Every follower of the Packers knows that Aaron Jones was under-utilized by Coach McCarthy for his first two years as a pro.
Rather than just talk in generalities about correcting this in 2019, I’d like to suggest a couple of benchmarks. Aaron should average at least 18 carries, and catch at least four passes per game in 2019. I’m being conservative – if some of you feel that should be bumped up to 20 carries and five catches, that’s fine with me too. Either way, that means getting Aaron around 25 touches per game.
How realistic are these benchmarks? If you consider Aaron to be one of the finest and most versatile running backs in the league, it would be utterly foolish to use him less often.
Let’s take a look at how much some other top RBs in the league were used in 2019.
Saquon Barkley: the rookie was handed the ball 261 times, and targeted 121 times, catching 91 of them. He scored 15 times, with 11 of them coming on the ground. Total yards from scrimmage: 2,028. And he was a rookie!
Ezekiel Elliott: As expected, the big third-year road grader rambled for 1,434 yards in 304 rushes, with 6 going for touchdowns. Unexpectedly, he also had 77 catches out of 95 throws, for 6 more TDs; I say unexpectedly, because in his first two years he was not targeted more than 39 times. His total yards from scrimmage: 2,001.
Christian McCaffrey: Healthy all year, the second-year pro rushed 219 times, and was thrown to 124 times, catching 107 – that’s a great 86.3 catch percentage. He had 9 rushing TDs and 6 more through the air. Total yards from scrimmage: 1,965.
Todd Gurley II: Playing in only 14 games, the fourth-year man still had 251 carries and he was thrown to 81 times, catching 59. He had 21 TDs, 17 rushing. Total yards from scrimmage: 1,831.
Alvin Kamara: In 15 games (13 starts), the Saints handed him the ball 194 times, and Drew Brees targeted him 105 times, resulting in 81 catches: that’s 275 touches, 5.8 yards per touch, and 18 TDs (14 rushing). Total yards from scrimmage: 1,592.
Joe Mixon: In only 14 games, the Bengals’ RB quietly rushed for 1,168 yards on 237 carries (4.9 average). The 6’1” 220-pounder was less of a receiving threat, but still caught 43 of 55 balls, and scored 9 TDs. He averaged 5.2 yards per touch, and his total yards from scrimmage was 1,464.
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Great double-threat running backs don’t need to be developed. As Giants’ rookie Saquon Barkley showed, they enter the league ready to ramble. Kamara, McCaffrey, and Mixon (and Jones) are two-year pros, Elliott is a third-year guy, and Gurley just finished his fourth year.
Of RBs with the most carries in 2018, Elliott was first by a mile, Barkley was next, Gurley was 4th, Mixon 8th, McCaffrey 10th, and Kamara (limited by injuries) was 16th.
These stars are incredibly young. Barkley, McCaffrey, and Mixon are 22; Elliott and Kamara are 23; Gurley is 24 – as is Aaron Jones.
Of the six highlighted running backs, how did their teams do on the year?
Points-wise – which several TP readers consider the offensive gold standard – the teams ranked this way: Rams, 2nd; Saints, 3rd; Panthers, 14th (tied with Packers); Giants, 16th’ Cincinnati, 17th; and Cowboys, 22nd.
The Chiefs finished first in points scored. Their running back, Kareem Hunt, was not included in this post, since he was released by his team after 11 games due to not being truthful about an incident of an assault on a woman.
How do the above suggested benchmarks look now? By the way, I heard a TV commentator mention at or near the end of the regular season, that of running backs with more than 200 carries, Aaron Jones and his career mark of 5.5 yards per carry ranks first – in the history of the NFL!
Ability is not the issue with Aaron Jones. Durability is. In any case, he needs to be given a chance to have as many carries as he can handle, with another (good) RB ready to jump in and give Jones a break, perhaps alternating series, or even within the same drive.
“Every follower of the Packers knows that Aaron Jones was under-utilized by Coach McCarthy for his first two years as a pro.”
Not ‘every’, just those who can’t wrap their head around the fact that Jones’ body hasn’t been able to get past 11 touches per game in his first two years as a pro before he breaks down.
Seems a player’s genetics and the resulting lack of durability are McCarthy’s fault, too.
Yeah, must have been durability and genetics fault when McCarthy didn’t use Jones AT ALL, ZERO TOUCHES, during regulation against the Buccaneers. Yet, the very first time Jones had a carry all game, in overtime, he ran it straight to the endzone for a 20 yard touchdown. What a fuckin joke.. You’d think maybe, just maybe, they could have utilized Jones to their advantage during the first sixty minutes and not have had to go into overtime with the 4-7 Buccaneers?
Any other McCarthy apologists want to explain that one? Maybe Mike was hiding Jones so he could have a secret weapon for when the Packers make it back to the Super Bowl. No one will know what hit them! “Who the hell is this Aaron Jones guy?” people will ask. Much like James Starks in 2010. Brilliant plan, Mike! You should get two streets named after you in Green Bay! Watch out Velp avenue, Pad-Level Path is coming your way ;)
Wait, what’s that? Businesses don’t want to rename the street because of the hassle of changing that many mailing addresses? I see, looks like we’ll have to find another way to pay homage. Being that KFC has no shortage of gravy, I propose that the pavement in front of the building be dedicated as “Highly Successful Sidewalk.” It’s what coach would have wanted.
Well remember the curse of the 370? It’s probably not nearly that high for Aaron Jones.
I think the Packers need to sign a battering ram back, short yardage back, though not necessarily a full back type. LaFleur’s offenses have always ran multiple backs and had at least one back be a big battering ram type of guy. Maybe Malcolm Johnson is that guy, but they need to get 300-500 yards from a third back.
Maybe….if we run out of “needs” for the team, we can start inventing them.