{"id":173828,"date":"2024-05-16T09:02:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T13:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=173828"},"modified":"2024-05-16T09:02:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T13:02:20","slug":"how-aaron-jones-unlock-vikings-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/05\/16\/how-aaron-jones-unlock-vikings-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"How Aaron Jones Can Unlock the Vikings Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> fans are very familiar with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/3042519\/aaron-jones\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Jones<\/a>. The longtime <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/packers\/\" target=\"_self\">Green Bay Packer<\/a> had been on multiple great offenses in Green Bay, being the lead back at the end of the Aaron Rodgers era. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Jones joins the long list of former Packers who joined the good side and crossed the border to Minnesota.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Unlike some in the past, Jones still has more <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to give, as proven by his 2023 season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How Aaron Jones Can Unlock the Vikings Offense<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Aaron\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jones\u2019<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a02023 Season<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Before getting into the specific stats, you\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">can\u2019t<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0bring up his season without the injuries. Not just last year but his entire career<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, injuries<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have played a large part. He missed six games last year and four over the previous three seasons. When\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">he\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0able to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0stay on the field\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">though<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">he\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0produced<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0at a high level. He started the year against Chicago in a game that would foreshadow the rest of his season.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He ran for 41 yards and a touchdown<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and broke off a\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">huge<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0screen pass for a touchdown, injuring his hamstring on the play.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Packer&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0offense struggled\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in games<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0he was\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">injured<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for or struggled in, but\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">when he played<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">it<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was a much different story.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">last three weeks of the season<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which were\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jones\u2019<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0best games, the Packers had the highest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the33rdteam.com\/epa-explained\/#:~:text=Expected%20Points%20Added%2C%20commonly%20referred,drive%20would%20be%20about%202.5.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EPA per play in the NFL<\/a>, with the third-highest rush EPA and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionnetwork.com\/ncaaf\/success-rate-definition\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">second-highest success rate<\/a> on running plays.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">not only<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0unlocked the rushing offense\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">but<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0opened Jordan\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Love\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0ability to play off it, something the Packers offense was missing when he\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">wasn\u2019t<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0on the field.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0He helped develop and take pressure from Love, and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">there\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0no reason he\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">can\u2019t<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0do that for Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Aaron Jones gained 107 yards &amp; 2 TD on 18 carries from under center (55.6% success rate).<\/p>\n<p>Jones has gained 322 yards &amp; averaged 5.9 YPC on carries from under center since returning from injury in Week 15, picking up a league-high 24 first downs.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GBvsDAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GBvsDAL<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GoPackGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GoPackGo<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/M0dhEFiJNi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/M0dhEFiJNi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NextGenStats\/status\/1746697846269903002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vikings 2023 Rushing Stats<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Vikings have had some of the greatest running backs of the last few decades. From Adrian Peterson to Dalvin Cook, Minnesota went about 15 years with an elite bell-cow running back to be a\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">key<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0part of their offense. Last season was the first time they\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">didn\u2019t<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have that.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With veteran Alexander Mattison, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/4242431\/ty-chandler\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ty Chandler<\/a>, and trading for Cam Akers early into the season, none of these players\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were able to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> maintain their starting spots for\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a variety of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0reasons.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0The Vikings were 25th in rushing EPA throughout the season, but\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">they&#8217;ve<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0shown flashes. Kevin\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">O\u2019Connell<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0has wanted to establish a running game and use play-action when they get the run working.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Signing Jones brings the Vikings back to the years when they had a legit pro-bowl-level running back who could change games through the run\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">game<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0passing\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">game<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What this Means for Ty Chandler<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ty Chandler\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">didn\u2019t<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0start getting snaps until both Akers and Mattison\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were sidelined<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0with injuries, but when he did play, he was the most productive of the three. From Week 14 to the end of the season, with Chandler taking most of the snaps, the Vikings were 13th in rush EPA and 11th in rushing success rate.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Where<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Chandler struggles in pass protection<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, where he<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was a liability in the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">snaps<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0he asked to pass block.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0With Jones, Chandler\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">will be able to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0use his explosiveness and playmaking ability without having to be put in a spot where his weaknesses\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">are spotlighted<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. And if Jones does miss a game or two, Chandler has proven to be a capable starter for a few games at a time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: Mike De Sisti \/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let&#8217;s examine at how running back Aaron Jones can help take the Minnesota Vikings offense to the next level. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4979,"featured_media":173932,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,26],"tags":[2256,8897,7753,10271],"class_list":["post-173828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-vikings","tag-aaron-jones","tag-kevin-oconnell","tag-minnesota-vikings-news","tag-ty-chandler"],"modified_by":"Will Koshover, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4979"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}