Green Bay Packers: Offense Needs to Create More ‘Explosive Plays’

In a recent radio interview, Matt LaFleur mentioned that one area the Green Bay Packers can improve upon is by creating more explosive plays.

The Green Bay Packers’ offense in 2019 was very up and down, to say the least. There were stretches – particularly at the beginning of games – where they moved the ball with ease. But on the flip side, there were other times when gaining a first down seemed impossible.

Now as we look ahead to the upcoming season, this Packers offense is going to be much more of what Matt LaFleur envisioned, rather than the mashup of LaFleur and Mike McCarthy’s offenses that we saw in 2019. The hope is that overall we see the unit take a big step forward in Year 2, and one area in particular that could really provide them with a boost is creating more explosive plays.

On Thursday morning while on the Wilde and Tausch Radio Show, LaFleur was asked about areas that they could improve upon in 2020. He had this say about their ability to create explosive plays:

"“One area we really need to improve on is creating more explosive plays. We were pretty efficient … but were 23rd in explosive plays. That starts with play calling (and) maybe take a few more chances to help generate those plays down the field.”"

Over at Sharp Football Stats, they define an explosive run play as a run of 10 or more yards and an explosive pass is a passing play of 15 yards or more. According to their data, the Green Bay Packers ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in both categories last season. Specifically 19th on rushing plays and 18th on passing plays.

Not exactly what we’d expect from a 13-3 team that ended up just one game shy of the Super Bowl.

Although we have to take into consideration that as a 13-3 team the Packers weren’t exactly trailing very often, which limited the need for big plays, I’m sure we can all agree that they need to find ways to create more chunk plays in 2020.

As LaFleur mentioned, play calling is a part of it, however the big question is, where are those plays going to come from?

One of the biggest knocks on this team in 2019 was their lack of playmaking ability at the receiver position. Sure they added Devin Funchess, but big plays aren’t his calling card. And while Reggie Begelton was able to create big plays in the CFL, we don’t know if that will translate to the NFL level.

Meanwhile, Allen Lazard proved to be a reliable receiving target, but I wouldn’t call him explosive either.

Ultimately, if we are going to see the Green Bay Packers make more big plays through the air, it’s going to come from just an overall better understanding of the offense, along with the development of the young receiving options on the roster.

Through the first seven weeks of the season, Marquez Valdes-Scantling was averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. As a rookie in 2018, Equanimeous St. Brown was averaging almost 16 yards per catch over the course of the season. And of course, Jace Sternberger at tight end gives them a big-play threat as well.

Not to mention that Aaron Jones could very well see more opportunities in the passing game this season and with the addition of A.J. Dillon in the draft, he gives Green Bay another explosive option on the ground.

But it’s these young players who are going to have to step up.

If the Packers are going to make another Super Bowl run this season, the offense is going to have to become more consistent overall while also finding ways to extend drives. And coming up with more explosive plays will go a long way towards accomplishing that.