"...Emanuel Wilson being reported to not be brought back in Green Bay." I haven't seen this anywhere else. Who "reported" that Wilson isn't coming back?

"Luck follows speed". --Bear Bryant.

I think the team recognizes the need for more speed with the people they've brought in the past few years. But all clubs are looking for fast people so the truly fast are fewer. They also have to be good football players, not just fast.
Dallas hired the world's fastest human at the time, Bob Hayes, to be a wide receiver. They thought he would run by all defenses and score easily. He had some success but didn't terrify defenses like Randy Moss did later. Bob eventually became a really good football player along with being fast.

I'm not sure I am buying the author's premise that the missing piece that unlocks the Packer offense is a fast running back. The Packers use fast WRs on end arounds fairly frequently to keep defenses honest about defending wide. I'm not sure a fast RB adds all that much to the wide threat since he will only play limited snaps behind Jacobs and the WR end around at least has the advantage of some surprise whereas subbing a fast RB for Jacobs is a likely give away as to the Packers' intentions.

I think the missing piece to unlock the Packer offense lies much more with the O-line. I would much prefer to see the Packers invest there than in a fast RB.

'Fixing the O-Line" will be problematic. There is no guarantee Ryhan will remain and the 'next man up' is Monk who has been a big disappointment, nor is there an authentic sample size of Jordan Morgan's ability at LT. Zac Tom has incurred a number of injuries including a partial patellar tendon tear which will take up to 6 months to heal-surgery date ??- he may be lacking in necessary power while it heals. Then there is Aaron Banks who has been another disappointment, followed by the 'steadily-improving' but work-in-progress' Belton. When one adds Butkus, Stenavich and MLF as the coaching component, I do not see appreciable gains.
MLF has made no significant upgrade to his Offensive staff, so why would fans feel there will be anything other than what we witnessed last season?

"...evolution starts with adding a running back who can turn a crease into a touchdown."

Creases need to be made, and making them with any iota of consistency depends on two things: the offensive line and the ability of the opponents' defensive line playing the game.

The Packers OL are barely able to put a crease in their pants with the iron in their hands. Something the youth of today have no idea about, sadly, and that level of sadness equals the OLine's ability to make the necessary creases.

The Packers are, essentially, an RB's nightmare, as they'll break down faster trying to make their own creases.

The Packers need a better OL or a smarter and more adaptive play caller.

If the run game is to be the path to success and goal achievement, we don't need a $55 million a year QB to hand the ball off to. Trade Love, retain Willis, an actual run-game aid, and get some top OL guys. If not, keep running back the same status quo every year, and stop crying about what we know will be the end result of that status quo acceptance.

Now, I'm not saying Willis is better overall than Love, and that Willis spark might only last so long, but Love has not progressed anywhere near the levels of his predecessors, regardless of the manipulative stats that say he is, because he isn't in any realistic eye test, and he likely never will be. This doesn't give MLF a free pass, as his role in the progress (or lack thereof) of Love and the team cannot be ignored or unseen since it's a glaring issue also.

No matter how great the RB, they need irons on the line making creases. Period.

The Packers have known for years they need a faster RB to tandem with Jacobs. That is why they drafted Marshon Lloyd.
The question then is what is Lloyd's current status for 2026? . I saw nothing online other than reports from 6 months ago.

This is something we've been lacking since Aaron Jones left, and I like the idea of having another change of pace back. But in MLF's offense, he'll need to be able to block, and MItchell is kind of small, but supposedly his technique has improved. I think a player like this would be very beneficial to the short passing game with the ability to pick up first downs, but I'm not sure whether or not MLF and the Packers are ready to evolve in this way yet.

As I have posted before - I expect us to have a breakout offensive production as long as Lafleur uses his assets. I think that even with the lack of Oline blocking at times that Jacobs had an off year - which he is prone to do from his Raider days. He tends to rebound nicely and hopefully he does that this year - but I would still like to see a scat back type of guy - dont know if that guy is on the roster or a later round gem. I am hopeful that we can keep Doubs and with Watson Wicks Golden opening things up - the running backs will be better and when Kraft gets back fully - we will be dynomite. As long as Lafleur doesnt get away from MOTION - which he has tended to do. My amateurish playcalling would include wheelroutes down the sidelines for Jacobs . I have big aspirations for the offense whilst the defense gets its new being organized into the pressure styled .

I think the important point above re: Emanuel Wilson is that declining the RFA doesn't mean a player can't be brought back. The RFA tender for right of first refusal is about $3.5M on a one-year deal. They have about 8 players eligible for RFA tenders. The Packers could likely do better on most of those players on a FA 1 or 2 year deal...I think Cox is the prime example. I can't imagine the Packers don't want him back (unless he's an issue in the locker room).

Keaton Mitchell is an explosive back but has had two major injuries and played 26 of a possible 51 games for Baltimore. He's never hit 60 carries in a season. I think we're enamored with someone LIKE him, but maybe not specifically Keaton Mitchell. A fast back gets you nothing if he's got no room to run, and even average backs can look very good behind a good OL.

Everyone loves speed and it can't be taught but in more cases than not the real top speed players are lacking in instinct, quickness, or size - it is so rare to have it all. Some of our best WR's were not top end speed demons, Dowler, Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Freeman, Driver, and Adams. The one exception was Lofton, he was a rare one that had it all. The same goes for RB's, Only Green was a real exception. If a GM can find and keep one (through free agency) they have made an exceptional pick. It was reported that Loften who played 16 NFL seasons ran the same 40 yard dash times as a rookie and in his last season.

I always remember when Paul Horung did the Packer exhibition games on TV several years and a fellow announcer would talk up the players speed and Paul would say, "all I want to know is can he play football". Paul was doing those games when Starr was Coach/GM and several times fans wanted to know why Bart didn't hire Paul to run the offense and Starr said once, "we couldn't even pay for just his expenses" alluding to Paul's off the field reputation.

It seems we're plenty fast with Watson, Golden and Melton, and that what we really need is to get tougher.
What I mean by tougher is not nastiness, but rather guys at every position who really love the game of football, and are willing to give and take the hits that are inevitably involved in the game.
Players who are ready to mix it up with the Bears and Lions and all other challengers. Not getting pushed around.
I think we already have at least a fair degree of toughness on the Packers, but let's focus on getting more guys who like to dive around and get their uniforms dirty.
Who think football is mostly fun.

I still remember Jimmy Johnson being asked about his great Miami Nat. Champ. teams and he said " we had speed everywhere, offense and defense".
He said they spec. recruited for speed because "you can't coach it.".
wow having run track I knew exactly what he meant. ya you can get in shape and get a little faster but your never going from a 4.75 guy to a 4.23 guy no matter how much you practice.
I've believed this was the secret to the Chiefs. Andy Reid was always drafting and picking up guys with speed in free agency.
He would have a raft of very fast backs coming out of the backfield to the flats getting easy first downs and moving the ball. Speed killed opponents.
The Packers lack speed all over the place. undeafteds and 5th rounders don't have it Gutt.