1 Thing to Watch for from each Packers position group against Minnesota
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers kick off their 2022 NFL season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.
Here is one thing to keep your eyes on as the game unfolds from each of the Packers’ positions groups.
Packers Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and his receivers
All eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receiving corps that is without Davante Adams.
I think what we can expect is for Rodgers to lean on his experienced receivers along with the running backs and tight ends—the players we know he has rapport with. We should also see the ball spread around much more without there being a true No. 1 option for Rodgers–which can create issues for defenses, even if there isn’t a receiver of Adams’ caliber.
Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard are the obvious options in those high-leverage situations, but is that how things will play out? If there is a tight window, does Rodgers feel confident enough in his pass-catchers to let it rip?
Also, will the receivers be able to create consistent separation so that Rodgers can get the ball out quickly to his first or second read before the Vikings pass rush gets to him? While the Packers receivers have their question marks, they’ll be up against a Minnesota cornerback group that has unknowns of their own.
Will the rookie receivers make plays when given the opportunity and be in the right spot at the right time? These are just a few things to watch for on Sunday.
Packers Running back: How often are Jones and Dillon on the field together?
According to Sharp Football, the Packers used Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the field together in 2021 just 2% of the time. During the 2020 season with Jones and Jamaal Williams, those two were on the field 16% of the time together.
This is something that we hopefully see more of in 2022. For one, there are questions at receiver, and Jones and Dillon are two of Green Bay’s better playmakers, but also, them being on the field together opens up the rest of the offense.
It’s a small sample size, but the last time the Packers played the Vikings, Jones and Dillon were on the field for seven plays, and the offense totaled 52 yards or 7.4 yards per play.