Green Bay Packers: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season
333
That’s a pretty gaudy number listed above. Could that be Aaron Rodgers‘ average passing yards per game during his career? Hardly. What it does signify is the number of running plays by the Green Bay Packers in 2018, the fewest in the league.
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Yes, the club did finish 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards per contest and that was just 104.2 yards per outing. The Pack was limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in half of their games. And in seven of their 16 contests, the club totaled fewer than 20 running plays.
It’s interesting to note that back in 2017, then general manager Ted Thompson opted to select three running backs in the draft. The club used a fourth-round selection on Jamaal Williams (BYU), a fifth-round choice on Aaron Jones (UTEP) and a seventh-round pick on Devante Mays (Utah State).
Jones has been the bunch to date on the ground, totaling a combined 214 carries for 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns in 24 contests. Williams has not missed a game and has run for 1,020 yards and seven scores. But he also totaled 52 receptions (two touchdowns) to Jones’ 35 grabs (one touchdown). Mays is no longer with the team.
There figures to be much more balance under new head coach Matt LaFleur. This past season, the Packers totaled 1,026 offensive plays — 32.5 percent running and 67.5 percent passing. Hence it is little wonder the team allowed 53 sacks in 2018. Look for Green Bay’s rushing numbers to take a significant jump under the new regime.