Green Bay Packers: AJ Dillon Will Be Apart of Passing Game

A.J. Dillon wasn’t much of a factor in the BC passing game, but the Green Bay Packers didn’t draft him in Round 2 to just run the ball either.

After the first-round selection of Jordan Love that upset many within Green Bay Packers’ Nation, GM Brian Gutekunst followed it up by taking running back A.J. Dillon in Round 2 to the chagrin of many, once again.

Now, taking a running back in the draft wasn’t much of a shock, considering that Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are both in the final year of their rookie deals, and we don’t know what the future holds for either back. But what did leave many scratching their heads was taking Dillon in Round 2 and the fact that he has limited in-game experience as a pass-catcher.

We are all well aware by now that teams can find good running backs on Day 3 of the draft, I mean, Jones is a prime example of this. And we are also well aware that in today’s NFL, teams want running backs who can be weapons in the passing game as well.

So the selection of Dillon by Green Bay was contrary to both of these schools of thought, and these were two big reasons why many were upset with the pick.

At 6’0″ -247 pounds, Dillon is a physical runner and an excellent athlete, who constantly faced loaded boxes, broke tackles without batting an eye, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry over his career at Boston College.

However, he wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game. Dillon appeared in 35 games during his collegiate career and hauled in just 21 passes at 11.2 yards per catch.

Given what he was asked to do while at Boston College, on the surface, Dillon looks like a bit of a throwback at the running back position. But I’m here to tell you; the Green Bay Packers weren’t spending the 62nd pick in the draft on a back who isn’t going to be involved in the passing game.

Shortly after the draft, when Gutekunst was asked about Dillon’s ability as a pass-catcher, he had this to say (via Packers Wire):

"“He’s really an all-around back,” Gutekunst said. “While he was not used in the passing game a ton at Boston College, it’s not because he’s not capable, it’s just kind of their offense. I think he’ll bring that to the table, and you’ll see more of that in his pro career.”"

In the Matt LaFleur offense, he wants to run various plays, from multiple formations, with the same personnel to keep defenses off balance and give the offense some unpredictability. In order to do that, running backs need to be a part of the passing game.

Last season we saw Jones targeted 68 times after totaling just 53 targets during his first two seasons combined. From a personnel standpoint, the Packers used two running backs much more frequently as well.

According to Sharp Football, under LaFleur, Green Bay used 21 personnel (two RBs, one TE) 132 times compared to just ten times in 2018 and 22 personnel (two RBs, two TEs) 36 times to only four the previous year under Mike McCarthy.

In 2020, as the offense becomes more of what LaFleur envisions, there will be more 21 and 22 personnel usage, along with more targets in the passing game for the Green Bay running backs. So, I’ll say it again; the Packers weren’t drafting a running back who wasn’t going to be a part of the passing game.

No, the stats weren’t there for Dillon as a pass-catcher while at Boston College, but as Gutey mentioned, he also wasn’t asked to do that either within the offense. With that said, as Green Bay Packers’ college scout Mike Owen points out, just because we didn’t see Dillon catching passes in games, doesn’t mean the ability isn’t there:

"“What surprised me is, you might not see it much during games, but you go to practice and you see him running routes and see him catching the football. And he’s got real good hands,” Owen said. “His receiving game is actually further along than you might believe. That’s just an added element to his game. He does have pass-catching ability.”"