Green Bay Packers: Analyzing fullback usage in 2015

By Keegan Matheson | Sep 10, 2015

The Green Bay Packers refuse to let the fullback position die. After rostering three players at the position during their 2010 Super Bowl campaign, Aaron Ripkowski now joins John Kuhn on the fullback depth chart for a season that could act as a passing of the torch.

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The Wisconsin folk hero Kuhn has seen his usage regress in recent seasons, but continues to offer the Green Bay Packers quality when called upon. According to Football Outsiders, Kuhn’s 2014 Pro Bowl campaign saw him on the field for just 18.3% of offensive snaps. This number is down significantly from 28.3% in 2013 and 33.9% in 2012.

Aaron Rodgers‘ mastery of the offense paired with the emergence of Eddie Lacy as one of the NFL’s elite power runners has played a hand in this transition for Kuhn, whose current value lies more in the realm of pass protection, where he remains excellent. I’d grown worried that he was a candidate for a cutdown day surprise, but as the most trusted bodyguard of number 12, he’s earned one more season. His final in Green Bay, perhaps.

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With Kuhn’s usage unlikely to trend back in the other direction, expect rookie Ripkowski to be given the opportunity to earn work in run blocking situations. The 6’1″, 257-pound behemoth excelled as a lead blocker at Oklahoma, delivering a driving pop to opposing linebackers.

The key for Ripkowski, both in 2015 and long-term, will be diversifying his game. Not to the point of becoming a Kuhn clone with the ability to run and catch out of the backfield, but only to the point where a defense is forced to respect the possibility. Until that time comes, one disadvantage to fielding Ripkowski is that it tips Green Bay’s play calling hand.

For that reason, Ripkowski may begin the year as part of Green Bay’s potential shift towards a power running game when they hold large leads late in games. The selection of undrafted rookie running back Alonzo Harris to the 53-man roster over the more dynamic Rajion Neal and John Crockett suggests that Green Bay could look to continue the power run late in games without wearing down Eddie Lacy, and that’s an equation that should include Ripkowski.

Kuhn will remain extremely valuable, however, as a trusted parachute string for Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy to pull whenever trouble arises. Both men will factor into the special teams units, too, and the Packers will have little trouble keeping the fullback flame lit.

Next: Packers 2014 draft class: Hits, misses and maybes

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