Packers Need to Let Jones Prove He's the Man
By ChrisWanless
With the Packers mired in a three-game losing streak, the search for answers to the team’s woes continues at full throttle. After consecutive weeks of underwhelming play from Brett Hundley and embarrassing performances on defense, many—media and fans alike—have resigned Green Bay’s 2017 season to a disastrous fate, and, to be honest, it would be hard to blame them for doing so.
The fact remains, however, that half the season is yet to be played. Whether or not the Packers can right the ship in the absence of Aaron Rodgers, the games will go on. And whether or not you believe it, the team still has a chance, albeit a shrinking one, to stay relevant in 2017.
That said, despite what history tells us can happen—turning 4-6 into an NFC title berth, for example—Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears certainly feels like Last Chance Saloon for the Packers.
Earlier in the week, Mike McCarthy told the media that part of the problem is that no one has stepped up for the Packers in the wake of the Rodgers injury, and he is absolutely right. Times like these are when teams generally turn to their veterans to keep them afloat, leading by example and letting their superior experience guide the way. But what if the Packers’ best chance to turn things around offensively lies with a rookie?
The last time Green Bay and Chicago met up, a 35-14 Packer win in September, Aaron Jones was third on the running back depth chart and only got a chance to get his feet wet when Ty Montgomery exited the game with a rib injury. He was the only runner left standing after Jamaal Williams left with a knee injury, and finished the game with 49 yards on 13 carries, including his first career touchdown.
After that, Jones rushed for 125 yards at Dallas, 41 at Minnesota—against the league’s third-best run defense and without the benefit of Rodgers to keep them honest—and 131 against the Saints, cementing his status as the go-to running back on the roster.
Fast-forward to last Sunday’s game against Detroit, in which Jones carried the ball just five times, and only once after the first quarter. As a team, the Packers handed the ball off 13 times on the night. That equates to 22 percent of the team’s 59 offensive snaps, less than half of which went to the only offensive bright spot since losing Rodgers.
Sure, the pass-to-run ratio became somewhat inflated toward the end of the game, when the Packers were trailing and forced to throw. And it’s understandable that McCarthy and his staff would try to get their inexperienced signal caller in a groove by letting him toss it.
But 13 running plays with a quarterback making his second career start is absurd, even if you are facing the sixth-ranked run defense in the NFL. At that point, it seems like a concerted effort to not run the ball, which is odd when you consider all the times McCarthy has run the ball into a brick wall in an effort to “get it established.”
When the calendar flips to November and the temperature starts to drop, the game gets tougher. While the Packers will still have to count on Hundley making improvement each week, they will have no chance for success if they can’t run the ball. If they’re going to find out just what they’ve got in Aaron Jones, the next eight weeks are the opportunity they’re looking for. For all they know, Jones could be exactly the guy they need to step up—but they have to give him the chance to do it.
Comments (24)
TarynsEyes
November 10, 2017 at 11:21 am
Many others than Jones need to prove their ' men ' on the field including those I have backed but the high salaried guys need to more so.
Point-Packer
November 10, 2017 at 04:09 pm
Like Nick Perry? And the most overpaid player in the NFL, Clay Mathews? And the most overrated Packer, HHCD? I could go on.
Look at what Schneider does with the Seahawks roster. Not perfect, but he creatively bolstered an already good d-line this year by trading a shitty WR and a draft pick for Sheldon Richardson. Then he went and grabbed Dwight Freeney through FA, who in three games has three sacks, which is half a sack more than Clay Mathews. Yes, you read that correctly. And then they realize that by trading a couple more draft picks and their shittiest defensive back, they can get an all pro guard. And of course, Lane is back to being a Seahawk. Sure, Schneider makes mistakes (Eddie Lacy), but he's far more willing to make trades and sacrifice those sacred TT draft picks to fill holes on the team now. Took a couple years, but the Jimmy Graham trade is finally paying off, a trade that came out of nowhere.
Curt
November 10, 2017 at 11:29 am
Bennett signed only to play with Rodgers ... once he went down, his effort disappeared.
Cutting was only real option - now surprise he's ready to play with Brady. No voodoo on Tom, but it would be interesting to see if he quits on Hoyer if he if forced to play
NMPF
November 10, 2017 at 11:35 am
I think this goes deeper than Jones. King, Beigel, M.Adams, Hawkins, Cole and any other youngsters need to be thrown to the wolves per se. If they show any kind of talent under this convoluted D that Capers is continued to be allowed to run then maybe the 2018 D under a new coordinator(please) can finally start to carry some of the weight that the O(Aaron Rodgers) has to shoulder.
Tundraboy
November 11, 2017 at 01:26 am
Exactly. Throw them in the deep end and let them play. IMO MM is a bit of a control freak and has difficulty in making adjustments to HIS set plan, or dealing with Capers defenseless failures . From what I have witnessed over the years, the great coaches are secure enough to adapt when needed and adjust in the face of adversity, but are also smart enough to get everyone involved. He needs to step up, coach aggressively and lead by example. We'll see how it goes next week and the rest of the year. If he can't, fire him and get someone else to lead this team and help Rodgers carry the team going forward. I'm not sure he can or ever will because he keeps trying to tell us how great he is when the eyes say otherwise.
Razer
November 10, 2017 at 11:59 am
...Mike McCarthy told the media that part of the problem is that no one has stepped up for the Packers in the wake of the Rodgers injury...
Did McCarthy look into the mirror when he spoke those words? He had a healthy team with the benefit of a bye when we took on the Lions. Somehow he managed to leave the only guy who has shone on the bench for most of the game. Both he and Capers need to get their heads out of their collective asses and start coaching.
al bundy
November 10, 2017 at 01:19 pm
I'd love to tap him on the shoulder and point out, 'hey pal, your are the luckiest coach even in football being able to rely to two HOF caliber QB's to carry your so so teams'. and that many teams have numerous players who step up not just one. They are called 'playmakers mikey and you usually find them in the early first or second rounds, not undrafted and not 6th round.
Point-Packer
November 10, 2017 at 04:20 pm
(ROBOT VOICE)
"Mike McCarthy is one of the best coaches in the NFL. If Green Bay were to let him go, he would be picked up by another team immediately. GB's sustainable success is due to his steady hand and offensive genius. Ted Thompson is one of the greatest GM's the league has ever scene. He uses the draft and develop philosophy to field a Packer team that has a chance to win the Super Bowl every year. He successfully avoids the allure of flashy free agent acquisitions to ensure to not overpay for veterans."
Tundraboy
November 11, 2017 at 08:33 am
Lmao. Love it.
LASVEGAS-TOM
November 11, 2017 at 01:28 pm
Point Packer, One of The Best I've Seen. I don't think you're giving Enough Credit to the "Head Guy".
LVT
Dzehren
November 10, 2017 at 12:09 pm
I’d like to see what Devonte Mays can do with the rock.
lou
November 10, 2017 at 04:55 pm
In reference to seeing Mays play (at training camp he sure looks the part, a Sterling Sharpe build) my guess is he will get an opportunity down the road. In that regard, Williams looked like a natural receiver against the Lions once they got him in space, the poor guy did not have much of a chance before from scrimmage as the only plays he ran were dive plays up the middle. I really like Lacey as an all out runner but he just does not look the same with Seattle and it appears we have 3 good young RB's in addition to Montgomery who looked a step quicker on Monday night, the RB position now looks like a positive as far as depth and ability, cost containment and contract control.
Tundraboy
November 11, 2017 at 08:39 am
One of our silver linings. Now if only MM does his job and uses the rest of the season as training camp and gives them meaningful snaps Not token efforts. Such as 3 minutes of time in a blow out against the Browns.
al bundy
November 10, 2017 at 01:17 pm
I wonder how right Gruden, the genius was when he quipped, 'they took out jones because he couldn't block or catch the ball out of the backfield so they benched him'?
Roadrunner23
November 10, 2017 at 01:31 pm
Im sure Jones will get his "touches" this week as will Montgomery. Problem is Hundley won't throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field so the Defense can crowd the box with eight, tough sledding. How about handing off to Cobb and let him wing it downfield?
How about the read option, jet sweep, flea flicker, statue of liberty. How about letting Ripkowski catch a few and run a few. This offense has been woefully unimaginative and the Defense has been worse. They can't even find a Long Snapper that can get the ball to the holder.
Rodgers/Favre have masked McCarthy's, Capers and Thompsons weaknesses for all of these years.
Well now the "terrible trio" has been unmasked and the Rats are jumping ship (see: Marty Bennett)
Time to just let all these young guys get meaningful snaps so they can be properly evaluated in the off-season as Timid Ted will never sign another free agent after he was left red faced by the. M. Bennett fiasco
billybobton
November 10, 2017 at 01:48 pm
maybe you should look and say, this year with a blocking TE we might have had a run game
now the blocking TE does not play and there is NOWHERE to go....hmmm connnected?
maybe you should wonder how MM runs his mouth about his QB and then talks about other people and units not stepping up
did the raiders / NE / rams / seattle all go add talent for the big push?
what did MM and teddie do?
how did either step up?
Packer_Fan
November 10, 2017 at 03:23 pm
The Pack need to sustain more drives by getting first downs and then the D has to step up and get some three and outs to give the offense more opportunities. Trouble is, neither is happening. Until someone steps up. Until Hundley makes some better plays (like hitting the open receiver instead of running). Until guys stop making dumb mistakes and penalties. Until the coaches make it easier for the players to succeed. Until some or all of these happen, they won't win.
lou
November 10, 2017 at 03:48 pm
John Fox has been a winning coach for a long time and you have to figure based on what Hundley has has/not done to date the defense will stack the box and dare Hundley to beat them with the pass which means tough sledding for Jones unless Hundley hits a couple big passes (for long time Packer fans, George Allen did this to inexperienced Hunter & Tagge in the playoff game in 1972 and it worked like a charm even with Brockington and Lane in the backfield and a solid O-Line). This will be the same approach defenses use going forward until Hundley can command the passing offense, it is ALL on him at this point.
NickPerry
November 11, 2017 at 04:52 am
I remember that game. I also don't think it's much of a stretch to say Hundley isn't any better Scott Hunter was. Note to our younger posters...Hunter was AWFUL!!
Tundraboy
November 11, 2017 at 08:42 am
I liked Tagge. Brockington and Lane, great players at a bad time.
Coldworld
November 10, 2017 at 03:52 pm
Jones is an exciting option, but we are fooling ourselves and putting too much on his shoulders if we expect him to carry this team. We are hardly built to run block. Unless we get a QB and coach willing to challenge secondaries we will soon be focused on how high a draft pick we are going to get. Let's not put too much on the rookies or even the big names until the game plans start to reflect a real possibility of moving the ball.
cheesycowboy
November 10, 2017 at 04:40 pm
Al, I understand the frustration regarding our football team,
being a disconnected Packers stockholder, but I can't remember venom like what is posted here now and I held the fort down for decades of the bad times. I understand people have issues with the direction of our team but God Almighty,
It's a long season and a lot of work to do yet without the negativity. I will still support CHTV and the fine work you all provide, but I am going to refrain from reading and posting comments for now. I will continue to absorb the fine writing of your staff and your commitment to this platform.
Sincerely,
Robert Cutlip
EdsLaces
November 11, 2017 at 06:15 am
You can't prove you're the man at RB if you don't throw the ball downfield...period.
EdsLaces
November 11, 2017 at 01:02 pm
Cool dislike bro.