Green Bay Packers: Running game should be effective under Matt LaFleur

The Green Bay Packers’ running game was disappointing in 2018. New head coach Matt LaFleur should help alleviate that issue next season.

We all know how 2018 turned out for the Green Bay Packers. An ineffective offense, headlined by a lousy running game, cost Mike McCarthy his job and led to what may as well have been a wasted year for the Packers. New head coach Matt LaFleur should help with those issues.

Throughout the entire season, several fans and pundits questioned why McCarthy refused to run the ball more, specifically with up-and-coming star running back Aaron Jones. Questions turned into even more questions, as McCarthy never quite got the running game up to full-capacity. He was fired following Week 13’s debacle against the Arizona Cardinals.

Sure, one could argue that Jones, who was placed on injured reserve after Week 15 with a knee injury, just isn’t quite big enough to withstand the beating that other larger running backs around the NFL can take. Jones has now suffered three separate knee injuries in his pro career.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

But even so, that doesn’t excuse McCarthy for not at least trying to run it more — be it with Jones or Jamaal Williams. The Packers ended the 2018 season with the lowest amount of rushing attempts (333) in the entire NFL, despite finishing 2nd in yards per attempt (5.0). Green Bay also finished 22nd in rushing yards (1,667). Jones alone finished with 728 yards for 5.5 yards per attempt and eight touchdowns in just 12 games.

The good news for Jones, Williams and the overall running game, is that new head coach Matt LaFleur should be able to fix this issue. As offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans last season, LaFleur’s biggest focus was establishing the ground game.

The Titans finished ninth in rushing attempts (454), 12th in yards per carry (4.5) and seventh in total rushing yards (2,023). Tennessee running back Derrick Henry finished the year as a 1,000-yard rusher, averaging 4.9 yards per tote with 12 rushing touchdowns.

If those stats alone don’t get Aaron Jones excited for what could be this coming season, then nothing will.

Then add in the fact that LaFleur is a disciple of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, which relies heavily on a zone run-blocking scheme, and Jones should be even more excited. The basic principle in a zone blocking scheme is focused on the offensive line blocking the closest defender from the snap. The running back is then tasked with finding whichever hole opens up first.

Essentially, linemen are moving horizontally rather than vertically. This works to the advantage of play action, forcing defenders to commit to a potential run since the offensive line isn’t moving forward in pass protection. The zone blocking scheme allows an offense to avoid an ‘ineligible man downfield’ penalty on play action, as linemen are moving side to side. It’s a brilliant way to disguise the passing game.

All of this is great news for Aaron Rodgers, as it allows the offense to get into more of a balanced attack, keeping the defense on its heels at all times. Of course, Rodgers will need to buy in to this philosophy, but there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t.

As for Jones, the hype train for 2019 is about to leave the station. In both seasons as a starter, Jones has averaged 5.5 yards per carry both times. His career average of 5.5 yards per carry ranks first in NFL history among players with 200 or more rushing attempts.

There’s reasons for optimism surrounding the Green Bay Packers in 2019. The potential for a top 10 running game is one of them. Expect the Packers to rush the ball much more under coach LaFleur, which could end up making Aaron Jones a Pro Bowler.