For decades, Green Bay Packers fans watched Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers dominate through the air, often carrying the franchise and masking its weaknesses.
In Jordan Love‘s first year as the starter, he threw for 4,159 passing yards and 32 touchdowns as the Packers continued to rely on their passing game.
However, Green Bay’s offensive approach has shifted in Love’s second season.
The shift began in free agency when Green Bay moved on from future Packers Hall of Famer Aaron Jones and signed Josh Jacobs. Jones had 20-plus rushing attempts in nine of his 99 games, with a career-high of 25 carries only once. Meanwhile, Jacobs had hit 20-plus carries in 30 of his 75 games, surpassing 25 carries 13 times and 30 carries three times.
Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur sought a bigger back capable of handling a heavy weekly workload, and they wasted no time signing the 2022 rushing yards leader.
Jacobs has surpassed 100 rushing yards in three games and averaged at least five yards per carry in five contests. He ranks in the top five in rushing grade, rushing yards, 10-plus-yard runs, and yards after contact. Jacobs is also in the top eight for missed tackles forced and has posted five consecutive games with at least 100 scrimmage yards.
The success of the run game doesn’t rest solely on Jacobs. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks have also been productive. Wilson has a playing style similar to Aaron Jones. He complements Jacobs well and adds balance to the backfield.
Matt LaFleur is the best head coach in the league at play calling for the run game. Green Bay went 2-0 when an MCL sprain sidelined Love, mainly due to the effectiveness of the ground attack.
LaFleur has done an outstanding job using motion in the backfield. Green Bay’s offense consistently forces defenders to second-guess what they see and from which angles the Packers will attack.
The little details within the concepts make the run game so effective. Motion is a cornerstone of the Kyle Shanahan tree, but LaFleur has found ways to create new looks with that simple yet effective tool.
LaFleur had All-Pro Fred Warner and former Packer De’Vondre Campbell running in the wrong direction on one play. Warner took a few steps left, with Campbell following, taking both out of the play. That opened a big lane up the middle for Josh Jacobs.
The threat of a strong rushing game has opened up simpler concepts for non-running backs. Jayden Reed took a 23-yard jet sweep, setting up the Packers on Miami’s side of the field.
The Packers have rushed for over 100 yards in 10 games this season and are 8-2 when they do. Their run game is their identity. I’m not discounting the passing game. Although the receivers have struggled with drops, Love has posted a 100-plus passer rating in the last three games. Furthermore, the Packers have a top-five offense in EPA per pass. Still, the run game is the cornerstone of Green Bay’s offense.
The run game also enhances play-action effectiveness. Last year, Love ranked third in passing yards and tied for fourth in passing touchdowns. He posted the sixth-best completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 60 dropbacks. Love also had the fourth-most first downs and a 113.7 passer rating. As he gets healthier each week, Love can move more effectively and capitalize on the support of a strong run game.
Green Bay has the personnel and scheme to dominate on the ground. Jordan Love has the talent to carry the offense. Still, the Packers should remain a run-centric team, especially as winter approaches, when stopping the run becomes even more challenging for defenses. With a top-five running back and a top-10 rushing offense in EPA per rush, Green Bay needs to fully capitalize on this strength.
