Cory's Corner: Can AJ Dillon Be That Guy?
'Quadzilla' is out to prove that he can be a three down back.
Just who is AJ Dillon?
Can he be the focal point of an offense?
Obviously we aren’t going to know that after the first preseason game, but we are going to know how well he can move the sticks on obvious running downs. Can he block on third and long? Can he catch swing and screen passes and consistently scamper for a first down on third-and-5?
Dillon has looked very good in camp so far. The 6-foot, 247-pound back gambled on himself by signing a one-year, $2.7 million contract. And in doing so, he came to camp ready. He was arguably in the best shape of his pro career and he also had the benefit of playing with a giant chip on his shoulder.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Dillon has averaged 607 rushing yards a year, four rushing touchdowns, 21 receptions and 191 receiving yards. Dillon has shown that he can rush for 100 yards a game and be a human highlight reel once he gets the ball.
“He’s in great shape,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur at the beginning of training camp. “I mean, shoot, I was joking with him the other day, you can see the abs on him. That’s hard for a big man to do.”
However, he has also shown a lack of vision. He has shown timidness at the line of scrimmage and the inability to make a decision. Even if it’s the wrong decision, he needs to make a quick decision at the line of scrimmage and then stand by it.
With MarShawn Lloyd back fully healthy, many are expecting big things out of the rookie from USC.
“He is a weapon out of the backfield and we know what he can be with the ball in his hands and what he can do and what he’s capable of,” said LaFleur on Lloyd.
Can Dillon win the No. 2 job from a rookie that showed plenty of sizzle at USC? It all comes down to Dillon’s confidence. He has the tools and the physical ability. He just has to prove that he can be counted on when it matters most.
Dillon has to prove to the Packers and the rest of the NFL that the one-year deal he signed was a steal. He has to make it tough for LaFleur to take him off the field.
He just has to stop thinking and just play. Run around, over and through opponents. That’s what Dillon is best known for and that is what will keep him on the field.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (11)
stockholder
August 10, 2024 at 07:05 am
He's just not going to be unbelievable.
Try a "solid RB" who can help the team.
He'll get his opportunities, if doesn't get hurt.
And thats all we should expect.
pack1487
August 10, 2024 at 07:09 am
"Run around, over and through opponents. That’s what Dillon is best known for and that is what will keep him on the field."
I would say the reason he's in his current predicament is because he has not run around, over, and through opponents nearly enough. In fact, isn't he ranked towards the bottom of the league in yards after contact? I will always cheer for AJ but he has to start producing.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 10, 2024 at 09:49 am
I just watched a Josh Jacobs interview where he says that #28 is the best RB on the team.
Oppy
August 10, 2024 at 11:53 pm
That’s nothing more than Josh Jacob’s understanding respect for other players, and how to become a leader on a team he’s just joined when there are other established vets in the room who have been wearing the green and gold for a few years before he arrived.
I love AJ Dillon, but he is not the caliber of back Jacobs is.
Coldworld
August 10, 2024 at 08:02 am
The 3 preseason games will show whether Dillon is different in terms of burst, wiggle or general offensive threat. Game situations are really the first true test for running backs. If Dillon can get it done then we can start to believe that the light has come on. If Wilson out performs offensively and holds up in protection, then this conversation could change quickly.
Jacobs is out this week probably or will take very limited snaps. Lloyd is going to make the roster. I expect a lot of snaps for Dillon and Wilson.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 10, 2024 at 09:50 am
It will be interesting to see who gets more snaps, Marshawn Lloyd or Emmanuel Wilson. I'm rooting for both to be excellent, but it's unlikely that they get an equal number of snaps in all preseason games combined.
fireball
August 10, 2024 at 11:45 am
Can't see it.
The real " steal " is that A.J.Dillon got 2.7 million dollars for 1 year.
barutanseijin
August 10, 2024 at 04:20 pm
Looks like the same old Dillon: can’t run around guys, can’t run through them, can’t pick up the first down. I hope they have an alternative.
pack1487
August 10, 2024 at 04:40 pm
As I was saying above. Nothing has changed except he now abs while still not being able to "Run around, over and through opponent."
KenEllis
August 10, 2024 at 06:51 pm
It is getting to be ridiculous at this point.
When it comes to Dillon we hear a lot of Quadzilla this and Mayor of Door County that, but any fan paying attention to the play on the field notices that Emmanuel Wilson and even someone named Jarveon Howard look far better than AJ.
Dillon has had plenty of chances to prove he could produce, especially last season when Aaron Jones went down with an injury early in the season, and he has simply failed.
Were AJ not a 2nd round pick he would have been long gone by now.
Oppy
August 10, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Emanuel Wilson is a player who hasn’t seen enough of starting caliber defenses for most of us fans to have any real opinion on. His regular season appearances are such an incredibly small sample size they don’t tell us much of anything, and his preseason wow factor has come mainly against 3rd string defenses.
I don’t think a clear comparison with Dillon is remotely possible.