Visions for LaFleur, Jacobs Should Mesh Well With Packers

At the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur discussed his plans for new No. 1 running back Josh Jacobs.

Author:
Bill Huber
Mar 27, 2024

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Josh Jacobs

Aaron Jones

green bay packers

Matt LaFleur

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The signing of former All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs caught Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur “off-guard, to be honest with you.”

The decision to sign Jacobs and release Aaron Jones caught everybody off-guard. Now that LaFleur has had time to study Jacobs, he’s excited about the possibilities.

“The first thing that jumps off to me is just his play style. He is tough, hard-nosed,” LaFleur told reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday.

With Jones, the Packers had an explosive running back, capable of making a big play on the ground as well as through the air. While totally different players, Jacobs has that same ability.

Over the past five years – the totality of Jacobs’ career – Jacobs ranks fifth among running backs with 127 carries of 10-plus yards while Jones is seventh with 113, according to Stathead.

Moreover, Jones has two seasons of 50-plus receptions – 52 in 2021 and 59 in 2022. So does Jacobs, with 54 in 2021 and 53 in 2022.

“He can be a high-volume guy,” LaFleur said. “Just studying him, I think there’s more out there for him in regards to the passing game, using him out of the backfield. He’s put some really good choice routes on tape. That’s something we always try to get to. We’ve done it a little bit more down in the red area.”

That would make Jacobs happy. His desire to have a more active role in the passing game is something he discussed with reporters at Lambeau Field recently.

“I was talking to (LaFleur) about that actually and I was telling him I feel like I want to catch it a little bit more,” Jacobs said. “I feel like I didn’t get to show that as much as I would have liked. So, that’s definitely something in the conversations we had. I know the schemes out here, they do a lot of outside-zone running. I think it just fits me, man. I can’t wait to get in and feel it out and see where I fit in. But also try to leave my mark on it, too.”

From a statistical standpoint, there are a couple big differences between Jones and Jacobs.

One, Jones is one of the more explosive running backs in NFL history. His 5.05-yard career average ranks seventh all-time among running backs.

Two, Jacobs is a workhorse. In seven seasons, Jones has a combined 1,449 rushes and receptions. In five seasons, Jacobs has 1,502. Jones’ career-high 285 touches in 2019 is lower than Jacobs’ annual average of 300.

LaFleur, though, suggested he might not deviate too far from how Jones was used. During their five seasons together, Jones averaged 16.4 touches per game. Jacobs averaged 20.6, highlighted by 23.1 touches per game during his All-Pro 2022 season.

“I think you guys know how I feel philosophically,” LaFleur said. “I think you have to have multiple backs in this league. Those guys take a beating. It’s always a luxury when you have a guy who can take those number of carries and be a high-volume guy, but I don’t really see it changing it much in terms of how we want to use our backs.”

That means there will be a role for AJ Dillon, who was re-signed about a week into free agency, and either Emanuel Wilson or a potential draft pick.

With the Packers having their eye on the biggest prize, they will maintain their usual big-picture approach in hopes of having their new No. 1 back in prime form for December, January and, perhaps, February.

“I always think it’s a marathon,” LaFleur said. “The NFL season’s a marathon and you need your best players healthy, especially at the end of the season. Kind of like a season ago, when your back’s against the ropes, so to speak, and you need to do what you’ve got to do to win. But I think that’s a luxury for us that he is capable of carrying the ball that many times.”