The Facts: There are plenty of caveats for judging this early in training camp whether the Packers significantly upgraded their running game in this year's NFL draft. The team has practiced only once in pads, and even in that setting there's no tackling, which eliminates the crucial tackle-breaking element of RB play. Still, it was hard not to notice Franklin in the Packers' first padded workout Sunday. The rookie stood out most at a position that GM Ted Thompson augmented with two of his first five draft picks this year. "From what I've seen so far, it looks like (Franklin) is going to be a pretty decent player," said Josh Sitton, the Packers' left guard. "Haven't seen a whole lot yet, but he's a shifty little son of a gun."

Diehards Line: As Press-Gazette staffer Pete Dougherty remind readers, HC Mike McCarthy has vowed that the Packers will run the ball better this year than they have under his stewardship, and Franklin and Eddie Lacy are a huge part of that plan. ... Dougherty went on to advise readers that Lacy, a second-round pick, had an uneventful first day in pads, in large part because he had little running room on his three carries during 11-on-11 periods. His strengths as a runner also don't show up as much as Franklin's on the practice field. At 5-feet-11 and 230 pounds, Lacy is a power back who, if his abilities translate well to the NFL, will push piles and either run through or spin off tackles, which he can't do because there's no tackling. Franklin, on the other hand, has been one of the Packers' most impressive rookies since their first mini-camp in part because nonpadded practices play to his strengths as a quick, instinctive, change-of-direction back. Moving to padded practices can neutralize those skills for many backs, but on the first day in pads, Franklin's abilities carried over. ... We'll remind you that more than a few observers have suggested that Franklin is a better fit for the scheme than Lacy -- but that seems to presume that McCarthy won't make good his threat to add more of a power component to the ground game. Whatever the case, we'll be watching for more. So stay tuned.