It was only a year ago that fans were irate over the selection of AJ Dillon in the second round of the draft. The anger wasn’t about Dillon, the player. It was that the Green Bay Packers opted to take a running back in the second round when they had Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams on the roster.
Fast forward to now, and Williams has signed with the Detroit Lions, Jones is back on a new deal, and it’s Dillon who should see an expanded role in 2021. Is anyone still complaining about the Dillon pick? They shouldn’t be.
Green Bay has longed for a physical running back who has that bowling-ball mentality. Jones doesn’t shy away from contact, and neither did Williams, but neither are built like Dillon. For the sake of comparison, Jones is listed at 5’9″, 208 lbs., while Dillon is listed at 6’0, 247 lbs. It’s a massive difference.
While Dillon’s opportunities were limited in his rookie season, there were various reasons for it. First and foremost, Jones and Williams chewed up most of the snaps at the running back position. Dillon’s workload will increase now that Williams is playing in Detroit.
Secondly, Dillon spent five weeks on the COVID-19 reserve list last year. He noted that it hit him hard at the time of his return.
These aren’t meant to be excuses for Dillon. Far from it. It’s what the reality of the situation was. Now, after appearing as good as ever in offseason workouts, Dillon should have a big year for Green Bay.
Jones is still the No. 1 back, but Matt LaFleur has shown time and again in his first two years as head coach that he likes utilizing multiple backs. The Jones-Dillon duo should terrify opposing defenses. They fit the mold as a “thunder and lightning” combination in the backfield.
Dillon is a bruiser, a picture-perfect example of a cold-weather running back who can carve out lanes in December and January at Lambeau Field. Jones is flashy, dynamic, and versatile in both the run game and the passing game. Green Bay even goes as far as to line him up wide on an almost weekly basis. While Williams and Jones weren’t necessarily similar runners, the difference between Dillon and Jones’ skillsets is more distinctive. Williams was more of an all-around back, while Dillon is a straight-up freight train.
Right now, there’s still no Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. If this remains the case and Jordan Love ends up being QB1, LaFleur will have a big incentive to lean on the run game even more. Even if Rodgers does return, the Packers aren’t exactly a pass-happy team, as odd as that may seem. Last year the Packers ran it at the fifth-highest percentage in the entire NFL (45.7%). Whether it’s Rodgers or Love, Dillon will have ample opportunity to put his stamp on the offense.
Dillon’s sample size is still relatively small. He had only one regular-season game last year where he saw more than five carries. However, that one game was glorious.
In his first year out of Boston College, Dillon ran all over a really good Tennessee Titans defense. In primetime on national television, Dillon ran for 124 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. It was the first time that fans realized how good he might be. The cherry on top? It was a snowy game in December. Seeing Dillon glide through a snow-globed Lambeau Field while thrashing a Titans run defense that contained so many teams last year was a welcome sight.
Green Bay’s offense has all the ingredients for a successful recipe. Obviously, there’s one major cliffhanger looming, but if No. 12 is gone, Love couldn’t ask to step into a better situation.
Davante Adams is arguably the best receiver in football. Aaron Jones is one of the most dynamic two-way backs. There’s a great offensive line up front. Last year’s breakout offensive player, Robert Tonyan, is back as well. And now there’s a monster lurking in the backfield, ready to go to work. AJ Dillon has everything set in place to have a massive 2021 season.
So, who’s still blowing up the comment sections complaining about that draft pick? It’s almost as if the front office knows what they’re doing sometimes. Sit back and get ready to enjoy what should be a great year for Dillon as he and Jones look to become the best running back duo in the NFL.
