Packers Question of the Day: Can Aaron Jones Handle the Workload?
With Ty Montgomery unlikely to play and Jamaal Williams out for at least another week, the Packers may very well have to turn to the same rookie running back that carried the ball for bulk of the Thursday night win against the Chicago Bears.
Aaron Jones, pride of UTEP, certainly has the explosiveness and cutback ability. But can he handle the workload of a full game?
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
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Comments (18)
dobber
October 04, 2017 at 08:41 am
I don't see MM leaning on Jones the same way he did Montgomery (assuming #88 doesn't play). I think we'll see Rip get a half dozen carries and a couple targets, and Mays should, too. In the end, I think Jones will get about or slightly over half of the RB snaps.
Finwiz
October 04, 2017 at 10:52 am
Last time they leaned on Rip, he fumbled the ball on the way to the goal line. This year they haven't handed him the ball at all.
I doubt much will change with him on Sunday.
I suspect they will roll with Jones and a big dose of Cobb in the back field but run a short passing game, ball control offense, like against the Bears.
With the tackles out again it throws everything into chaos including run blocking.
dobber
October 04, 2017 at 12:14 pm
They weren't a juggernaut in run blocking when the tackles were healthy. Still, I'll be looking forward to the injury report today to see who practiced and how much.
TheVOR
October 04, 2017 at 04:28 pm
I personally think they should play him like they'd play any running back and game plan accordingly. If you want to run it 15-20 times, do it, and don't worry about Jones. Jones is a Running back, he has excellent recognition skills, and shifty, he make lightning fast and decent decisions. Hand the man the ball!! Jones is fine, don't need any special plans because Montgomery isn't in there. Also, I have no issue running Rip a few times just to throw them a curve, but, Run Jones, and don't hesitate to do so. He might be our Kareem Hunt!
Since'61
October 04, 2017 at 09:22 am
I agree with Dobber. I think the carries will mostly be split between Jones and Rip. The Packers can also sprinkle in 2-3 carries for Cobb and a few more for Mays.
If Monty dresses for the game he can take a few snaps as a decoy just to draw coverage. The key is the healthy return of our OTs. If the OL is healthy our RBs can get the job done. Thanks, Since '61
Johnblood27
October 04, 2017 at 10:54 am
Please, no carries for Cobb.
I would actually like to see him stay healthy for a little while.
Mays is on the 53.
USE HIM MM. He is getting paid.
That said, Jones is not a china doll or a newbie to the game of football. He has played football for at least the past 8 years if not longer to get to where he is. He is a full-grown man. Football is a game. Play it.
Finwiz
October 04, 2017 at 11:04 am
I know, I don't like Cobb in the back field either, but I think that's their conservative "go-to" when they don't have an alternative.
Don't think they will give the rookie a huge load in this game, but maybe a leopard can change his spots.
We shall see.
Christopher Gennaro
October 04, 2017 at 02:31 pm
I'm with you let Jones go and see how he does, and for change of pace Unleash Mays. I can't get over my draft crush for him, he brings almost wrecking ball type of style. Let the rookies play enough to see what they have. I realize these guys are not HUnt from K.C, but lets remember he fumbled on his first play. Instead of locking him to bench, K.C let him take his lumps. I may have too much faith in these 2 guys, but we won't know what they got in game action unless they play. We keep cobb out of the backfield, and Ty time to heal. If Sean Lee plays, and the pack wants to run, different looks may keep that defense on their toes. Oh yeah we still have Aaron Rodgers and the rest.
RCPackerFan
October 04, 2017 at 09:49 am
I agree with Dobber and Since '61 that Jones won't carry the full load. They will use Ripkowski, Cobb, and Mays some to help.
I do believe he will shoulder most of the load though. And honestly I think Jones will show why most of us are really high on him.
First he has the vision. He sees the holes and cutback lanes. Once he sees the holes he hits it with his quickness/speed and explodes through. And once he gets through he has power to push forward. Also a part of the game we really haven't seen yet from Jones is his receiving skills. He is a great receiver.
I'm excited to see Jones getting his opportunity.
Johnblood27
October 04, 2017 at 11:00 am
My feelings about Jones as well.
I am really excited to see him grab this opportunity and "run with it"!
He was incredibly explosive at UTEP and he will be back on Texas ground.
Go Aaron, GO!
croatpackfan
October 04, 2017 at 10:44 am
I think all 3 of you are right. And I believe if Packers will have comfortable lead in 3/4th Q Devante Mays and Aaron Jones ill have more opportunities. I think MM is afraid of fumbles...
Johnblood27
October 04, 2017 at 11:01 am
I think MM is afraid to win a game by more than 4 points.
He seems more afraid to look like he is "running the score up" than he fears losing a late lead.
Too much "how does this look" and not enough "win the damn game".
4thand1
October 04, 2017 at 01:11 pm
Running back is the one position a rookie can come in and shine. To much emphasis is put on whether he can block or not. Give him the dam ball and let him do what he does best, run.
HankScorpio
October 04, 2017 at 07:57 pm
I am thankful McCarthy does not use such thinking. For his entire tenure, there has been heavy emphasis on pass blocking by RBs and rightfully so. It's a pass-happy league. Teams just don't win with run-heavy offense all that much. The exceptions to that general rule have outstanding defenses, something the Packers have not had.
What they do have is a HoF QB in his prime. Rodgers is the meal ticket in GB. The offense is constructed around him, including an OL that is far better at pass protection than run blocking. A run game that makes a defense take note certainly is helpful but unless a RB can shine behind a suspect run blocking OL, his best contribution is going to be in the pass game, primarily in blocking.
Cartwright
October 04, 2017 at 10:44 pm
As a card carrying member of the vertically challanged club, I am rooting for Aaron Jones, hard. You can toss in Josh Hawkins too, he's not tall either.
Rokkstar
October 05, 2017 at 02:57 am
Did you or didn't you watch him play!!!! Listen, it was obvious to me from his first play from scrimmage that he was a pure and talented RB.... I say let him flourish.
Rokkstar
October 05, 2017 at 03:01 am
... and yes, I like Josh Hawkins also.. good player, and it was obvious.... Yes, I want to see Kevin King max out as an all-pro, but, I gotta tell ya, talent is talent, and Hawkins has it.... between Hawkins and A. Jones, we have found a couple of football talents that will not disapoint, and we just got to kick back and enjoy what they have to provide. (not sure how to spell disapoint).
Rokkstar
October 05, 2017 at 03:02 am
,,, King will not "disapoint" either; this kid is top notch!!!