Dustin Shea is 22 years old and resides in Andover, Massachusetts. He is a recent graduate of Wesleyan University and currently works at the Phillips Academy Ice Rink. He is a lifelong sports enthusiast and is most interested in MLB, the NHL, college ice hockey and the NFL. Samkon Gado has risen from obscurity to become the Green Bay Packers primary ball carrier. Since being given the job in Week 9, he has rushed for 283 yards and four touchdowns, with one touchdown reception. It is great to see an underdog succeed.
Samkon Gado’s story is the kind that puts a smile on the face of most sports fans.
Gado came to the Green Bay Packers undrafted after playing his college ball at Liberty. Or, more accurately, sitting at Liberty, as he was not a starter at the Big South I-AA school.
He entered his rookie season fifth on the Packer’s depth chart, but over the past four weeks since he’s become Green Bay’s primary ball carrier, he has been one of the most productive backs in the league.
In Week 11, Gado was completely shut down. The Minnesota Vikings concentrated their efforts on stopping him, forcing the aging Brett Favre and his depleted receiving corps to try to beat them.
It worked on both counts, as Gado had only seven yards and the Vikings won the game 20-17. But the Viking’s emphasis on Gado said a lot. He had arrived.
That game aside, he has been spectacular. His first game as the feature back was against Pittsburgh’s tough run defense.
During the game, the Packers kept pounding the ball with Gado and he went for 62 yards and a score. It was the highest running total for a Packers’ back this year.
The following week, he just cut loose on Atlanta. Granted, Atlanta’s rush defense is not the stingiest, but Gado ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns, adding a third touchdown on a short reception. Pretty impressive numbers.
This past Sunday, Gado bounced back from the Vikings game with a big day against Philadelphia, rushing 26 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came on a 26-yard run in which he busted through a nice hole and then threw a spin move that made Eagles safety Brian Dawkins look silly.
However, one problem that Gado has had is holding onto the football. In those four games he has fumbled four times. He has only lost one so far, but that is a habit that will catch up with you. He is a rookie though, and he hasn’t been playing that much yet, so it is something he may be able to rid himself of in time.
The emergence of Gado has caused teams around the league to take notice, but his story has not caught as much attention as it probably should. But, it should.
Gado has been among the best rookie running backs. Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown stood out early and have better numbers on the season, but both have seen their production decline as the season has continued. Although Williams has started to come on again, neither of those backs have matched Gado’s production over the four games he’s been in action.
If Gado continues his fine play through the end of the season, people will be forced to recognize his accomplishments. He has come out of nowhere to become one of the NFL’s most productive backs and he has a name like Samkon Gado. You have to love this guy.