Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has said that the Packers offense will emphasize the running game this season. Now, that doesn’t mean that the offense won’t still go through quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The belief behind the new emphasis is that it will open up the passing game and also, make opposing defenses play “honest”. But for this to happen, the Packers will need for one of their running backs to grab the reins and be the playmaker they require in the offensive backfield. It appears the Packers are betting on Aaron Jones being that running back.
Green Bay Packers Banking on a Productive and Healthy Aaron Jones
In 2003, Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis carried the ball 387 times. In today’s NFL world, the idea of one running back carrying the ball that many times seems absurd.
So when LaFleur talks about emphasizing the running game this season, he isn’t talking about going back to 2003. No, he is talking about establishing a running game that balances out the passing attack. Rodgers has shown that he can carry a team with his arm, but by adding a solid producing rushing attack, it will only help.
That is where Aaron Jones enters the picture. Jones, who will be entering his third season in the NFL, will be asked to be the playmaker out of the Packers backfield this season.
Continuing Upward Trajectory
2019 will be Aaron Jones’ third season in the NFL. Since being drafted, Jones has displayed some glimpses in what he can do on the field. In his rookie season, Jones played in 12 games, starting four of them. He carried the ball 81 times for 488 yards with four touchdown carries. In his limited amount of action, he averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry.
His sophomore campaign, Jones built off of what he did during his rookie season. He carried the ball 133 times for 728 yards with eight touchdown carries. He also contributed 26 receptions for 206 yards and one touchdown reception. For the second season in a row, with once again on limited amounted of touches, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
The very limited amount of touches angered Packers fans. They believed that then-head coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t utilizing Jones the way he should. There isn’t much arguing that the Packers needed more playmakers, but McCarthy might have been on to something when it came to limiting Jones carries.
Injuries Holding Aaron Jones Back
So far, Aaron Jones has yet to play a full 16-game regular season schedule. Even with McCarthy limiting his amount of touches, Jones has had to deal with injuries.
In 2017, Jones suffered a knee injury that forced him out of action. In 2018, it wasn’t just injuries that forced Jones to miss time. Jones sat out the first two games of the season because of a suspension. He was suspended by the NFL for violating the substance abuse policy. Along with being suspended, he suffered another knee injury, in week 15 and was placed on the injured reserve.
Jones and dealing with injuries seems to have followed him into this season already. This time, he has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The injury has forced him to miss six practices and the preseason opener. However, it looks like he is healthy enough to return to practice.
If Aaron Jones is going to be the focal point to the Packers running game, he has to stay healthy. Jamaal Williams, who also has sat out so far this training camp with a hamstring injury, as Jones backup has been steady but doesn’t have the playmaking ability Jones does. Jones is the home run hitter in the backfield and LaFleur, Rodgers, and the rest of the offense need him on the field.
Potential for a Big Season
For Aaron Jones, his health will be the biggest concern. If he is finally able to stay healthy for a full 16 game regular season schedule, he has the potential to put up some big yards in this offense.
New offensive line coach Adam Stenavich is implementing a new outside zone blocking scheme. On paper, it appears that this blocking scheme should fit Jones one cut running ability perfectly. The Packers offensive line will need to adapt to the new scheme, but the offensive line is littered with talented players, so the chances are high that it will be successful.
Playing with Rodgers should also help with Aaron Jones production for this season as well. Rodgers is a former two-time league MVP. Even though he didn’t have the type of season Packers fans are accustomed to, he is still Aaron Rodgers. Opposing defenses will need to respect the Packers passing game, even with the Packers only having Davante Adams as an established wide receiver.
The potential is there for Jones to have a big season, on paper. There are a lot of ifs that need to come through. Most importantly, Jones will need to stay healthy. If he once again is bitten by the injury bug, it will set back not only Jones but the Packers offense. He has shown what he is capable of doing, now it is time for him to do it over a full 16 regular-season schedule.
