quarterback can make up for a middling rushing attack. In 2010, they won the Super Bowl despite ranking 24th in the NFL in rushing. Of course, they had Rodgers, whose 104.9 passer rating is the best in NFL history.

"We know they have added some running backs," inside linebacker Patrick Willis said. "But, again, they have a $100 million quarterback. They're going to want him to throw the ball. ... I'm sure they're not going to get too far away from what they do and that's pass."

A one-dimensional attack, however, would allow outside linebackers Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks to pass rush with abandon against two untested Packers offensive tackles. Rookie left tackle David Bakhtiari, 21, is a fourth-round pick, and right tackle Don Barclay, 24, is a former undrafted free agent who started four games as a rookie in 2012.

Still, Willis isn't the only 49er expecting a heavy dose of Rodgers, not Green Bay's revamped backfield.

"That's their guy," defensive tackle Ray McDonald said. "He's one of the best players in the league. They just gave him a bunch of money, so they're going to want the ball in his hands a lot. So we expect him to sling the ball around."