The Green Bay Packers offense is clicking on all cylinders thanks to the stellar play of running back Aaron Jones. He’s the key to success moving forward.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur seems to have unlocked the key to success on offense. Just follow the blueprint from the Packers’ 34-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday: feed the ball to running back Aaron Jones.
Entering the 2019 season, LaFleur stated several times how much he wanted the running game to be a staple of his offense. Through five games, he’s lived up to those promises.
At the end of 2018, the Packers finished the season ranked 32nd in both total run plays (333) and run play percentage (32.5 percent). News flash: there’s only 32 teams. So far this season, Green Bay has already called 127 run plays (16th), and 40.1 percent of their total plays have involved a run (18th).
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Though the Packers rank near the middle of the league in both categories so far, there’s a noticeable difference in the offense compared to last season. Jones has become the focal point, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers has taken a backseat.
Rodgers hasn’t been relied on to be the difference-maker he once was. Instead, he’s taken on the role of ‘game manager’ under LaFleur, tasked with protecting the ball, limiting mistakes and supplementing the offense when needed.
So far, so good for Rodgers. In fact, he’s embracing his new role. Just hours after throwing for a mere 238 yards and no touchdowns against the Cowboys on Sunday, Rodgers stood at his post-game presser and gave credit where it was due.
“I’ve accomplished a lot statistically in this league. I just want to win now,” Rodgers stated via the team’s official website. If that means handing the ball off to Jones 19 times, and tossing another seven passes to him to move the chains, then so be it.
Jones was the biggest reason for the Packers’ success against Dallas, and the team must follow that blueprint to be successful for the rest of the season.
Jones scored all four of Green Bay’s touchdowns and tallied 182 scrimmage yards, the second-most by a player since Rodgers took over as the starter in 2008. His performance garnered him the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week, and he currently leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (eight) after five weeks.
Without receiver Davante Adams (turf toe) on Sunday, LaFleur’s plan all along was to rely on Jones to carry the load, and it paid off. It was a brilliant display of play-calling, personnel usage and game planning on LaFleur’s part.
Now that the Packers know Jones has the capability to be their workhorse, will they continue to utilize him in the same fashion? His usage so far seems to indicate so. With 78 carries through five games already, Jones is on pace to shatter his career-high (133).
Jones already had a career-day this season with his performance against the Cowboys. The Packers may need Jones to have a career-season in order for the offense to be successful in 2019. Give him the ball and watch what happens.