Top five performers for Packers in Week 11 loss vs. Seahawks
By Jesse Fry
2. Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones had himself another fine game, only this time, he did it more catching passes than running the ball. For the game Jones finished with 103 total yards from scrimmage (40 yards rushing, 63 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving) on 16 touches.
The highlight play was a 24-yard catch for a touchdown on a wheel route just before the half.
The amazing/head-scratching part of this equation is Jones did most of the damage in the first half and then was forgotten about again in the second half.
Ten of Jones’ touches and his two touchdowns came in the first half. Only six came in the second.
Aaron Rodgers was looking more for the big play than he was the check down. He really didn’t have to. There was more than one occasion in the second half where if Rodgers would have taken the check down to Jones, the Packers could have moved the chains and kept drives going.
Even when Rodgers would use Jones it was usually a second or two too late and the pressure was on him, forcing bad throws or giving the defense time to react to Jones being open.
One play in particular, on the red zone possession after Rodgers and Adams connected for a 57-yard pass, Rodgers had Jones open right in the middle of the field without a defender around him for at least 10 yards.
The Packers could have easily made the first down, if not more. Instead Rodgers waited too long for Adams to come open. He was sacked and the team had to settle for the field goal.
I know Mike McCarthy takes a lot of blame for the way the offense is playing, and deservedly so, but his all-world quarterback needs to take what is given to him at times and stop waiting for the big play.
Rodgers needs to look no further than Tom Brady to understand how using the running back effectively can help your offense.