The Inexperienced Bay Packers have had an adventurous offseason to say the least. The Aaron Rodgers saga continues to dominate headlines and free company wasn’t essentially too variety to the Packers, however they have been nonetheless in a position to retain a few essential gamers. One was operating again Aaron Jones, who signed a four-year, $48 million deal to maintain the versatile weapon in Inexperienced Bay.
Jones earned his first Professional Bowl choice final season after amassing 1,459 all-purpose yards. He tied for the league lead in speeding touchdowns in 2019 and led the NFL in yards per carry in 2018. He is a key a part of the Packers offense, however he is not the one Inexperienced Bay operating again who might play a serious position in 2021. Second-year operating again A.J. Dillon is seeking to make a big affect this season as properly, and he lately mentioned that he believes he and Jones may very well be a dynamic duo that takes the league by storm this 12 months.
“I believe we will be the very best operating again tandem within the NFL,” Dillon mentioned Wednesday, by way of NFL.com. “You have a look at us and also you see thunder and lightning, which completely we’re, however the lightning man, Aaron (Jones), he may also grind out some yards, and the thunder man, myself, I would prefer to say I can nonetheless beat some guys operating away from them. So I really feel like we each positively have our strengths, however we carry two baggage, and the complete operating again room is able to guys that may do all of it. That is simply the usual within the operating again room. That is what coach (Ben) Sirmans preached, with the ability to do all of it, with the ability to discover a position on the staff. So I really feel like we positively embody that.”
Dillon rushed for simply 242 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, however had a efficiency late within the 12 months that shocked everybody. In a snowy “Sunday Evening Soccer” showdown with the Tennessee Titans in Week 15, Dillon exploded for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Certain, it was only one recreation, nevertheless it confirmed the form of play he’s able to.
“The Tennessee recreation, positively, I look again on as I am making ready for this 12 months as a giant confidence increase,” Dillon mentioned. “Now going into 12 months two, second 12 months within the offense, understanding just a little bit extra and hopeful increasing my position, I positively know what I can contribute. So simply seeking to construct on high of that and having extra video games like that Tennessee recreation.”
Dillon rushed for 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns in his last collegiate season at Boston Faculty. In three years within the ACC, Dillon racked up 4,618 yards from scrimmage and 40 complete touchdowns. He may very well be a serious playmaker within the making, and somebody who can each take the load off of Jones and assist whoever is taking part in quarterback for the Packers in 2021.