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RB Brandon "Zoom" Saine (official thread)

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Saine's progress a lesson for others
By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 1, 2012

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Green Bay -- This time last year, Brandon Saine was the very bottom of the depth chart. The undrafted pick-up was fifth in the running back pecking order -- sixth if you count John Kuhn. Behind a leaky second-string offensive line, holes closed fast in camp and the preseason.

It would have been easy to count heads.

But Saine was active on special teams, picked up the offense and rarely botched assignments. The former Ohio State back made the practice squad, was bumped up to the 53-man roster when Alex Green suffered a torn ACL, and now has a chance to find a place within Green Bay's offense.

His quick rise -- not unlike others before him -- is a handy lesson for all undrafted back-ups on the roster. Training camp is packed to capacity. Ninety players claw for 53 spots.

"I'd like to think it was just hard work, dedication and keeping my head down, moving forward," Saine said.

Saine doesn't have one obvious physical skill that stands out during practice, but he seems to do almost everything well. Of the Packers three tailbacks, he's the most consistent in pass protection. Saine can turn upfield and make a play after the catch. On Tuesday, he had a nifty, 25-30-yard catch-and-run off a screen pass. And he has desirable size (5-11, 220).

Last season, Saine rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries and caught 10 passes for 69 yards. Time spent on the practice squad helped, he said. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers sent a variety of blitz packages at the scout team that Saine had to handle.

?The best thing for me ? and I think I?ve said this before ? being on the practice squad half the year last year, every day I went against the first-team defense," Saine said. "That really showed me what a NFL defense looks like and the different schemes. Our defense has some crazy blitzes so I picked up on a lot of things there. That helped me out the most."

Now, he is no longer buried at his position. Saine acknowledges that he's probably not ready to be an every-down back -- he wasn't at Ohio State, either -- but his resourcefulness may be valued by the Packers. When Green went down, Saine got the call up. Not a veteran off the street.

"I think the biggest thing for me right now is getting special teams down and trying to stick there," he said. "I think the running back position will come. I've played that position for a long time now. We have good coaches."

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http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/164632796.html#!page=1&pageSize=10&sort=newestfirst
 
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'Mr. Football' has become 'Mr. Consistent'
Vic Ketchman packers.com editor

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Mike McCarthy referred to him as ?Mr. Consistent.? In high school, Brandon Saine was known as ?Mr. Football.?

The roads Saine followed to Ohio State as the No. 1 prep star in Ohio, and to the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, run in opposite directions. Coming out of high school, Saine was a prized recruit. He could?ve played anywhere in the Big Ten and beyond.

Success accompanied him, but not to the degree that was expected. Saine carved out enough of a career at Ohio State to gain 1,408 yards rushing and win four letters, but not enough to be drafted into the NFL.

The Packers saw something they liked. Maybe it was Saine?s aptitude for the game. Maybe it was his exemplary lifestyle and captaincy at Ohio State.

Maybe it was because Packers running backs aren?t cast as stars. They are expected to be smart, do-it-all backs that aren?t above protecting the player that is cast as the star, the quarterback.

?Brandon Saine is ?Mr. Consistent.? He does it every day. He?s such a pro for a young player. Doesn?t say much. He?s strictly business. I just love his approach. He?s made the gains physically from Year 1 to Year 2. I think he?s having an excellent camp,? McCarthy said.

Whatever the Packers saw in Saine, their vision was spot on. He?s perfect for their needs.

?I just think it?s the hard work I put in and trying to get better every day. If I do mess up, it?s fixing it the next time,? Saine said when asked to describe the qualities that make him the consistent performer he is.

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http://www.packers.com/news-and-eve...nsistent/5e47b275-87ca-403e-863b-1a4bb0e0eed1
 
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RUNNING BACKS (3)

Keep: Cedric Benson, Alex Green, Brandon Saine.

Cut: James Starks, Marc Tyler, Du'ane Bennett.

Summary: This positional group has been hammered by injuries throughout camp and is somewhat of a mystery. Benson signed Aug. 12 and began practicing Sunday. Benson has had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and unless he falls on his face, the Packers seem ready to make him their lead back. Green is just beginning to regain his explosiveness after suffering an ACL tear last October. Coach Mike McCarthy loves Saine's versatility, smarts and steadiness. He's been fighting a hamstring injury but should survive. The surprise here would be the Packers giving up on Starks, their No. 1 back early in camp. But injuries have limited Starks to just 16 games his first two years, and he's out again with a turf toe. Dating back to his days at Buffalo, Starks has missed time five straight years. At some point, his inability to stay on the field will cost him. The guess is it's now. Tyler seems a good bet for the practice squad.
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http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
 
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Packers RB Brandon Saine (hamstring) has resumed practicing at training camp.
Saine missed the majority of camp and each of the first three preseason games, but the organization is high enough on him that Saine is expected to make the final roster. A 2011 undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, Saine averaged 3.83 yards per carry as a rookie, but made four special teams tackles. Aug 27
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http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7192/brandon-saine
 
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Smith, Saine leave game with injuries
By Bob McGinn and Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
Oct. 15, 2012

Running back Brandon Saine receives attention from the medical staff. Coach Mike McCarthy classified the injury as ?serious.?

Houston - Linebacker D.J. Smith and running back Brandon Saine suffered significant right knee injuries Sunday night in the Green Bay Packers' 42-24 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

Both players were on crutches in the locker room with their knees heavily wrapped. It's possible that both players could be lost for the season.

"Unfortunately, we have some potentially serious injuries," coach Mike McCarthy said.

In addition, linebacker Nick Perry left early in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn't return. Finally, cornerback Sam Shields got kicked in the right shin in the fourth quarter and didn't return.

The Packers already were without wide receiver Greg Jennings (groin), tight end D.J. Williams (hamstring), running back Cedric Benson (foot) and nose tackle B.J. Raji (ankle).

When Smith departed, the Packers went with versatile Brad Jones at weak inside linebacker. Rob Francois is the top backup on the strong inside behind A.J. Hawk.

Jamari Lattimore was active as the No. 5 inside linebacker. Rookie Terrell Manning was inactive for the fifth time in six games.

Smith, a second-year player from Appalachian State, replaced Desmond Bishop in early August after he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury.

The Packers might be able to get by with Jones in the base defense. It will be a much more difficult job replacing Smith as one of the two linebackers in the nickel defense and the lone linebacker in the dime.

After five games, Smith ranked second to Hawk in solo tackles with 32.

Saine, a second-year man from Ohio State, played exclusively on special teams in the first six games. He was injured covering a kickoff in the third quarter.
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http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/smith-saine-leave-game-with-injuries-v577gus-174138361.html
 
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Packers place Smith, Saine on injured reserve

Updated: Monday, 15 Oct 2012

The Green Bay Packers claimed RB Johnny White off waivers from the Buffalo Bills and placed RB Brandon Saine and linebacker D.J. Smith on injured reserve. The transactions were announced Monday by Ted Thompson, executive vice president, general manager and director of football operations.

Smith was second on the team with 39 tackles and also had two sacks. He had a team-high nine solo tackles in Sunday's 42-24 win at Houston.

Saine sustained a knee injury Sunday and he appeared in all six games this season.
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http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/sports/packers_and_nfl/packers-place-saine-on-injured-reserve
 
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Recovery Outlook

ACL injuries have slow recoveries, and there is little to no news available on how Saine is progressing. Based on similar injuries, Saine may have a chance to practice in training camp, but it is entirely possible that he may miss camp and start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which could throw his entire 2013 season into question.
2013 Roster Status

Harris and Alex Green appear to be the only running backs who are locks to make the roster in 2013. James Starks' injury history may finally force him out of Green Bay, and the Packers have shown little indication that they are interested in bringing Cedric Benson back. The team does seem likely to target a running back in the draft, however, and will most likely look to share carries among all the backs that are on the team. However, the team's minimal investment in Saine and his injury make his chances of making the opening week roster seem slim.
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http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/6/4190540/green-bay-packers-brandon-saine-injury-2013
 
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On eve of NFL Draft, Packers waive RB Brandon Saine
By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel

Green Bay --- On Wednesday morning, the Green Bay Packers made their first move at running back by waiving running back Brandon Saine.

The 2011 undrafted pick-up missed all of last season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 6 at Houston.

As a rookie the year prior, Saine showed some promise with 69 rushing yards on 18 attempts and 10 receptions for 69 yards. He was primarily a special teams player.

Coming off of a serious knee injury, It was going to be difficult for Saine to crack the roster in 2013. The Packers return DuJuan Harris, Alex Green and James Starks. Unrestricted free agent Cedric Benson visited with Green Bay. And there's also a good chance general manager Ted Thompson drafts a back as well.
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http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/204541361.html
 
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brodybuck21;2331555; said:
as a Buckeyes and Packers fan this stinks but we need someone at RB who can deliver consistently...and so far none of those rb's named has done that...so frustrating . Heres to Brandon getting healthy and landing with a good team
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Yeah, it's too bad for Saine, but this may be a prelude to the Packers going RB in the draft or bringing back Benson.
 
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brodybuck21;2331594; said:
ur thoughts on benson and the draft?
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This can probably be migrated into the Packers thread but...

I think they'll go safety or defensive line in the first round. If Kenny Vaccaro drops to them, I think you have to take him. Matt Elam should still be there at #26, and he could start right away. If they decide to go DL, Johnathan Hankins or Datone Jones are my preferred choices.

They might take a running back in the middle rounds. Christine Michael has been linked to them and has visited. Eddie Lacy had a terrible combine, but Thompson has said he puts more weight on game film than combine performance. Giovani Bernard is another possibility. Johnathan Franklin could be a second-round pick.

I think Benson is done or, at best, is a serviceable backup.
 
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