Last year, only two teams threw more often than the Super Bowl winner. Only five teams threw more often than the Super Bowl loser.

Just saying...

I get the run first mentality. As the NFL has gotten to be a pass first league most teams play a lot of nickel and dime. Those DBs usually cover much better than a LB but normally don’t fill a gap or tackle as well as a LB. Successful running opens up the play action and creates nice passing lanes. In addition it’s very demoralizing to have the ball shoved down your throat and it wears down the defense.

I know none of this is new info to you guys but the NFL goes in cycles and I think you’ll see more teams put more emphasis on the run game. The Shanahan offense puts a lot of pressure on a defense and gets even average WRs open and you add a stud QB and it’s scary good.

I’m all for pounding the ball even if Rodgers is back. Smash mouth football is fun to watch, if it’s your team doing it.

Much will depend on our O line. When will Bak return, will Turner settle in at Rt, and most importantly will Myers hold down the center position. One thing is certain , we will have depth.

Deion Sanders has one word to explain Aaron Rodgers - "Tripping". Not a Sanders fan but he is correct... Tom Brady's success has gotten into then heads of the great QBs like AR and Russell Wilson. They can't keep pace with the GOAT.

https://popculture.com/sports/news/deion-sanders-aaron-rodgers-packers-d...

It's important to pose a threat by being able to throw the ball effectively. Otherwise a team is looking at trying to run through a brick wall of 8 or 9 defenders in the box. I hope we will be able to take what a team gives to us and do it well.

Better late then never. As long as it's a balanced attack. I'm all for it.

Good Post Ken, You are right that there will probably be more run plays. But that may not diminish the production on pass plays. Actually, both can have increase production....thus the complementarity that an effective pass threat on any given down, regardless of personnel out there makes the run game so much more potent. Similarly, the confidence to line up on 3 and 5 and run it, likewise opens up the possibility for quick blitzkrieg strike to MVS for a 77 yard TD. What I find impressive is the emphasis on above average blockers at the skill positions. That is smart way to pick up a lot of bonus yards. The ability to customize the game depending on the opponent presents a huge advantage for an offense.

This team was being built to run the moment they named LeFleur HC.
It's a run first offense that is built on large bodies and big formations.

This is a good piece, Ken, and I agree with a lot of it.

The focus on being a good running team with LaFleur was always about opening up the passing game, versatility and deception, in order to keep opposing defenses playing honest, in a truly balanced attack. I think running more became the emphasis to ease Aaron Rodgers out successfully.

The teams that generally win it all do just about everything well. Let’s face it, a threat has been made to our once vaunted passing attack, and a solid run game will help foster the growth of a solid passing game for Jordan Love.

Now, in a weird turn of events, it might actually ease Love in successfully as a passer, without putting too much pressure on that process.

Look to the balance of Bill Belichick Super Bowl winning teams. They weren’t the best in everything, but they were good at everything.

We’ll see more explosive runs than ever. That’s for sure with this group.

In keeping with what a weird year this is, we might have so many explosive runs for scores, that Jordan Love will be able to practice his passing to finish out games... LOL

Carry the G!!!

I prefer the three pronged attack, run, pass, pass to backs out of backfield. More versitile, forces defenses to think and be agile.
This would ge the highly tuned KC Chiefs.
Just thinking you can run over people and is mindless unless your the Titans with Henry. now they have the best two receivers in the league, they become very scary if they can manage themselves.
One thing an effective run gane gives your d a rest.

This is precisely why they drafted Dillon last year. They are gradually going towards a more run centric offense. We all know Jones needs to have his carries/touches managed. Having Dillon gives them 2 RB to punish defenses. Jones carries probably won't increase much, if at all. Dillon will take all Williams carries plus another 80 besides. Jones and Dillon will probably have about the same carries but Jones will be much more active in the passing game.

How close it trends towards a 50/50 balance will largely depend on Rodgers reporting. You also have to take into account how many runs Rodgers will change to passing.

If Love is behind Center, a 50/50 split becomes a strong possibility. With Rodgers more like 55% pass to 45% run, or more, for a variety of reasons.

Having Rodgers at QB will influence the D to stay in nickel and help inflate the RBs average per carry. If Love is QB defenses will start playing at least 7 if not 8 in the box. Rodgers mere presence dictates a more passing centric attack, and lighter boxes for the RB. The opposite is true for Love at QB.

No matter what the Packers are a vastly better team with Rodgers, than with Love. No disrespect for Love, but he's light years behind Rodgers. Not that he can't approach Rodgers in a few years.

The phrasing “rolled up 420” probably shouldn’t be used in connection with a football player. That could really “hamper” Davenport’s play.

Given the current rules which favor passing, I will be surprised if the Packers truly become "run centric" like the Titans or Ravens. I would like to see more balance in the offense which means running the ball more than they have in recent memory, but likely still throwing the ball a bit more than running it. Balance prevents the defense from loading the box or loading the secondary and makes them play both options.

Of course if Love or Bortles are the QB, the Packers may have to run more than pass at least this year.

As a wise man once said…….run more pass less.

Also, these short passes to the backs, the jet sweeps, the WR screens……you might as well consider them runs with a long handoff.

In 2018, the last season before LaFleur, we targeted the WRs about 380 times. Adams, Cobb, Allison, MSV, ESB.

In 2020, the WRs were targeted less than 300 times, and we led the league in offense.

This offense isn’t about throwing the ball downfield to superduper WRs. It’s been two years now. Time to acknowledge and accept.

Drafting Dillon, Deguara and numerous Ols pretty much told us that the Packers are building a stronger running team. The issue will be how effective will the run game be, especially if Rodgers is no longer on the team to maintain the credibility of the passing game.

If Love or Bortles is our starting QB our opponents will stack the box and force us to win with the pass until one of them can prove they win with a passing attack. I'll expect that Deguara will have a significant role in our run game functioning as another guard for either Jones or Dillon and leading them out of the backfield.

Another factor is that MLF will not be able to utilize his entire offense while Love is still learning the offense. Defenses will be aware of this as well. Rodgers on the other hand can make all the reads and adjust the play both pre and post snap. That is a huge factor is maintaining balance and running the MLF offense effectively.

The run game requires precision. Precision comes with repetition in practice. However, with the CBA limit on practices it takes longer to reach a high level of precision. Ultimately, I think the Packers run game will be very strong especially as the weather turns colder but I expect there will be some bumps in the road early in the season as the team and Love evolve during the season.

The flip side is that the defense needs to keep the team in the game. If our offense is based on the ground game the Packers cannot afford to get behind by 2 or more scores. That will force the pass on them and lead to sacks and picks. If can play with a lead or play within one score the run game can remain effective. Big plays and easy TDs will be difficult to overcome with a round based offense.
Hopefully Barry's defense will be able to carry their end. Better play from our STs would be a nice help as well. Thanks, Since '61

Seems to me like a statement of the different principles between the MM offense and that brought in by LaFleur.

I read this piece as dressing that known direction up as if this is some devious Gute plan for QB change. In fact, it is the logical result of implementing the LaFleur offense that Murphy chose as our vision when he hired LaFleur.

Is this a sign of what is coming in the news desert of the summer break? I would hope we could avoid needless Rodgers-related aspersions like this.

All comments aside, I truly hope that Aaron Rodgers returns to Green Bay for one particular reason - and that reason is that, in reality, he laid an egg in the second half of that NFCCG..... and I don't want that to be my last memory of Aaron Rodgers in a Green Bay uniform - he was better than that memory.