Packers 2020 post-draft position review: Running back
The Green Bay Packers are going to lean on the ground game in 2020.
Matt LaFleur wants to run the football.
That much was made clear by the Green Bay Packers‘ second- and third-round draft choices. LaFleur spoke about the need for strengthening the depth at the position in the offseason, which the Packers absolutely did.
Let’s take a closer look at Green Bay’s running backs entering the new season.
Currently on the roster
Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Jamaal Williams, Tyler Ervin, Dexter Williams, Damarea Crockett, Patrick Taylor
Offseason moves
Brian Gutekunst made the important decision to re-sign Tyler Ervin, who gave the Packers much-needed help on special teams. His primary role will remain on special teams returning kickoffs and punts, but he can also play a valuable role on offense, which we saw signs of in 2019.
The Packers then surprisingly used a second-round pick at running back, selecting Boston College’s AJ Dillon.
Improved from 2019?
Yes.
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams were the Packers’ 1-2 punch in the backfield a year ago, with Jones rushing for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns, catching three more TDs. Both players are back in 2020 with one year remaining on their rookie deals.
Adding Dillon to the mix strengthens the run game. If nothing else, Green Bay now has the depth it lacked at the position last season. But Dillon can be much more than simply the third-string running back who offers a change-of-pace. He can be a dominant part of LaFleur’s run game, potentially giving the Packers a thunder-and-lightning combination with Jones.
Key player
Aaron Jones.
Jones’ first two seasons showed his potential. He just needed to stay healthy and be given an opportunity in a featured role. With both of those boxes ticked, Jones put together a breakout campaign in 2019, finding the end zone an incredible 19 times in the regular season then four more times in two playoff games.
Position outlook
After investing a second-round pick in Dillon and a third-rounder in tight end Josiah Deguara, who could play as an H-back in LaFleur’s system, the Packers’ run game should be improved.
Green Bay’s rushing attack was solid last season with a middle-of-the-pack ranking at 15th in the NFL, averaging 112.2 yards per game. As long as Aaron Rodgers is quarterback, it’s unlikely the Packers will ever finish close to the top spot.
Balance on offense is the key to LaFleur’s system. It’s unlikely the Packers will suddenly become a run-heavy team, but rather like LaFleur’s mentor Kyle Shanahan, he likely wants a talented stable of running backs who he can lean on, making life easier for his quarterback.
But unlike Shanahan in San Francisco, LaFleur has a future Hall-of-Famer leading the offense. Rodgers will drop back to pass frequently but a strong run game will help him, particularly when it comes to the play-action pass, a staple of LaFleur’s offense.
Dillon, who rushed for over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of his three seasons at Boston College, is a powerful runner who can wear down defenses. That will be great news for Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Rodgers.