After a breakout game on Sunday, Aaron Rodgers is still remaining critical of the Green Bay Packers' offense. Things looked much better for them on Sunday against the Chicago Bears as the unit managed five touchdowns, but that was not good enough for Aaron Rodgers. According to the quarterback, the run game needs to do a better job of stepping up if the team is going to keep the momentum going.
There is no denying that Eddie Lacy has had a quiet follow-up campaign to his Rookie of the Year season in 2013. However, the Packers are also running the ball less with Rodgers back under center, something that is playing a part in the struggles of the second -year back. Rodgers wants that to change in the upcoming games.
"We just have to find ways to be a little more effective with our yards per carry and being able to convert those first and second downs with runs. Or just put us in manageable situations on third down. We're going to be aggressive and if we have to throw it to open up the run, so be it, but we need to find ways to get Eddie [Lacy] and James [Starks] 25-30 touches," Rodgers said, via the Milwaukee Journal.
According to Sentinel-Journal, the Packers have five touchdown drives against the Bears, but none of them last longer than four minutes. That hurts the defense recovery time and clock management late in the game. Rodgers wants longer scoring drives and he believes it starts with the run game.
"I wouldn't ever say that the run slows us down," said running backs coach Sam Gash. "...Other than it may take people longer to unpile because there are more people involved. As long as you are being productive, I don't think that it hinders the no-huddle offense at all."
Both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb finally produced solid games in the win over Chicago, but they too want to see a more efficient run game. Last season, Lacy was responsible for their solid rushing attack that kept the Packers mildly afloat while Rodgers recovered from injury. That has yet to be the case this year much to the dismay of fantasy owners. The Packers are looking to maintain a fast-paced offense which some say does not bend well to a run game, but Nelson believes otherwise.
"If you're successful, it shouldn't," said Nelson. "A good run would be the same as the quick, three-step pass game, and then there's the opportunity to break it for a long one. Also, a quality run can be like a good, short pass. Some of our passes might just get us 8 yards. Well, we can get something similar to a run that way. As long as we're successful, moving forward, then we'll stay in the tempo."
