When Brian Gutekunst decided to move on from Aaron Jones, Lambeau Field felt a collective chill that had nothing to do with the Wisconsin winter. It was a gutsy, borderline reckless move. You don't just replace a locker room soul like Jones with a high-priced free agent and expect the chemistry to stay intact. But here we are. Josh Jacobs, the current Green Bay running back, didn't just step into the role; he fundamentally altered how Matt LaFleur calls a game.
The transition wasn't exactly seamless. Fans were skeptical. I was skeptical. You’re talking about a guy who led the league in rushing with the Raiders but then hit a wall of inefficiency behind a crumbling offensive line in Vegas. People called him "washed" before he even stepped foot in Brown County. They were wrong.
The Grind: How Josh Jacobs Redefined the Packers Offense
Basically, the Packers traded a home-run hitter for a sledgehammer. While Jones was all about the "scat-back" versatility and those explosive outside zones, Jacobs is a density-based runner. He’s heavy. He’s violent. He forces defenders to make business decisions in the fourth quarter.
If you watch the tape from the 2024 season, you see a specific trend. The Green Bay running back position became the "reset button" for Jordan Love. When the passing game gets a little too vertical or Love starts seeing ghosts in the secondary, Jacobs is there to take a handoff and churn out four yards. It sounds boring. It's actually vital. Those four-yard gains are the difference between a 3rd-and-short and a 3rd-and-long that ends in an interception.
Honestly, the most impressive thing isn't the yardage. It's the pass protection. Most people forget that a Green Bay running back has one primary job: keep the franchise quarterback clean. Jacobs is a brick wall in the blitz pickup. He identifies the Mike linebacker, slides his feet, and anchors. That’s why he stays on the field for three downs.
Breaking Down the "Bell Cow" Myth
Is the "bell cow" dead? Not in Green Bay. While the rest of the league is obsessed with "running back by committee," the Packers have leaned heavily into a lead-dog approach.
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- Physicality: Jacobs finishes runs. He doesn't go out of bounds. He seeks contact.
- Volume: Unlike previous years where snap counts were meticulously split, LaFleur has shown a willingness to ride the hot hand.
- The MarShawn Lloyd Factor: Injuries derailed the rookie's start, but even when healthy, it was clear this was Jacobs' backfield to lose.
The nuance here is the scheme fit. The Packers run a lot of wide-zone, but they’ve added a significant amount of "duo" and "power" looks to accommodate Jacobs' downhill style. It’s a marriage of two different philosophies.
The Financial Gamble of the Green Bay Running Back Room
Let's talk money because that’s usually where the drama starts. The contract was a four-year deal worth $48 million. On paper, it looked massive. In reality? It was a masterclass in salary cap gymnastics. It was essentially a series of one-year options that gave the team an out if his legs fell off.
Critics pointed to the "Running Back Cliff." Usually, after 1,500 carries, a back starts to lose that half-step of burst. Jacobs entered Green Bay with a high mileage count. But the medical staff in Green Bay—widely considered some of the best in the NFL—have managed his workload with surgical precision.
You’ve got to realize that the value of a Green Bay running back isn't just in the box score. It's in the defensive alignment. When Jacobs is in the backfield, safeties have to creep into the box. They have to respect the "A" gap. That opens up those deep crossers for Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. It’s a symbiotic relationship. If the run game fails, the pass game becomes predictable. If the pass game is predictable, Jordan Love struggles.
Why the Aaron Jones Comparison is Fair (and Unfair)
Everyone wants to compare Jacobs to Jones. It’s natural.
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Jones was the lightning. Jacobs is the thunder. You can't compare a 190-pound slasher to a 220-pound bruiser and expect the same highlights. Jones would make three guys miss in the backfield and go for sixty. Jacobs will hit the hole, get hit by a 300-pound defensive tackle, and somehow fall forward for six yards.
One isn't necessarily better than the other, but one is certainly more sustainable for a team trying to win in the trenches during a January playoff game at Lambeau.
The Evolution of the Screen Game
One major misconception is that Jacobs isn't a "receiving back." That’s nonsense. During his time in Oakland and Las Vegas, he was often the primary check-down option. In Green Bay, the screen game has become a legitimate weapon again.
The Packers’ offensive line is athletic. They love to get out in space. When you put Elgton Jenkins and Rasheed Walker out in front of a guy who can break the first tackle, you get big plays. It’s not about "hands" as much as it is about "vision." Jacobs follows his blocks better than almost anyone in the league right now.
Statistical Reality vs. Fan Perception
Check the stats. Don't just look at the rushing total. Look at "Yards After Contact."
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- Year 1 in Green Bay: Jacobs ranked in the top five for forced missed tackles.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Packers' touchdown percentage inside the twenty spiked when they stopped trying to "finesse" their way into the endzone.
- Third Down Success: A higher percentage of short-yardage conversions compared to the 2023 season.
This is the "meat and potatoes" of football. It’s not flashy. It doesn't always win you a Fantasy Football championship, but it wins real games.
Next Steps for the Packers Ground Game
The future of the Green Bay running back room depends on depth. While Jacobs is the clear Alpha, the team needs a viable backup who can replicate his style without a massive drop-off in production.
- Monitor the Snap Count: The team needs to ensure Jacobs isn't at 300+ carries by December. If they want a Super Bowl run, he needs fresh legs.
- Develop the Rookie Class: MarShawn Lloyd has the physical tools, but he needs to master the pass protection schemes.
- Adjust the Blocking Scheme: Expect more "Man" blocking schemes as the offensive line gels.
- Embrace the Weather: As the season turns cold, the run-heavy identity will only become more pronounced.
The decision to swap Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs was a pivot toward a more "physical" brand of football. It was a statement. The Packers decided they didn't want to be the team that gets bullied in the playoffs anymore. They wanted to be the ones doing the bullying. So far, that gamble has paid off in spades. If you want to understand the modern Packers, you have to understand why they invested so much in a single back. It wasn't just about talent; it was about changing the team's DNA.
Actionable Insights for Following the Packers Run Game:
- Watch the "Success Rate": Instead of total yards, look at whether the runner gets 40% of the required yardage on 1st down, 60% on 2nd, and 100% on 3rd. This is where Jacobs excels.
- Observe the Safety Depth: Notice how close the opposing safeties play to the line of scrimmage. If they are within 8 yards, Jacobs is doing his job by drawing attention.
- Track the "Duo" Concept: Watch for double-teams at the point of attack where Jacobs waits for a hole to develop. This is the staple of the current Green Bay rushing attack.
The identity of the Green Bay running back has shifted from explosive utility to consistent, violent production. It's a throwback style in a modern league, and it's exactly what this young roster needed to find its footing in the NFC North.
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