Packers Running Back Room Looks Very Different Entering 2024
By GilMartin
With the exception of safety, no position is likely to undergo more change between 2023 and 2024 on the Green Bay Packers roster than running back. The team will now have a very different look next season and even the returning players will likely have very different roles.
Aaron Jones signed with the Vikings and will not be back. In his place, the Packers inked free agent Josh Jacobs who previously played for the Raiders. Jacobs is three years younger than Jones and led the NFL in rushing in 2022 with 1,653 yards.
In addition to being younger, Jacobs should be able to carry the ball more frequently than Jones and hopefully can remain healthier than the departed runner who missed six full games and was limited in many others.
Jacobs was considered a leader on the Raiders. He will have the opportunity to step in and replace some of the leadership lost when Jones departed via free agency.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich was looking forward to incorporating Jacobs into the offense this season. “Josh is a phenomenal running back. All-Pro a couple of times. He’s just one of those guys who’s good in all situations, good out of the backfield as a receiver, excellent runner, he’s a good pass protector, so he’s one of those guys that you can really have in the game all the time and not have to worry about anything with him. So that’s nice. His experience, his leadership. Excited about having him here and doing a great job for us.”
Last year’s RB2, A.J. Dillon, surprised a lot of people by re-signing with the Packers on a team-friendly deal. The former Boston College star will have a lot of competition for his old job. There is even a chance the Packers may choose to move him to fullback or H-back to replace the now departed Josiah Deguara.
Some of that competition will come from MarShawn Lloyd. GM Brian Gutekunst selected Lloyd with one of the team’s third round picks this year. The USC product has outstanding speed and was adept at making tacklers miss in college. He averaged an impressive 7.1-yards per carry in 2023.
Lloyd does have a few things to work on before he can assume a bigger role in the offense. He fumbled eight times during his college career so holding onto the ball is an obvious concern. Like many rookie running backs, he also needs to improve his pass blocking technique. Protecting Jordan Love is a priority for the Packers and Lloyd will need to show he can get that done to play extensive snaps.
Stenavich loves Lloyd’s potential and is eager to get him on the field. “I liked his speed. I liked his speed a lot. He had some good runs where you saw his burst. He’s got good vision. I’m really excited about that out of the backfield. I would like to get him out there as much as possible. He’s got a skill set that’s different than A.J. as far as his speed. He’s not quite the bruiser, but he’s got a different skill set.
Lloyd didn’t catch many passes in college, but that’s more because he never got the opportunity. On film, he showed the skills to do it, much like Dillon proved after he arrived in Green Bay. “It’ll be nice to get him the ball in space and see what he can do,” Stenavich added. “I think he’ll add a good explosive element to the offense.”
Also returning this year is second-year man Emanuel Wilson. The Fort Valley State product earned a roster spot last year as an undrafted free agent. He had a strong preseason and training camp that allowed him to beat out draft pick Lew Nicholls and make the team. Injuries limited Wilson to seven games last season. He averaged 6.1-yards per carry in limited action. If he can stay healthy, Wilson will be fighting for a roster spot as well.
The running back room will have a different look and feel in 2024. The Packers hope it will be even more effective this season than they were a year ago.
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Comments (48)
T7Steve
May 09, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Thanks, Gill.
All these new wrinkles have me chomping at the bit to see it in action.
If AJD does some FB or even more pony with Jacobs and/or Lloyd/Wilson it will open things up allot. I wanted to see more of it last season, but injuries seem to limit the opportunities for its use. Also, that would remove another dynamic WR or TE from the field. Pick your poison type luxury. It would sure be nice to eat up clock with a lead at the end of games or on short to gain and goal line tries.
Cheezehead72
May 09, 2024 at 01:03 pm
I am ok with them using Dillon as a blocker for Jacobs in some packages but he is a RB. If he does not make the team better as an RB let him go. The Packers have a true FB so he should be used as a FB. If he needs to develop more then put him on the PS.
crayzpackfan
May 09, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Speaking of MarShawn Lloyd....
With the new kickoff rules, I think MarShawn Lloyd (no disrespect to Nixon) would be awesome in that return role. He's fast, strong, breaks tackles and is really good in open space. From what little research I have done on this new form of kickoff returns is, it is likely to have 2 returners back there instead of one. I think he would be a fantastic choice for this.
This new format doesn't seem to favor the little, shifty CB or slot receiver type who may have speed, but lack the strength and tackle breaking skills of a good RB. Just a thought.
Minniman
May 09, 2024 at 02:31 pm
A really good point re the (likely) dual returners!
If the ball lands in the designated "landing zone" then the returners don't have an option to fair catch, they must field and return the ball........ that's too much field for one person to cover (and too much lateral movement) ...... as once the ball touches the ground, the defenders can advance.
In contrast, Rugby uses 3 players are possible returners - one (the fullback) is the primary returner and the other 2 (wingers) cover the flanks just in case.
You are right, we'll likely now see more 2 returner formations employed.
I also wonder if kickers will now employ more low, driving kicks (like a "stinger" in golf) - make the ball difficult to catch after its first touch of the ground? Again, using Rugby as the example, when the returner has to turn and retreat to fetch a ball, they are no longer able to scan the field for holes (and any forward momentum is lost). Likewise, a ball bumbling on the ground is more chaotic to recover.
crayzpackfan
May 09, 2024 at 03:09 pm
Minniman- Your Rugby analogy is very applicable in this situation. I also imagine that the kicking team will use different types of defenders. Gunners will no longer be needed. It will probably be more LB, S and fast DE type players who know how to tackle and get off blocks covering kickoffs now?
dobber
May 09, 2024 at 03:27 pm
"With the new kickoff rules, I think MarShawn Lloyd (no disrespect to Nixon) would be awesome in that return role."
Wilson also seems like someone who is built for that kind of role.
Coldworld
May 09, 2024 at 04:47 pm
One cut and go seems to have been the the key in the XFL. If you get held up or hesitate, you will get swarmed. Find a crease and just go all out for it and hit the lines at speed.
LambeauPlain
May 09, 2024 at 03:40 pm
I agree. The advantage for the return team is having two in the landing zone to start the play and one of them needs to block for the other and vice versa.
The kicking team has the advantage of seeing when the ball "lands" so blocking the first cover man that gets through the setup zone will be key. Then, making the next man miss or breaking a tackle could get returner quickly into daylight.
splitpea1
May 09, 2024 at 12:58 pm
The most welcome improvement would be more rushing TDS--they only had 10 last season, which wasn't the lowest, but in the bottom third of the league. So maybe if we get the needed improvement on the offensive line deep in the red zone, MLF will give the backs a few more opportunities... Also only one receiving TD between Jones and Dillon last year.
The Packers won't dally around getting Lloyd on the field; he looks to be a game-changer whether it's handing it off or hitting him in the open. The sooner MLF is confident enough in his pass-blocking skills, the sooner he's going to get more chances and Dillon becomes the distant third option.
I don't expect to see any early season struggles on offense at all--as long as Love stays healthy, we'll be scoring points in bunches.
T7Steve
May 09, 2024 at 02:08 pm
"I don't expect to see any early season struggles on offense at all"
If they get the new and improved line dialed in, this will be fun to watch.
They can add all sorts of wrinkles, and keep some looks just for the playoffs, which I hope won't start week nine like last season.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 09, 2024 at 03:33 pm
Isn't it those kinds of expectations (no early season struggles) that sets us up for frustration? This is still a young team and now defensive coordinators have seen the offense with Jordan and are going to be planning ways to disrupt what he does well. And not every young player gets better each year; sometimes they have a down year. So we may not see the same results we were seeing at the end of the season last year. We sure hope so, but it's not a given. Nothing in the NFL is.
cdoemel
May 13, 2024 at 08:50 pm
And to temper your expectations back down to Earth, rewatch the first half of the 49ers game. Yikes!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
May 09, 2024 at 04:40 pm
Bingo. We need a return to the "Gold Zone" that lead to Aaron Jones having a combined 25 rush tds in 2019 and 2020.
Starrbrite
May 09, 2024 at 01:11 pm
I’m thrilled about Jacob’s and I believe he’s an absolute stud. Our short yardage game at the goaline is now a difference maker.
Go Packers!!!
Leatherhead
May 09, 2024 at 01:35 pm
Starrbrite. Last year, we scored on 95% of our goal-to-go possessions. That's the highest conversion rate since they started keeping data in 2000.
How much do you think Jacobs will improve that?
Coldworld
May 09, 2024 at 01:43 pm
We should have more options to score on the ground between the tackles and outside. Last year it was predominantly passes that got us over the line of Jones was out, as he was for most of the games.
LLCHESTY
May 09, 2024 at 02:02 pm
Jordan Love had 4 yards rushing from inside the 5 yard line last year, Dillon and Jones combined had 5 yards. For scale Gus Edwards led the league with 31 yards inside the 5. From inside the 10 yard line Dillon led the Packers with 27 yards which was 33rd in the league overall. Kyrien Williams led the league with 97 yards.
Oppy
May 10, 2024 at 08:14 am
Gross yards inside the 5 or 10 doesn't tell the whole story. If we are going to assess true performance, we need to know how many rushing attempts those yards resulted from.
Example, if Dillon had 27 rushing yards from inside the 10 yard line on 8 attempts, and Kyrien Williams had 97 rushing yards inside the 10 yard line on a total of 30 attempts, Dillon is actually the more effective runner inside the ten.
Need more context in the form of carries to make any judgements.
Leatherhead
May 09, 2024 at 02:46 pm
The options we had worked 95% of the time last year
Coldworld
May 09, 2024 at 03:27 pm
We were last the prior year with 50%. Love was the difference primarily and he will be scouted more this year. Always look to get better. The alternative is to get worse.
Your own source puts it thus:
Examine year-over-year performance by RBs in goal-to-go situations:
“2022: 30% success, -0.34 EPA/att, 3 TDs, 1.6 YPC, 25% stuff rate
2023: 41% success, -0.10 EPA/att, 4 TDs, 1.2 YPC, 32% stuff rate
But the most notable performance improvement came at the quarterback position.”
“Among 31 qualifying QBs in goal-to-go situations last year, Love ranked:
#1 in success rate (61%, average = 38%)
#1 in EPA/att (+0.80, average = -0.09)
#1 in TD rate (61%, average = 33%)
#1 in sack + INT rate (0%, average = 8%)
He threw the #5 most TDs of any QB in goal-to-go situations last year (11) while delivering league-leading efficiency.
It was an extremely special season for Love in goal-to-go situations.”
https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/packers-goal-line-success...
Leatherhead
May 10, 2024 at 08:06 am
So the LaFleur offense, with Love at the helm, is close to unstoppable when it gets close to the goalline. The previous year, we were the most stoppable team in the league.
Leatherhead
May 09, 2024 at 11:12 pm
You realize that most TD are scored through the air. Why do you think that is?
I will say, all the top rushing TD teams made the playoffs. But then you have KC, the Super Bowl Champion, with only 9 rushing TDs....one less than the Packers!!
Opponents need to respect our ability to hurt them with a run, it's easier to score through the air down there instead of trying to pound it through 3/4 of a Ton of padded muscle and bone. I like the LaFleur approach of putting the ball in the hands of your best offensive player near the goal line. It worked damn well last year.
Starrbrite
May 09, 2024 at 04:20 pm
Well, that’s definitely difficult to improve on—were those rushing TD’s.
Leatherhead
May 09, 2024 at 11:22 pm
32 TD passes and 10 rushing....42 total. I don't have a breakdown of what it was in goal to go but I'll look for it.
EDIT: I found it. 18 of Love's TD passes were 9 yards or less. Also, of our 10 rushing TDs, four were his. IOW,about half our TDs last year were scored in goal to go situations via a pass or a Love run.
I'm in favor of more TDs, whether it's goal to go or not. The 49ers scored 60 TDs last year. Detroit had 57. We had 42. One more TD a game would bring us to 59, and you tell me what our season would have been like if we'd scored 1 more TD/game.
It's a passing league. We have a really good passer and some really good receivers. I think we'd be crazy to not feed that beast. Running the ball has it's uses, but games are won in the air.
Untylu1968
May 09, 2024 at 06:46 pm
Hopefully, by 5%..
GregC
May 09, 2024 at 01:36 pm
Hard to imagine A.J. Dillon as a fullback or H-back. Just the way he moves. It seems all wrong. I don't think he's a highly versatile athlete, and I've never heard of him doing anything like that before. At this point, I think Dillon is a stopgap if Marshawn Lloyd is not yet ready to be RB #2. Dillon had to wait his turn behind Jamaal Williams for a year, and the same thing could happen to Lloyd. Lloyd is so dynamic that it will be hard to keep him off the field though--unless the fumbling problems continue and/or he can't block well enough.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 09, 2024 at 03:35 pm
Dillon is also the only guy truly familiar with the offense, which is an important piece to have, particularly if injuries strike.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
May 09, 2024 at 04:42 pm
Dillon's skill as 3rd down pass protector is 100 times more important than anything Lloyd will be able to do as a rookie. Dillon also never misses games and rarely fumbles. He isnt going anywhere.
LeotisHarris
May 10, 2024 at 08:36 am
"...Just the way he moves. It seems all wrong. I don't think he's a highly versatile athlete..."
Yeah, the guy moves like an armadillo, which is interesting for an athlete with a 41 inch vertical, and a RAS of 9.18. His vertical, broad jump, and bench were all in the elite range. AJ might be a better rugby player.
Bitternotsour
May 10, 2024 at 09:12 am
but like, he's not a highly versatile athlete, you know. he's really ONLY a running back - why are you being such a stickler. do you see him lining up at cornerback? is he the emergency quarterback? i don't think so. he is another in a long line of 1 dimensional running backs. another front office fail. Gutekunst only drafts to enhance his ego and now that AJ has been re-signed, well his ego is very well enhanced (if you know what i mean)
pitiful.
GregC
May 10, 2024 at 11:25 am
The question is whether he would make a good fullback or H-back. Nobody said anything about him being a cornerback or quarterback. You are just arguing with yourself as usual.
Bitternotsour
May 10, 2024 at 06:36 pm
not arguing with myself, just having a conversation with people who are smarter than you
LambeauPlain
May 09, 2024 at 04:04 pm
Jacobs, Dillon, Lloyd and Wilson are all over 220 lbs. All 4 are fast. All can make big plays.
Will Dillon get an opportunity to see if he can handle the (rarely used) FB duties, too?
So critical to get the OL right...with the top 5 who are the BEST pass AND run blockers.
Fun training camp ahead to see how this all unfolds. All 3 teams!
Leatherhead
May 09, 2024 at 11:46 pm
IMO, we'll run the same plays we ran last year except Jacobs/Dillon will be the engine of the offense instead of Jones/Dillon. If one of them is injured, the #3 guy will get the rock, otherwise he'll be on special teams, possibly as a kick returner.
Dillon is what you want in a #2 back: Reliable, dependable, he protects the ball and doesn't get injured very often. But he's not a #1 back. If Jacobs is hurt, it's better to put our #3 guy (it's gonna be Lloyd) in as the #1 and let Dillon stay as the #2.
Inspired by some of the posters here, I've watched a bunch of Lloyd's college highlights. I know they're hilights for a reason, but this guy.........if he breaks loose from the scrum and starts heading towards open field, that defense has a real problem. He's pretty freaking fast and sneaky shaky. You think you have him cut off and all of a sudden you don't anymore, and you can't just knock him over with an arm tackle. I can see why some had him rated as a top back in the draft. I really hope he hangs onto the rock, because he and Jacobs could be a real difficult combination behind good blocking.
Johnblood27
May 10, 2024 at 07:46 am
'engine of the offense'?
I thought you said that passing is the end-all and be-all of offense in the NFL?
You obviously admit that running the ball 'has its place;, but to use the term 'engine of the offense' you contradict yourself.
Leatherhead
May 10, 2024 at 08:02 am
JB....almost 50% of our plays go to the RB. That's why I call him the engine
But when it comes to scoring points, most points are through the air. I don't see the contradiction in acknowledging this.
Johnblood27
May 10, 2024 at 09:43 am
brakes?
Engine?
which is more important?
They are both important, neither is dominant.
same with the run and the pass.
same with O and D on a football team
winning take a team effort from all sources of contribution, none are dogmatically dominant over the others.
Leatherhead
May 10, 2024 at 01:19 pm
There's no brakes on the offense.
I think that if you look back over the years, you'll see that the teams that make the playoffs, and advance, usually have some common characteristics.
They're almost always pretty good at protecting the ball. They score more points. They're particularly good at passing the ball.
I don't see as strong a relationship among the top rushing teams/ For example, last year, Chicago was #2 and Arizona #4 in rushing offense and they didn't even make the playoffs. KC was 19th and won the Super Bowl.
It seems to me the stronger correlation is that the teams that throw the most TD passes have the best correlation. The Top 5 all made the playoffs, and KC was ranked 9th. Running helps you pass, but it just doesn't score as many points.
T7Steve
May 10, 2024 at 08:04 am
Run to set up the pass. Pass to set up the run. Look how the passing game and the O in general improved with a healthy Aaron Jones, last season. Night and day. If you have a 100-yard rusher, your passer can easily eclipse 300.
With a well-oiled O-line hitting on all cylinders a team can dictate what they want to do and keep the opposing D guessing which they need to stop (hopefully wrong guesses).
GregC
May 10, 2024 at 02:15 pm
"If Jacobs is hurt, it's better to put our #3 guy (it's gonna be Lloyd) in as the #1 and let Dillon stay as the #2."
This is exactly what I'm thinking. Lloyd should be good enough to slide into the #1 spot if Jacobs gets hurt. He may also be more of an early down back due to not being as good at pass blocking. It would be great if he could get the blocking figured out sooner rather than later. He's 220 pounds with a low center of gravity, so there's hope.
RCPackerFan
May 10, 2024 at 10:03 am
The Packers had to do something with the RB position. Last year Jones missed 6 games. AJ Dillon became RB1 and Patrick Taylor became RB2. In the games that Jones missed I believe Dillon was exposed a bit. In the games Jones missed Dillon averaged 3.67, 3, 3.8, 3.07, 4.06, 3.53 yards per carry in each of the games. He averaged 3.44 yards per carry on the year. Jones meanwhile averaged 4.62. Patrick Taylor averaged 4.4. Emanuel Wilson averaged 6.1
They decided to move on from Aaron Jones. I still hate that but it is what it is at this point. They got Jacobs who 1 year before was the rushing champ and first team All Pro. He had a down year last year but if you saw the Raiders you would understand why. Going from Derek Carr to Jimmy G and Aiden O'Connell didn't exactly work out for them. Now he comes to GB with one of the most talented offenses in the league.
Adding Lloyd imo completes the backfield. He gives them the shifty RB who has elusiveness and speed. I think potentially this could be the best backfield in the league.
Lionhearted
May 10, 2024 at 10:56 am
This room doesn’t hold a candle to the lions running backs room. There isn’t a offensive skill player on the packers close to the talent level of Jahmyr Gibbs. Enjoy the fight for second place packers fans :)
Coldworld
May 10, 2024 at 11:02 am
Enjoy the few months of your dream
Leatherhead
May 10, 2024 at 01:25 pm
Is there a way we could archive these pearls?
I have a poster that shows a hang glider and a sunset on a beach, and it says,
"Nothing is more beautiful that watching someone soar on the wings of their dreams. Unless it's watching them crash into the ocean of reality".
I'm thinking of starting a pool that predicts how Detroit fails this year. Last year's winner would have been "2nd half meltdown in the NFCC". This year, I'm going with "plagued by injuries"
Bitternotsour
May 10, 2024 at 05:09 pm
I got 30 yo Jared Goff turns back into a pumpkin.
But seriously, it's cute that their fans are enthusiastic again. it was pretty sad to seem them sit in the stands with bags over their heads.
cdoemel
May 13, 2024 at 09:05 pm
Gibbs is a good player. And I like Dan Campbell a lot. I’m only speaking for myself, but I think it’s kind of cool the Lions are finally decent. Cause ya’ll sucked forever! Haha. It’ll be a good fight in the division. But you will be facing a better Packers team than the one that beat you last Thanksgiving! Go Pack!
cdoemel
May 11, 2024 at 08:51 pm
I’ll just start this off by saying I’m a homer. Green and gold homer. I’m the dude that defends the front office. But I just watched the first half of the 49ers game. Whew. Not much goin on there. Thank God for penalties! I’m as excited as the next guy about the growth of jordan love, and these wide receivers and tight ends and our new draft class. Add in Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. That’s a solid team. I hope. That last showing in San Francisco didn’t do much to give me more than average hope. I hear people talking about Super Bowl and I’m just going. Come on.
cdoemel
May 11, 2024 at 08:57 pm
Until the throw to Doubs.