Packers focused on keeping Eddie Lacy fresh

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy did exactly what head coach Mike McCarthy asked of him last season, playing more on third down and contributing as a receiver out of the backfield.

Now, McCarthy wants to see Lacy continue playing at that level.

"I really felt that last year's conversation was more important than this year's, the ability to make a huge jump from Year One to Two, being a three-down player, that was something we stressed from Day 1, and I thought he delivered," McCarthy said at the NFL owners meetings, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Lacy ranked 13th in the NFL with an average of 15.4 carries in 2014, nine fewer than the league's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. McCarthy said Lacy's 246 rushing attempts fell short of the target he had set for the back.

"Maybe not run attempts," McCarthy said of hitting the target he set. "But I thought we were really smart the way we used him. ... I thought his pass protection he made a huge jump, and his ability to play out of the backfield.

"Eddie has excellent hands, and just his understand and his feel with Aaron (Rodgers), he definitely made a step."

McCarthy said he would rather preserve Lacy by limiting his touches rather than changing his bulldozer running style.

"I go back to past experience," McCarthy said. "I went through this, really. Ricky Williams was the first running back that I went through the how-many-attempts, how-many-runs (discussion).

"It's a learning experience. I'm conscientious of how many times each guy touches the ball, how much each guy plays, especially the running back. I think you have to be smart there."