Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 1 vs. Vikings
By Jesse Fry
Aaron Jones
Even with a full offseason, the defense is usually ahead of the offense. Timing both in route running and in setting up blocks in the run is crucial for offenses. That takes time and game play to earn and build.
The best way to find holes is to get the run game going. Build off the run, allow the defense to stack the box, use play-action and allow Aaron Rodgers a few extra seconds to pick apart the defense. That should be the key to the Packers’ offense on Sunday.
All those goals go through Aaron Jones.
Last season, Jones owned the Vikings, running for a combined 270 yards and three touchdowns against them. Jones ran for 116 and a touchdown in the Week 2 meeting and 154 and two touchdowns in Week 16.
As last season proved, Jones isn’t just a one-trick pony and can be a weapon in the passing game. Rodgers alluded to something he saw in the film from his 2010 season that should help him out this year. He implied it was trusting his backs on the check down a little more getting the ball out of his hands faster.
Jones is that perfect player to get the ball out in space in either the run game or the pass.
Getting Jones going early and often would be a recipe for success, not just in this game but in the early part of this season.