- August 1st, 2006, 8:42 pm
#23042
Gado catching on to new blocking schemehttp://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/dulut ... 173502.htm
CHRIS JENKINS
Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Although Samkon Gado was the feel-good story of what was otherwise a long season for the Green Bay Packers last year, new coach Mike McCarthy didn't seem overly impressed at first glance.
But now that the team is practicing in pads, McCarthy said Gado looks better every day.
"I think Samkon, the way he runs the football, is a guy that you're going to see be a lot more productive when he puts the pads on," McCarthy said Tuesday. "Because he's not a 'slithery' (rusher), he runs with power. He's more of a power runner. So I've been very pleased with him."
Gado, 23, made an unlikely ascent from the Packers' practice squad to become the starting running back after injuries to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport last year.
Gado, a native of Nigeria who moved to the U.S. with his father at age 9 and grew up to play at Liberty University, rushed for more than 100 yards in three games before a strained knee ligament in the Dec. 19 game at Baltimore ended his season.
But when McCarthy was hired to replace fired coach Mike Sherman in January, Gado knew his accomplishments from last year would only go so far.
This year, he has to prove himself all over again.
"To some degree, yeah," Gado said. "I would say not entirely, but yeah. Because it's a new coaching staff, and they need to see it for themselves. And if they don't see it for themselves, they would not be doing their jobs by playing me. That's fine. That's understandable."
The proving process got off to a shaky start. Asked to assess Gado during a May minicamp, McCarthy said Gado wasn't picking up the team's new blocking scheme quickly enough and needed to improve.
Now McCarthy sees progress.
"I won't say he had difficulty," McCarthy said. "I think it was just more of an adjustment for him. But I think he's doing a nice job."
Gado hasn't received a lot of feedback from his coaches since training camp began on Friday. He figured that meant he was doing fine, but said it's always nice to know for sure.
"That's great," Gado said. "That's very comforting to hear. You want to know that you're doing the right thing."
Gado acknowledged that he struggled with the team's transition to a zone blocking-oriented scheme during the minicamps and offseason organized team activity (OTA) workouts in May and June, but now it's beginning to click.
"I'm excited with where I am right now," Gado said. "I'm not where I need to be, but I see progress. Much more progress than there was in the OTAs. I think I'm developing a feel for the system, for the passing game and the blitz pickups and all that stuff, and just understanding the scheme a whole lot better than I did before."
The switch to zone blocking is a dramatic change for offensive linemen, who are assigned to block in specific areas rather than being assigned to block specific players.
But it's also a major change for the running backs, who are expected to run laterally behind the line and choose the right hole to run through instead of running to a pre-determined gap in the line.
It's more freedom for running backs, coupled with more responsibility.
"It's still smash-mouth football," Gado said. "But last year was more just, mano a mano, we're hitting (specific) gaps, they know that's where we're coming and may the best man win. Where this is not so much, it's still smash-mouth football, but you just want to get the defense moving and take the path of least resistance."
If Davenport and Green both return successfully from injuries, Gado will have to fight for carries and playing time this season.
Davenport already has returned from the broken ankle that ended his season last year, and has looked good in training camp so far. Green has yet to receive medical clearance to return from his season-ending ruptured quadriceps, but was the projected starting running back going into camp and will be given every opportunity to win his job back once he's healthy.
Young backs Noah Herron and Arliss Beach also have caught the new coaching staff's attention at times in the offseason, meaning last year's accomplishments won't be enough to guarantee Gado playing time.
"Last year's been looked at and it's been addressed," McCarthy said of Gado's performance. "I mean, it's a clean slate. We're building our football team for the upcoming season. So we're very happy with the progress he's made from last year. That's important, because you're always looking for growth."
Not that he was planning to rest on his laurels.
"I did it once," Gado said. "I'm pretty sure I can do it again."
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