When Jamaal Williams didn’t get an offer from the Green Bay Packers and left in free agency, it became apparent that A.J. Dillon would have an expanded role in the offense. To what degree was yet to be determined. After drastically improving in the receiving game out of the backfield to go along with his bulldozer style of running the ball, Dillon has definitely earned the co-starring role at running back for Green Bay.
Aaron Jones‘ decision to re-sign in the offseason was a bit of a surprise. It seemed as though the Packers would have a tough time affording him based on their salary cap struggles. With Jones in and Williams out, there was a clear No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart, with Jones leading the charge. The carries were distributed in just such a manner to start the season. Dillon saw only 15 carries for the Packers through the first three weeks. While he wasn’t an afterthought, it was evident that the Packers would lean on Jones more, given his dynamic ability in both the rushing and receiving games.
Dillon raised some eyebrows when he caught four passes on four targets from Aaron Rodgers against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5. He turned those four receptions into 50 yards and a touchdown. He looked deceptively shifty in space while also using his sheer strength to lower the shoulder against Cincinnati. That game helped highlight the vast improvements that Dillon was making as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Matt LaFleur and the rest of the coaching staff likely saw these improvements slowly developing. However, to witness them in live game reps is a bit different. With Dillon showing versatility in his game, at his size, the intrigue grew. Dillon got 20 carries and had five receptions as Jones was eased back in after suffering an MCL sprain.
LaFleur feels like he has two dynamic lead running backs heading into the bye week.
“Yeah, I think A.J., you know, it’s 1A and 1B (referring to Dillon and Jones). And I’ve said that in the past when we had guys like Jamaal (Williams), but they both bring a little something to the table. They are obviously different style backs, especially with the stature, physically. They both are very versatile backs in terms of their ability to run the football, their ability to pass protect, and then as weapons out of the backfield. I think both of those guys are premier backs in this league.” – Matt LaFleur.
It wasn’t all pretty for Dillon and the ground game on Sunday. The Rams did an excellent job of neutralizing big runs. When they needed to churn out yards late, though, it was Dillon who continued to wear down the LA front while picking up little chunks to move the sticks.
Green Bay had 13 total offensive plays on the final two drives of the game when they were working the clock to try and salt away the victory. On eight of them, they had Rodgers turn and hand off to Dillon. It’s those types of drives and that sort of trust in the second-year back out of Boston College that has pumped his title up to co-star alongside Jones. Besides, who wants to step in front of that freight train?
Dillon did not earn the additional snaps by default. Early in the season, Green Bay was somewhat content with a pretty clear gap in the number of attempts that Jones was getting compared to Dillon. Jones had 41 rushes in those same first three starts that only saw Dillon get 15 carries. Dillon proved his worth in all three phrases that LaFleur has mentioned. He’s part of a legitimate one-two punch in the backfield after flourishing in all those spots.
None of this is a knock on Jones. He’s put up to his usual numbers, or at least he was before the MCL sprain sidelined him for a week. Dillon earning more snaps isn’t a sign of the Packers demoting Jones by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a realization that Dillon is just that good.
It’s said every year, and every year it remains true: As the temperatures drop, having two excellent options in the backfield brings about so many more headaches for an opposing defense. A lot of that is credited towards Dillon making significant improvements from Year 1 to Year 2.
Williams left a sizable void when he signed with the Detroit Lions. His personality and locker room presence would be almost impossible to match. But Dillon has not only filled those shoes, he’s taken his game to new depths as the co-star alongside Jones in the Packers’ backfield.
