Packers: Five things they need to fix during the bye week
By Jesse Fry
3. Stick with the running game a little longer
It’s hard to say who exactly is to blame for the disparity in run plays versus pass plays. Rodgers has the ability to change the call at the line to get the team in the best position. So it’s hard to say if the play is being changed at the line or not being called altogether.
Either way, the run game needs to be leaned on more than it has. You can still run an up-tempo attack with huddles and the run game. The execution just needs to be clean and crisp while having some form of rhythm.
In 2014, the Packers were nearly perfect in that aspect. Eddie Lacy would gash up the defense and get multiple carries to do so in a drive. Rodgers would pick and choose his spots and get the ball out on time.
At the moment there doesn’t seem to be any kind of flow to play-calling with the run game. McCarthy’s refusal to use one back for an extended period of time could be to blame. That has to change.
The Packers have a trio of backs that are capable runners with different skill sets. At this point Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams should handle the bulk of the carries with Ty Montgomery being used as more of a gadget player (think James White/Dion Lewis).
Montgomery may not have the speed to burn corners, but he does have more than enough to take advantage of linebackers and safeties.
Jones should be the one to get first crack at carrying the load. Williams can be the closer and change-of-pace back. In Monday night’s game, Jones once again averaged over five yards per carry yet only had eight. The game was never that far out of reach where the Packers had to abandon the run game. With the defense getting gashed, keeping them off the field would have been best.
Part of the offensive line’s problems could also be contributed to this. The Packers can run play-action bootlegs all day long, but if no one believes you’ll actually hand off the ball it’ll never work and the defense can just crash into the line. It would be nice to see the O-line be the ones crashing the opponent’s D-line.