Josh Jacobs Has Truly Impacted the Packers Offense
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers offense has changed this season as compared to a year ago. One of the biggest reasons for that change is the signing of free agent running back Josh Jacobs. The former Raiders star has become the catalyst for the offense which now centers around him and the running game.
One year ago, in 17 regular-season contests, the Packers ran the ball 441 times and threw 581 passes. The means the Packers ran the football just 43.1 percent of the time. They averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the ground and ranked 15th in the league in rushing yards gained.
Through the first 15 games of the 2024 NFL season, the Packers have officially run the ball 469 times while attempting 424 passes. That means the Packers ran the ball 52.5 percent of their offensive plays. The team is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and is ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards gained.
During the offseason, GM Brian Gutekunst signed Jacobs and decided not to bring back Aaron Jones. While Jones is having a good year for the Vikings, Jacobs is having a better season for the Packers.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two backs is durability. Jacobs has run the football 278 times this season compared to 233 carries for Jones. That is three short of Jones’ career high. Jacobs is younger and bigger than Jones and that means the team is less concerned about giving him the football more often.
Head coach Matt LaFleur discussed the impact Jacobs has had this season on the offense. “There are several plays that are blocked for minimal gains, and he keeps on going,” LaFleur said. “He's got great contact balance, can make you miss, and can run through a lot of tackles. He's always finishing forward. He does it not only in the run game, but he's been a big weapon for us in the passing game as well.”
The Packers offense is built around Jacobs, he sets the tone. In fact, the team starts games by giving Jacobs the ball. Two weeks ago, against the Seahawks, the Packers opened the game with a 10-play, 63-yard drive. The first two plays were short passes to Jacobs. Seven of the remaining eight plays were runs by the former Alabama star. He finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
Last Monday against New Orleans, Jacobs was again the centerpiece of the first drive. The Packers marched downfield on a 10-play, 63-yard drive. Jacobs ran the ball five of those plays and caught another pass to help set the tone.
Quarterback Jordan Love realizes the importance of establishing the run early and how the offense grows out of that. “We always talk about starting the game off fast, and any time you can just hand the ball to a guy and run the ball down the field, I definitely think it sets kind of the tempo of the game,” Love explained. “The defense has got to figure out how they’re going to make adjustments. Are they going to try to load the box to stop the run going forward? There’s a lot of things that come out with it.”
The Packers offense hasn’t finished in the top five in the NFL in rushing yards since 2003. That season, the team finished third in the league in yards gained. The biggest reason for that team’s rushing success was Ahman Green. The set a Packers franchise record that season with 1,883 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. The Packers also had solid players behind Green on the depth chart in Najeh Davenport and Tony Fisher. All three of them averaged better than five yards per carry behind a strong and talented offensive line. Even though Brett Favre was the quarterback that season, the Packers ran the ball more than they passed and the offense was built around Green and the running game.
Like the 2003 team, the 2024 Packers offense has the pass set up by the run. Love is able to use play action passes and the fact that defenses feel the need to stop Jacobs and backups Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks, to open up pass plays to his receivers and tight ends.
The Packers will rely on Jacobs in the playoffs when they face tougher competition. Having a bruising, between the tackles runner available will certainly be a big asset once the postseason gets underway.
“I mean, he’s an animal out there,” LaFleur said. “Very few times do I feel like when we give him the ball, he doesn’t make the first guy miss.”
The Packers hope that continues and contributes to a long playoff run.
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You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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Comments (13)
LambeauPlain
December 28, 2024 at 11:09 am
Not only are the Packers running more than passing, over the last 3 games they have increased the rate to 57%. So the attack Ugly Purple on the ground to start the game, right?
Well, Matt's game plan could be interesting. A good test coming up Sunday as the Vikings are #2 against the run vs the Packers #4 rushing O.
Maybe this is a game where the Packers use the pass to open up the run. Vikings are # 30 in pass D vs the Packers #12 Passing O.
Part of the reason MN gives up the 2nd fewest rush yards/game may be because they can be attacked through the air more effectively.
Move the ball through the air to keep the Vikings from crowding the box then unleash JJ, jet sweeps, screens.
Vikings are the opposite of Joe Barry's defenses where their pass D looked better because teams had success running on them and devoted more snaps to attack it. Fortunately this year, finally, the Packers are a top NFL defense against both run (#8) and pass (#9).
Leatherhead
December 28, 2024 at 11:51 am
'''''Part of the reason MN gives up the 2nd fewest rush yards/game may be because they can be attacked through the air more effectively. '''
If Minnesota wants to stuff the run, and they are willing to risk a pass attempt, or completion, to make that more likely, then that's fine by me, if I'm the Packers. We're averaging 8.5 yards per passing attempt and have scored most of our TDs through the air. We average 4.7 yards/ rushing attempt.
8.5 > 4.7 If the defensive coordinator in Minnesota wants to encourage us to throw, then we should oblige him.....IF we think we can protect Love, and that he'll protect the ball
It's almost like....maybe you'd be better off focusing on denying big plays to these WRs and conceding some extra yardage on the ground.
Nah, that's crazy talk.
Leatherhead
December 28, 2024 at 11:31 am
Good morning from always sunny San Antonio. Blue skies, nice sun, green lawns and flowers. About 70 degrees.
The LaFleur offense has ALWAYS been driven by the RB. His first season, Jones and Williams combined for
431 touches, over 2200 yards, and 25 TDs.. The next season, 2020, Jones, Williams, and Dillon had their number called on 466 plays (targets and carries). And that's basically been the story of the LaFleur offense ever since....we give the rock to the RB.
IMO, these WR screens, or short tosses to the RB, are pretty much the same as a run. It's a long handoff, essentially, to get the ball to a good runner and let him make somebody miss . Throw in a little pre-snap motion, some misdirection, and you have the Illusion of Complexity.
Even when we had His Darkness and Davante, which was a great pitch-and-catch combo, our offense ran through what we were doing at RB. And nobody has stopped this yet. Not Philly, or Detroit, or Minnesota.
It looks as though this is going to be the best season for a Green Bay RB since 2003. Maybe better. If the focus is on what Jacobs does on the ground, he "only" has 1216 yards. But if you add in what's being done in the air, and include Wilson, then that's only about half the story. Literally. Do the math.
The RB position is the engine for the LaFleur offense. Half of the plays are going to be for them.
LambeauPlain
December 28, 2024 at 11:50 am
Although last season they only ran on 43% of their snaps. Part of that was due to Jones' availability & snap count plus Dillon's relative ineffectiveness.
With JJ the run vs pass script has flipped, for good reason. Jacobs is one of the best Packer RBs I have had the pleasure to watch who creates so much production on his own. And when the OL blocks well, and they can, he's a first down machine.
Leatherhead
December 28, 2024 at 12:04 pm
I think if you include the plays where they were passing targets, and you include the backup RBs, it's pretty close to about 50% of the plays go to the RB, and that goes back six years now. Throw in a jet sweep or two .
He has 1217 yards on the ground. That's not going to pass Green in 2003, or Levens , and maybe not Green 2001. Or Taylor, if you want to go pre-merger. It's more ground yardage than Jones ever had. It's one of the all time best seasons by a RB in Packer history. Again, if you total in his yards as a receiver, it gives a clearer picture.
He's been durable, has done a good (not perfect) job of protecting the ball. He routinely beats the first tackler, but that's true of other players on the team as well. He's our MVP this season.
Lambeaustu
December 28, 2024 at 12:32 pm
That makes sense because wasn't Matt the OC
for Tennessee when they had Derrick Henry?
LLCHESTY
December 29, 2024 at 01:49 am
They did but it took them half a season to figure out what they had in Henry. For the 1st half of the season they mainly gave the ball to the ghost of Dion Lewis.
LeotisHarris
December 28, 2024 at 01:53 pm
Any reference to "truly impacted" usually brings TK out of the weeds. Where you at, brah?
NickPerry
December 28, 2024 at 02:13 pm
He's here, lurking somewhere I'm sure. I haven't seen any posts from him lately but I haven't been around as much either. Hope he's well. Maybe he's on a Motorcycle run!
NickPerry
December 28, 2024 at 02:22 pm
Jacobs has really settled in nice to this offense. The dude is a beast, love watching him run. As much as I loved Aaron Jones and appreciated him as a Packer, I think Jacobs is a better fit for what this team has become.
The Packers are a PHYSICAL team now. I think if we could draft a mauling type Center in the upcoming draft who could step in and start, we could become even more physical. Meyers HAS played better, but he could still be improved upon IMO in this draft.
I'd like to see that Packers come out a punch them in the mouth. Run the ball just like you did against Seattle (hopefully). The Vikings have great stats against the run because usually the opposing team is playing catch up much of the time. Not saying that's the sole reason because Flores is a great DC. But it certainly doesn't hurt your run defense stats when the other team is playing catch up and PASSING the ball. Just look what the Packers had to do the first time they played.
Go kick their ass Jacobs. I'm tired of those never won a thing blowhards and their horn!
WD
December 29, 2024 at 07:48 am
This is exactly what the Vikings expect the Packers to do. The Packers should do the opposite and pass to open the run.
mnbadger
December 28, 2024 at 11:11 pm
Pass to score points and run to eat clock while keeping queens' offense on the bench.
Defense needs interior pressure with no more than 4.
Also, make the plays when available and don't shoot ourselves in the feet with stupid penalties or turnovers.
Pack 30 - purple booger eaters 27.
GPG!
WD
December 29, 2024 at 07:45 am
The Viking defense is expecting the Packers to run Jacobs . Their project will be to stop him. This will be a game where the passing game will be needed to open up the run. It is a must win for Minnesota and that will be their mindset. Unfortunately the trend of the Packers has been to lose the close games.
I think attitude will play a major role in this evenly matched game. In other words; whoever wants it more will win. The last thing the players need to hear is this is not a must win. I expect a nail biter and hope for an uncharacteristic Packer win in a close game. Luckily we now have a reliable kicker.