Packers coach gives brutally honest response about AJ Dillon

AJ Dillon enters a make-or-break season for the Green Bay Packers.

The former second-round pick has been a solid running back for the Packers over the past few seasons, but he hasn't been able to take his game to the next level.

Dillon stepped into a greater role in 2021 following Jamaal Williams' departure. Since then, Dillon has split carries with Aaron Jones.

He put up 803 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 after seeing his snap counts increase. The hope was that he would build on this in 2022. However, Dillon finished with 770 yards and seven touchdowns on only one fewer carry.

His receiving numbers also dropped from 313 yards and two touchdowns to 206 yards and no touchdowns.

While Dillon had a solid season, he struggled for consistency and didn't have the breakout year many expected.

He now enters a contract year in 2023, and the Packers know he needs to improve.

Packers coach gives brutally honest response about AJ Dillon

Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans spoke to reporters this week, and he gave a brutally honest assessment of Dillon's 2022 season.

"This wasn't the type of year and expectations that, not only he had for himself but from what I had for him and what others in this building had for him," Sirmans said, according to NFL.com.

"I think that he's the type of person, at least from what he's shown me, that he's going to respond to that challenge and come out and have a much more productive year. And you saw a lot of great things in spurts, but that was just the problem, it was just in spurts. It wasn't consistent, and that's what our goal is."

And he's not wrong. Dillon didn't take the step many expected from his last season. He wasn't the powerful, game-changing runner he can be.

Dillon went on an impressive stretch late in the season, scoring six rushing touchdowns in five games. However, he had only found the end zone once in the previous 11 games.

How can Dillon get better this season? Sirmans said that he "could've been playing at a more aggressive level" last year, so this is an area we can expect him to focus on.

The Packers will need a big season from Dillon as they move into a new era on offense. Green Bay will be led by first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love, who will be throwing to an inexperienced receiving corps.

Green Bay's top six wide receivers and two tight ends are all either rookies or second-year players. The Packers need to be able to lean on their experienced running back duo of Dillon and Aaron Jones.

Dillon is also playing for a new contract. His rookie deal expires after the season. If he is unable to improve on last year, the Packers may need to start over at the running back position in 2024.

Sirmans gave an honest answer when asked about Dillon. It's now over to Matt LaFleur to give Dillon more opportunities and for Dillon to take his game to the next level.

More Packers news and analysis