Packers run game needs more big plays and far fewer negative plays

Through four games, the Green Bay Packers are stuck with a floundering run game that is producing few big plays while also creating far too many negative plays.

Entering Week 5, the Packers rank second-to-last in the NFL in runs of at least 10 yards with just five. And here’s the important part of the equation: of the five runs over 10 yards, two were scrambles by Jordan Love, one was a trick play to cornerback Keisean Nixon and another was a garbage time run by Patrick Taylor in Week 1. The only two runs over 20 yards have been from Love scrambling.

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In fact, scrambles or designed runs by Love make up five of the Packers’ 12 longest runs this season.

Overall, Packers running backs are averaging a little over 3.0 yards per carry this season. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have just 12 runs producing five or more yards, while 18 NFL teams have at least 12 runs of 10 or more yards.

Combining of lack of big plays with all the negative plays gives the Packers one of the NFL’s worst run games entering Week 5.

Green Bay has 19 runs gaining zero or negative yards in 2023. The 19 include plays cancelled out by offensive penalties but do not include kneel downs. Overall, Jones and Dillon — the two engines of the run game — have been stopped 14 times for no gain or negative yardage. That’s two more times than the pair has runs over five yards.

Of the runs gaining zero or negative yards, nine came on 1st-and-10. Facing second-and-long has been a recurring problem for the Packers offense. Running the ball better on first down has to be part of the remedy.

Run-blocking up front has been a mess. The Packers lost David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins to injuries. Zach Tom and Jon Runyan Jr. have each played through injuries. Jones wasn’t available for two games. And Dillon has really struggled to create yards after contact.

Might Monday night’s trip to Las Vegas provide an opening? The Raiders have allowed 17 runs of at least 10 yards, so it’s possible this is the week the Packers see a few more explosive plays from the run game.