Green Bay Packers 2019 offseason review: Running back
The Green Bay Packers could have an excellent run game in 2019.
The Green Bay Packers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Eddie Lacy in 2014. Had Aaron Jones been given more opportunities this past season, he may have hit the milestone.
We can expect the Packers to lean on the ground game more frequently under new head coach Matt LaFleur, which is good news for both Jones and Jamaal Williams.
Here’s our offseason review of the Green Bay Packers’ running backs:
The Aaron Jones Show
Aaron Jones is far and away the Packers’ most efficient running back, and it’s no secret he wasn’t given enough opportunities by Mike McCarthy. Jones only had more than 15 carries in a game twice this past season, and one of those games was with Joe Philbin calling the plays.
It’s not like Jones hasn’t performed well when he’s been given a bigger share of the carries. He had 17 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings (4.2 yards per carry) and 17 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons (4.6 yards per carry).
In 2017, Jones had two games with over 15 carries. The first was a 19-carry, 125-yard and one-touchdown performance against the Cowboys. In the other, against the Saints, he averaged 7.7 yards per carry, rushing 17 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.
The run game should become a bigger factor of the Packers’ offense under Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, which should lead to more opportunities for Jones in 2019. And with a 5.5-yards-per-carry career average, that will be great news for the Packers.
The only concern for Jones is durability. Knee injuries have been an issue in his first two seasons, and kept him out of two games in 2018 (he also missed two games due to suspension). That brings us to the next point.
Packers need offseason additions
If the Green Bay Packers offense is to become more balanced, they’ll need to make a couple of running back additions in the offseason.
Currently, the Packers would be one Aaron Jones injury from a real problem at running back. While Jamaal Williams played well as the starter late in the season, the team needs more depth at running back.
This isn’t a major concern as general manager Brian Gutekunst will have multiple opportunities to add talent in the mid-rounds of the NFL Draft in April. Maybe Gutekunst will turn to free agency and sign Tevin Coleman, who had 11 total touchdowns in 2016 while LaFleur coached him in Atlanta.
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With another addition at running back, Green Bay’s backfield could be one of the league’s best next season.