In 2017, the Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Jones out of the University of Texas at El Paso 182nd overall. Throughout his first three years in Green Bay, Jones has played in 40 games. He has rushed 450 times for 2,260 yards and 28 touchdowns. Now, these might sound like fairly unimpressive stats for three years until you remember that the Packers use a one-two punch running back game plan. Jones along with Jamaal Williams carry the Packers running game. In the same draft class, the Packers selected Williams out of Brigham Young University 134th overall. In his three seasons with the Packers, Williams has played in 46 games. He has rushed 381 times for 1,480 yards and eight touchdowns. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have bolstered the Packers run game since they were drafted in 2017.
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams Have Bolstered Green Bay Packers Run Game
Of course, it is no secret that Green Bay has had a wildly inconsistent rushing game over the years. So, let’s go ahead and break down where the Packers ranked out of all 32 NFL teams between 2010 and 2019:
- 2010: 24th with 1,606 yards on 421 attempts
- 2011: 27th with 1,558 yards on 395 attempts
- 2012: 20th with 1,702 yards on 433 attempts
- 2013: 7th with 2,136 yards on 459 attempts
- 2014: 11th with 1,917 yards on 435 attempts
- 2015: 12th with 1,850 yards on 436 attempts
- 2016: 20th with 1,701 yards on 374 attempts
- 2017: 17th with 1,724 yards on 386 attempts
- 2018: 22nd with 1,667 yards on 333 attempts
- 2019: 15th with 1,795 yards on 411 attempts
According to these ESPN team rushing stats from the last 10 years, Green Bay has only landed in the top 10 once. That’s right, just once. The Packers have a history of leaning on the passing game since they’ve had Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks for years. Green Bay did not begin exploring the possibilities of expanding the run game until they fired head coach Mike McCarthy in December of 2018 and hired rookie head coach Matt LaFleur for the 2019 season. LaFleur kept McCarthy’s strategy of using multiple backs instead of naming a bell cow to carry most of the load. However, the Packers’ new head coach has been much more willing to work to improve the running game than McCarthy was. LaFleur trusts Aaron Rodgers, his QB1, of course. That’s not even a question. He also realizes that Rodgers cannot do it all.
During Week 5 of last season, Jones had a monster game against the Dallas Cowboys, scoring four touchdowns. Jones had 19 carries for 107 yards and seven catches for 75 yards totaling 182 yards and 26 touches. Since WR1, Davante Adams, was out for this game, Jones rose up to be the playmaker that Green Bay needed.
Jamaal Williams’ Future Is Unclear
Between Jones and Williams, while they have provided the one-two punch, Jones is the clear favorite. So, yes, Williams has been exceptional and made a huge impact on the Packers running game, but the truth is that his future remains unclear. Rob Reischel, Forbes contributor for the Packers says: “Williams is the only player in franchise history to register 400-plus rushing yards and 200-plus receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. He’s tough, physical, and remarkably consistent. Williams has played in 46 of a possible 48 games, never fumbled, is a terrific blocker, and has caught 75.8 percent of the passes thrown his way.”
The Packers running game has a long way to go to catch up with teams like the San Francisco 49ers, who ran all over them in 2019. The one-two punch of Jones and Williams has taken Green Bay’s run game to the next step, but there’s still room to grow. In April of 2020, the Packers drafted another running back, A.J. Dillon, who Reischel describes as a “bigger version of Williams.” Assuming the NFL is able to continue moving forward with the 2020 season, fans will be eager to see how the Packers continue to strengthen the run game.
