Levens runs his way into the picture

Editor’s note: This story was published Dec. 9, 1996. Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers have found a running formation they like, and it appears they’re going to use it until someone stops them.

And the more they use it, the more it’s clear how effective Dorsey Levens can be as a runner.

In their 41-6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the Packers rode Levens to their ninth 100yard rushing day of the season. Running mostly out of three- and four-wide-receiver sets, Levens gained 86 yards in 14 carries for a 6.1-yard average.

“I think it’s a combination of me reading the holes a little better and the offensive line is providing the holes,” Levens said. “I mean, when they spread the defense open like that (in multiple-receiver sets), it’s not hard to run at all. They’re pretty much spread wide open.”

Though Levens doesn’t start in the Packers’ traditional two-back set, he has increasingly become the man they go to in the running attack, leaving starter Edgar Bennett out in the cold.

Levens’ performance the last three games has earned him more carries in the pass-oriented Packers offense. And if he continues to average nearly 8 yards per carry as he has in those games (23 carries, 178 yards, one touchdown), he is going to get more.

“Dorsey has really come on,” center Frank Winters said. “He’s really getting after it. He’s just another weapon in this offense. He comes in in certain personnel groups.

“It’s just good to have that versatility. All our backs are like that. They all have a role, and everyone accepts their role.”

Bennett last year became the Packers’ first 1,000yard rusher since 1978, but he certainly couldn’t be happy about losing carries. After the game, he showered quickly and was not available for comment in the locker room when it was opened to reporters.

Bennett remains the starter and played halfback every time the Packers were in their base offense until late in the game, when the regulars were removed. But he got only nine carries and gained just 5 yards.

In his last three games, he has rushed 40 times for 87 yards, an average of 2.2 yards per carry. In his last two games, he has failed to catch a pass, breaking a string of 60 straight games in which he had a reception.

Levens’ emergence has a lot to do with coach Mike Holmgren’s desire to run out of a one-back set. Against the Broncos, he used three- and four-wide- receiver sets on about 20 plays (not counting the final series when the substitutes were in). For all but one, Levens was the main back.

“He’s had a real good three games,” Holmgren said. “We’re just using him a little bit more now. Not a lot more but a little bit more in situations usually dictated by the defense.”

Holmgren did not say whether he planned to use Levens in the base set, something he hasn’t done all season. But with the success he is having with the oneback formation, it’s likely to be used more in the future.

The Packers are not relying heavily on their running game, but there may be a time when they will have to do so. Knowing Levens can get tough yards could help them overcome some difficult situations.

Levens appears to be perfectly suited for the oneback scheme. Blessed with good quickness and excellent size, the former fullback has been taking advantage of running against a spread-out defense.

“He’s got good eyes, good speed,” tackle Earl Dotson said. “He’s a complete back. All of our backs are complete backs. Today was his day. The last two weeks he’s been having good games.”

One advantage Levens has over Bennett is that he’s running against a defense that isn’t able to bring eight players to the line of scrimmage to stop the run. Because there are multiple receivers, the safeties have to remain back to play the pass.

As a result, the offensive linemen have to block only their own men and make sure they take care of the linebackers. Levens has to hit the hole hard and then break some tackles.

“It kind of spreads it out a little bit,” Winters said of multiple-receiver sets. “There’s fewer defenders in the box. They have to play the receivers. A lot of teams throw out of that.

“It’s kind of what Detroit does. You spread the defense around and it’s kind of hard to keep eight guys in the box when you have three receivers out there.

“They have to play bump and run, and if they play bump and run we should be able to beat them. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

PACKER PLUS FILES Running back Dorsey Levens continued to emerge as the Packers beat the Denver Broncos on Dec. 8, 1996. He carried 14 times for 86 yards, a 6.1-yard average.