Evaluating the 2023 Packers: piayer and the Running Backs
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin: Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were the running back tandem that the Green Bay Packers praised for years. Jones was the top back, therefore Dillon was a 1-A player who could handle the load just fine. But Dillon was not able to step up after Jones’s extended injury absences. The rushing game never got going until Jones came back for the closing stretch, and the offence did not perform to its best. Our season-ending grades, which are based on a player’s impact in relation to the salary cap, take that reality into account in Part 2. AARON JONES Cap for 2023: $8,197,000. Position: eighth based on OverTheCap.com. Jones is not like the others. Jones consented to accept a pay decrease in 2023 in a sport where status is equated with income. It was not the exchange of currency that is so typical. Instead, he just accepted a lower salary to stay with the Packers. How about solidifying your reputation as a legend? But the season was forgettable for the most part. In fact, it was reasonable to question whether this would be Jones’ last year as his 29th birthday drew near. Before hurting his hamstring against Chicago in Week 1, Jones amassed 127 total yards in less than three quarters of play. Jones had three games with a total of 117 yards from Game 2 at Atlanta through Game 7 at Minnesota, missing three others due to inactivity. With a knee injury against the Chargers on November 19, which forced him on injured reserve, his season took a turn for the worst. Jones started one of the best individual runs in franchise history with 127 rushing yards against Carolina, 120 against Minnesota, 111 against Chicago, 118 (with three touchdowns) against Dallas, and 108 against San Francisco following a game against Tampa Bay to shake off the rust. Jones made history by becoming the first player in Packers history to carry for 110 yards or more in four straight games and the first to rush for 100 yards or more in five straight games. Jones placed 10th with 3.16 yards after contact and 20th with a missed-tackle rate of 15.5 percent among 49 running backs with at least 100 rushes, respectively, according to Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions. Add the playoffs, and Jones jumps to sixth place with 3.35 yards after contact. Jones had 656 running yards and 889 total yards at the end of the regular season, which was a significant decline from his 1,121 rushing yards and 1,516 total yards in 2022. When those figures are considered in isolation, one could reasonably question whether Jones will return in 2024. Nevertheless, given his dominance in the closing minutes, it is practically a formality; nonetheless, his $11.1 million basic pay will require some attention. His birthday is December 2nd. B-minus is the grade. AJ DILLON Cap for 2023: $1,681,855. Position: 40th based on OverTheCap.com rankings. Dillon saw a decrease in 2021 of 803 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 50 first downs, and a 4.3-yard average; in 2022, it was 770 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 47 first downs, and a 4.1 average; in 2023, it was 613 rushing yards, two touchdowns, 32 first downs, and a 3.4 average, despite receiving similar carries as the previous two seasons. Related: Jordan, a grade for the 2023 Packers Quarterbacks and love Dillon placed 37th with 2.69 yards after contact and 47th with a missed-tackle rate of 6.7 percent among 49 running backs with at least 100 rushes, according PFF and SIS, respectively. That is simply not possible for a man with his size and strength. You wanted to see him smash through some scared-shitless defensive back on the rare times he found himself in open field. It was rare, if it occurred at all. Worst: The offence was actually superior when Dillon was severely limited with a fractured thumb and out with a stinger late in the game. The plan is for Dillon to become a free agent. He is a true gentleman who represents Northeast Wisconsin and the Packers. However, provided they don’t effectively address the position in the draft and Dillon remains unsigned until May, the Packers would be better off moving on. Wilson, Emmanuel (grade: D) $650,000 is the cap for 2023. 104th place, according to OverTheCap.com. Wilson was a fascinating tale. Re-acquired in May following a brief stay with the Broncos, the undrafted rookie ran away with a roster spot by leading the NFL in preseason rushing yards. He didn’t play much in the season’s first half. After Jones’ huge opportunity to play against the Chargers on Nov. 19, he sustained a shoulder injury that forced him on injured reserve after just a few plays. Wilson ended with 14 carries for 85 yards and four receptions for 23 yards over the course of seven regular-season games. In the postseason victory over Dallas, he had eight carries for a career-high gain in addition to a career-long 31-yard run against the Rams. On those 14 carries during the regular season, he broke one tackle; on 12 carries during the playoffs, he broke two. That will be crucial in the future. Patrick Taylor’s grade is C. Cap for 2023: $365,556. 123rd place, according to OverTheCap.com. Although Wilson outperformed Taylor in training camp, Taylor was the unofficial No. 3 back when the season began. The Packers added Taylor off of New England’s practice squad on November 19, following Jones’s knee injury. With 32 carries, 141 yards, a 4.4-yard average, 11 receptions, and 49 receiving yards, he set career highs in the 11 games he participated in. Taylor performs all tasks with credibility. He can catch, defend, and run quickly. He broke eight tackles on 32 carries, ranking first on the team in the 25.0 percent missed tackle rate, according to SIS. Simply put, he never performs at a level above average. With a handful of runs that he failed to take out of bounds, he displayed some terrible judgement. C-plus is the grade. Related: Rising “Star” for Defensive Coordinator Interview with the Packers Copyright
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