Packers’ backfield could be best Aaron Rodgers has worked with

An improved ground game can make the Green Bay Packers serious Super Bowl contenders.

As long as Aaron Rodgers is healthy and under center, the Green Bay Packers offense will be explosive and difficult to stop. However, during Rodgers time as a starter, he’s rarely had a good running game to accompany his passing abilities.

The last time Green Bay had a 1,000-yard rusher was in 2014 when Eddie Lacy was in the backfield. We all remember how heart-breaking it was to watch a Super Bowl appearance slip away as it did that year. But the point of note is that the Packers were so excruciatingly close to another trip to the Super Bowl because the running game was such a big factor that season.

Due to Rodgers’ ability, it’s easy to rely on him to lead the team to victory week in and week out. Of course Rodgers has shown us he’s up for the challenge and in many cases exceeds our expectations. But to be a Super Bowl contender it’s very important to have a running game established and to not have a one-dimensional offense by being so pass heavy.

As we look ahead to the backfield in 2018, there is a lot of potential between rookies from the 2017 draft, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones.

General manager at the time Ted Thompson, knew giving Rodgers a run game was pertinent. So he went and drafted Williams in the fourth round out of BYU and Jones in the fifth from UTEP. Both players gained a lot of good experience in their rookie seasons.

Williams had a productive first year for Green Bay. He racked up 553 yards on 153 carries, while also bringing in another 262 yards through the air. Through his time on the field he was able to score six touchdowns as well.

Williams was able to put these numbers up while playing in a limited, Brett Hundley-led offense. Defenses were not afraid of Hundley passing, so Williams found himself going against eight defensive players in the box on many occasions.

Williams brings a physicality to the running back position that is great to see, he isn’t afraid of contact. He’s not one to dance around a defender, but is one who will lower his shoulders and keep his legs churning to gain a few extra yards. I expect to see Williams a lot on first and second downs this season. He will be running in between the tackles helping the offense to gain early first downs or making third downs manageable for Rodgers.

The other half of this dynamic duo will be Jones, who will bring a different style and set of abilities than Williams to this offense. Jones is a quick back with home-run potential every time he touches the ball. In 2017, Jones was able to show off how game-changing and electrifying he can be by averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 81 attempts and finding the end zone four times.

Jones’ greatest asset to this offense could be in the passing game out of the backfield. In college he had shown his ability to be a solid pass catcher and on the field last year, we saw just how elusive he can be in the open field.

In height, weight and 40-yard dash times, Jones is very comparable to New Orleans Saints running back, Alvin Kamara. Last year, Kamara was targeted 100 times in the passing game and had 826 receiving yards with five touchdowns. With more opportunities, Jones has the ability to be a similar weapon for Rodgers out of the backfield, just as Kamara is for Brees and the Saints.

The Packers have shown in the past that when they have a good running game, this team can go far and is a real threat.

Williams and Jones each bring their own skill set and each can be used in unique ways to help the offense. Rodgers has shown he can do a lot on his own, but a consistent running game will make this great offense even better. And I believe that Williams and Jones are the players to do it.