Burks Beginning to show he Belongs

The former Troy running back is finding new ways to make himself a true competitor for a roster spot.

Finding a smaller tailback with field vision, quick footwork and the mechanics to sneak his way around his blocks isn't much of a rarity. Nor is it a hot, essential commodity to a team's success. But sometimes, having an undersized running back can play well to a team's strength.

Even if that team has notably been coined of having a lethal passing attack as opposed to a subpar running game — before the arrival of a certain Alabama running back in 2013, at least. 

A 5'7", 197-pound "undersized" running back is exactly what the Packers got when they signed Troy's DuJuan Harris to their practice squad in October of 2012. . Nearly two months later, he was officially a part of their active roster, joining the carousel of Green Bay running backs that season that consisted of Cedric Benson, James Starks, Alex Green, Brandon Saine and Ryan Grant. Harris spent the next two full seasons sporting green and gold before hitting the market during the 2015 off-season. Since then, he's leapfrogged between five other teams. 

The compact traits that Harris brought to the Packers proved to be a reliable third option behind Starks and Eddie Lacy, that aforementioned Alabama running back whose intangibles have reliably solidified his role as the Packers' starting running back. 

In 2016, another undersized, undrafted running back out of Troy is making his bid for a roster spot with the Packers. 

Churning into the NFL as a slightly bigger version of Harris, all 5'9", 208 pounds of Brandon Burks' frame stepped valiantly into the battle for the third-string spot behind Lacy and Starks. One of his competitors includes another undrafted running back named Brandon — Brandon Ross. Both have been fighting the seemingly stagnant battle of unseating John Crockett for the desired spot on the depth chart — Crockett, the third-string tailback from 2015. 

Preseason impressions have told another story, however. While Ross has fallen behind the pack (no pun intended) with negative yardage totals in two of the three preseason games, Crockett and Burks have been nose-to-nose in their race for their respective spots. Some may even argue Burks has been the top performer of the two. Even despite the instinctive blocking pick-ups Crockett provided in the passing game.

Burks has turned in an average of 4.5 yards with his 18 touches out of the backfield. Crockett meanwhile, managed a 3.5 average with his heightened amount of 25 touches — 13 of them coming just last Friday night in San Francisco. Burks' six carries against the 49ers were highlighted by a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. A run that showcased his patience and decisiveness as a ball-carrier, capable of springing his way around the blocks paving his path.

An average sampling size through three games, but possibly enough of a sampling size to entice some second-guessing on all of the roster predictions that dubbed Crockett as the third-string rusher. Yes, including my own.

The door for Burks may be even more significantly open than it would be had evaluating him been based solely on his performance alone. Crockett suffered what is currently somewhat diagnosed to be a shoulder injury in the latter stages of the second quarter on Friday night. Depending on just what that diagnosis is and how long it would take Crockett to heal, the pendulum may just be swinging more prominently in Burks' favor. 

One preseason business trip remains — Kansas City. Being the final preseason game, it's safe to assume a good lot of the starting lineup won't be seen on the field. Thursday will provide the younger, unproven players remaining on the soon-to-be 75-man roster one last trial to show the coaches why they belong. This includes Burks, whose campaign to become a running back for the Green Bay Packers and topple the odds stacked against him after being undrafted hasn't gone unnoticed.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (21)

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

August 30, 2016 at 01:20 pm

Crockett to IR so I would say Burks made the team.

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Colin_C's picture

August 30, 2016 at 01:28 pm

Looking forward to seeing Burks get a heavy workload on Thursday! It would be interesting to see what he could do with the first team O-line, though I doubt they'll even be in. While Burks is "undersized" in the height department, his height to weight ratio actually makes him a solidly built back. Sure, he's no Fournette, but I think his strength will be adequate for the NFL. In case anyone's interested, he are most of his Troy highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkzozc356bo
He's pretty darn fast!

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Bear's picture

August 30, 2016 at 01:45 pm

Colin, Thanks for the link.

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lucky953's picture

August 31, 2016 at 06:46 pm

Bob McGinn (PackersNews) quotes an NFL scout as "Crockett is one-speed, no burst, straight-liner, no threat. What I like about Burks is he has a burst, he has a gear, he can make something happen on his own. He's shifty, he can run a sweep, he can make people miss, he sticks his neck in there on blocks and he's a threat as a receiver."

Enough said as far as I'm concerned.

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marpag1's picture

August 30, 2016 at 03:02 pm

On a totally unrelated note: It looks like Teddy Bridgewater just blew out his knee. Vikings actually canceled practice and called an ambulance.

Kinda feel bad. I know they're the Vikings and all, but man, that's gotta suck...

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/vikings-cancel-practice-after-teddy-b...

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Oppy's picture

August 30, 2016 at 04:35 pm

I feel bad for Teddy Bridgewater.

Vikings fans though? They can suck it. I will mock them relentlessly about how they're going to take the reigns in the NFCN this season. LoL.

Seriously. Sorry for Teddy. Eff the Vikings fans.

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mrtundra's picture

August 30, 2016 at 09:13 pm

I agree 100% with you, Oppy. Feel for Teddy but not for their fans, at all. Their fans will use Teddy's injury as the reason they finished in the cellar this season.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

August 30, 2016 at 03:27 pm

Yeah he is out the whole year from what I just heard on the radio. I guess they pick up a veteran QB or not but they were not going to win the the division this year anyways.

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Oppy's picture

August 30, 2016 at 04:36 pm

That's not what the Vikings fans were saying all off season long.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 30, 2016 at 04:02 pm

I know its a small sample, but Burks has what we have lacked, a very quick decisive rb with some power.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

August 30, 2016 at 05:37 pm

I saw I am in shock, bold moves of course we might be able to pick up Mortell in a week.

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GVPacker's picture

August 30, 2016 at 06:02 pm

Anyone care to make a guess who the Queens bring in to backup Sean Hill? Perhaps Mark Sanchez? Maybe Crapernick if he gets the Das Boot from the 49ers?

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mrtundra's picture

August 30, 2016 at 09:24 pm

Joel Stave is their #3 QB. If they had any sense, they'd dump him. I hope they bring in Tebow.

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lucky953's picture

August 30, 2016 at 09:24 pm

Joe Callahan to the Vikings for a 4th-5th rnd pick?

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lucky953's picture

August 30, 2016 at 09:26 pm

sorry...double post

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mrtundra's picture

August 30, 2016 at 09:34 pm

I hope not!

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

August 30, 2016 at 06:17 pm

Whoops. I wrote this before Crockett got put on IR/released. My timing is impeccable. Sorry everyone!

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al bundy's picture

September 01, 2016 at 03:34 pm

Thanks. I read put on ir and was scratching my head. Why would you keep a guy for next year who at best is third string. Duh. Then just now on Yahoo sports they said he was cut. What you postdd makes sense, cut/injured. Who posted put on ir I have no idea.

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John Galt III's picture

August 30, 2016 at 07:03 pm

When many were posting their 53 man rosters, I said there were going to be surprises. The 53 man rosters are fun to post but outside of 30 to 35 core players, others are expendable.

This is at the 75 player level and we still some 20 + players to cut.

There will be more surprises. The reason is that we fans watch the games, read different blogs and reports, but that is not nearly enough.

We have no idea on the coaches observations on players: technique, character, work ethic, learning the playbook (Mr. Janis apparently), taking plays off (Randy Moss comes to mind) and many other factors. Finally, we are not privy to the 31 other teams and the phone calls they make to TT for their needs.

TT and MM never disclose what they are about to do especially TT. TT is a very cool poker player and the first thing pokers players learn is to hide "tells".

While he trades rarely, I think this year may be different. For the first time in many years I think we have an excess of good players. Getting down to the 53 level is going to be very difficult. We also have a few holes to fill. Too many in WR's and maybe not enough on the DL and another position or two.

Again, nothing would surprise me in the coming days as we get to 53 except perhaps for those core players.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

August 30, 2016 at 08:13 pm

Oh there are surprises alright, man thought years past was something but TT has really done it this year.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

August 31, 2016 at 12:07 am

Could it be that Burke is 5'8 and not 5'9? He's a really strong back for his size. Hopefully, he works out.

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