How Will MarShawn Lloyd Fit Into the Packers Offense When He Returns?
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd has returned to practice this week. The team now has a three-week window to activate him on the 53-man roster or to have him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. But how exactly will Lloyd fit into the Packers offense once he returns and who will be affected most if he is activated?
The rookie third-round pick out of USC excited the Packers coaching staff and GM Brian Gutekunst with his speed and cutback ability. Lloyd averaged an impressive 7.1-yards per carry in his final year in college and scored nine rushing touchdowns in 11 games.
The idea behind drafting Lloyd was that he offered a different running style and skill set than Josh Jacobs or A.J. Dillon. He could allow the team to have a runner who could run to the edge and use his speed as his primary weapon. He could replace some of the productivity and style of Aaron Jones who the Packers parted ways with this offseason when the team and Jones’ agent could not agree on a reduced cap number.
Unfortunately, injuries slowed Lloyd throughout training camp and into the regular season. He has only appeared in one game, the Packers Week 2 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Lloyd carried six times for 15 yards and caught one pass for three yards. He suffered an ankle injury and was placed on the injured reserve after the game.
One thing that is clear is that even after Lloyd returns, Jacobs will remain the team’s starting running back when healthy. He will continue to get the bulk of the carries. Jacobs has been the team’s offensive MVP in the first half of the season. The free agent addition already has gained 762 yards this season. That puts him on pace to have the third highest single season rushing total in Packers history.
With Lloyd injured, the duo of Wilson and Chris Brooks have been backing up Jacobs and getting a few carries each per game.
Wilson is the more dynamic runner of the duo. He has 55 rushing attempts this season and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Brooks was a later addition to the roster. Thus far, Brooks has 53 yards in 13 carries and four catches for 29 yards.
The coaching staff seems to be favoring Brooks more in recent games. He has been on the field for 17 offensive snaps in each of the team’s last two games. Wilson played 12 offensive snaps in Week 8 against the Jaguars and 13 at Lambeau Field against the Lions in Week 9.
The main reason for Brooks’ increased playing time remains his ability to pass protect and pick up blitzes. Protecting Jordan Love is one of the team’s paramount concerns, especially on third and long or other obvious passing downs. Brooks is more consistent and reliable in this area and that is the biggest reason he has been on the field more often.
Lloyd has yet to prove he can be good enough in pass protection and blitz pickups to be on the field in those obvious passing situations. That means he is more likely to cut into Wilson’s playing time than Brooks’.
Because of the Preston Smith trade, the Packers do not need to make another roster move if they choose to activate Lloyd for Sunday’s game against the Bears.
But what are the odds that head coach Matt LaFleur and Gutekunst keep four running backs on the active roster for the rest of this season? The team could choose to try to waive Wilson or Brooks and place them on the practice squad if they successfully pass through waivers. Green Bay already has Ellis Merriweather available on the practice squad right now.
The Packers have high hopes for Lloyd long term. His injuries have already shelved him for about half of his rookie season. If he can stay healthy, he may add a different dimension to the offense down the stretch. First, the rookie needs to get back on the roster and back on the field to show what he can do.
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Comments (43)
LambeauPlain
November 14, 2024 at 10:05 am
If Lloyd has been practicing full go Matt will know what plays and packages to use for him.
I would certainly activate him and see what he can do in spot action. This is the game to do it. On offense, this is the game for the Infantry.
I like both Wilson and Brooks. But neither is the change up to JJ. Lloyd is, and should open up the ground game for both JJ and the OL by widening the attack lanes.
Finally some Lighting to go with that Thunder?
LLCHESTY
November 14, 2024 at 11:14 am
The Bears are 24th in rushing yards given up per game and 28th in yards per carry allowed so it would be a nice game to get him a handful of touches if he's fully healthy. I'd also like to see a couple plays designed to get him some open field receptions. LaFleur talked about it in TC but that might have to wait until he's played and practiced for a couple weeks.
Coldworld
November 14, 2024 at 11:27 am
He’s still banged up per the injury report, limited with ankle and hamstring injuries. He’s in his first of 3 weeks in which he could be activated and it sounds like he’s not at his peak yet. He was out with a high ankle strain, so there seems still to be some hangover there. Presumably they are confident that one is close or they wouldn’t have returned him to practice. I don’t know if the hamstring is new or a lingering issue since camp.
I’d leave him where he is and hope he can get fully healthy before we get to see what he is capable of. At this point playing him won’t see him at his best and could even set him back physically. I’m fine with Wilson, particularly, and Brooks behind Jacobs this weekend, admittedly.
kozmo
November 14, 2024 at 11:31 am
this kid will go down as. the best back taken in this years draft,, Hes a stud
dblbogey
November 14, 2024 at 04:28 pm
Studs are available to play. We'll see if Lloyd stays healthy before we stud him.
Starrbrite
November 14, 2024 at 08:04 pm
Well said Lambeau—and yes, let’s activate Lloyd and see what shakes.
Spock
November 14, 2024 at 10:08 am
I'd be very surprised if we see Marshawn this weekend. Protecting Love is too important at the moment to experiment with putting in an (unneeded at the moment) extra RB.
stockholder
November 14, 2024 at 10:14 am
Lloyd will always be on the injuries list.
So the discussion is over.
The fact remains.
The 3rd round jinx still is in play.
Payton Wilson was what we needed.
Another 3rd Wasted.
jannesbjornson
November 14, 2024 at 10:47 am
Bucky Irving would have been the guy to fill the scat back role of A. Jones, but I liked Lloyd as well with his bigger frame. Wilson has not lit up the lighting board. They bagged Cooper & Hopper. These guys should be on the field. After blowing a two pick on Musgrave, he secured a bonafide TE in Round three, Tucker Kraft. The best TE from the '23 draft, in my opinion. LaPorta is a receiving guy.
stockholder
November 14, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Wilson has lost some time.
But Nobody is saying he is a bust.
The concern is stuffing the run.
LLCHESTY
November 14, 2024 at 11:02 am
"The 3rd round jinx still is in play."
I guess if you don't count two starters on offense it is. Ridiculous as usual.
stockholder
November 14, 2024 at 12:54 pm
I only said it was in play.
That doesn't mean it was broken.
As you suggest.
Oppy
November 15, 2024 at 09:17 am
“I’ve been called out on accuracy, time to try and salvage some pretense of validity”
Packers0808
November 14, 2024 at 11:19 am
Just go away into the sunset.
TKWorldWide
November 15, 2024 at 08:25 am
Weird how things get interpreted!
When I read “Another 3rd Wasted.”, I thought you were telling us you always spill 33% of your beer.
Oppy
November 15, 2024 at 09:13 am
So stockholder proclaims it, so it shall be
ricky
November 14, 2024 at 10:19 am
Is there a future for Dillon on the Packers? Because it seems he is the forgotten man in this scenario. Dillon's agent should have already asked the Packers what their intentions are, and get ready to try to see if he could sign on with another team during the off-season. Because last season he was ineffective after being on an upward trajectory. I'm not a hater, and would not be happy to see him cut. I still miss Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. But the NFL is a league of replacement, finding cheaper, more versatile players to replace those who don't show the ability to stay on the field and produce during a game.
jannesbjornson
November 14, 2024 at 10:51 am
Dillon is gone, for good. Williams has paid for his bruising style with a chair on the injury list.
Coldworld
November 14, 2024 at 11:13 am
Wilson and perhaps Brooks have been more effective as runners and as good in pass pro as Dillon has been. Wilson at least has done more with the ball when passed to. Brooks is too small a sample. Lloyd is in addition to that as a change of pace back. I do not see Dillon back, even if and when he is fully healthy.
vin0770
November 14, 2024 at 10:56 am
Brooks has caught attention and is a great find. I don’t know how big he is but he seems like a load, the pile always move forward and maybe he’s big enough to stand up a blitzing LB in pass protection! What a great find, don’t see a pressing need to add another RB to the rotation, but I’d still love to see MarShawn in the open field just once👍🏼
Coldworld
November 14, 2024 at 11:36 am
Brooks at 6’ 1” is 3 inches taller than Jacobs and Wilson (both 5’10). He’s listed at about 4 pounds lighter than Jacobs, who is 224. Wilson is a couple of pounds heavier. So all are reasonably big backs, though Brooks is less compact. Lloyd is 5’9” and 220. For comparison, Jones is 5’9” and 208.
vin0770
November 14, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Thanks 👍🏼
Leatherhead
November 14, 2024 at 11:27 am
Every touch that Lloyd has is one less touch for somebody else.
If we run 64 plays in a game, I'd like about 55 of them to be to Jacobs, Reed, Doubs, Kraft, and Wilson, because those are our. These five guys that are accounting for 75% of our yardage and only 3 fumbles in 9 games.
Jacobs has 177 touches....almost 20 per game. He has more touches than the next 4 combined (Wilson, Reed, Doubs, Kraft).
I think this is what our team is. The others, like Lloyd, aren't going to get many opportunities unless people get hurt.
jannesbjornson
November 14, 2024 at 11:54 am
Depends on the opponent. Belichick let Brady toss it 65 times vs the 49rs, close to 95% for the plays called.
Leatherhead
November 14, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I think you do what you do well and make the opponent stop that. The 49ers beat the Packers in 2019 and ran about 90% of the time, and we couldn't stop it.
What is our bread and butter? What gets us down to the field and into the endzone?
You're a tennis guy, right? Do you change your game according to your opponent, or do you do what you do best?
jannesbjornson
November 14, 2024 at 01:02 pm
I use whatever game I have left in this 71 year old body. Tall guys get chopped and sliced until their back gives out.
greengold
November 15, 2024 at 09:25 am
Exactly, LH. Keep going to the well.
We all should have learned that lesson v. SF in the 2020 NFCC. Raheem Mostert. First player in NFL history to have 200+ yds. rushing and 4 rushing TDs in a playoff game. 29 carries. 42 total rushing attempts by SF that night.
The Packers defense missed 13 tackles in that one game.
Kyle Shanahan bullied our D with their power running game, and Garoppolo threw just 8 passes. 27-0 at the half. 34-7 to start Q4.
Would love to see LaFleur call a simpler game for Jordan Love - every game the rest of the way. Use that running game. The Packers are currently the #4 Rushing offense in the NFL - with only 9 games played. We rank #6 in Rushing Attempts, #4 in Rushing Yards and #2 in Rush yds/game.
Not sure why, but we rank #20 in Rushing TDs with only 6.
I wish Matt LaFleur would lean more on running the rock 1st and goal from the 10, where teams score TDs 75% of the time running the ball on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd downs.
Keep going to the well. Run the rock. Everything else in the passing game will open up big time.
I agree with your core group GB should give the majority of touches to v. CHI, and beyond.
LLCHESTY
November 14, 2024 at 02:06 pm
Lloyd has the ability to break big plays that Jacobs and Wilson don't have. It's crazy not to involve a guy like that in the offense.
Coldworld
November 14, 2024 at 02:40 pm
Get him healthy and I agree, he’s a dimension we don’t have. That said, it’s also one we should currently be able to survive without until he is healthy. Patience. Lloyd missed a lot of time and isn’t fully practicing yet.
kozmo
November 14, 2024 at 11:34 am
im saying that this kid is a stud.....when he gets on the field he will show out and be. the second back in rotation behind Jacobs....best back in the draft
GregC
November 14, 2024 at 12:20 pm
I see Marshawn Lloyd as being more similar to Josh Jacobs than to Aaron Jones. They are about the same height, weight, and speed. Which is fine. You can plug him in to give Jacobs a breather without having to change your offense. Lloyd does have more lateral movement to bounce plays to the outside, and maybe they can draw up a few special plays for him, but for the most part, I expect him to do the same things Jacobs is doing. He just needs to stay healthy, learn how to pass block, and not fumble the ball. It makes sense that Lloyd will take snaps away from Emmanuel Wilson rather than Chris Brooks, due to Brooks being so good in pass protection, but if you think of it in terms of a roster spot, Wilson may still be more valuable than Brooks based on potential. It's an interesting dilemma. Maybe they will just carry all four RBs on the roster for now.
Coldworld
November 14, 2024 at 02:58 pm
Lloyd is a 4.4s runner on 40 times. Jacobs is a 4.6s runner. Wilson ran in the 4.5s. Lloyd is also faster to accelerate, with a better 10 yard split. Brooks was slower than the others at both distances.
Lloyd is able to be at full speed almost immediately. Its striking. He’s more likely to gash through a big hole or, more often, take it outside than Jacobs. He’s elusive once in the open field, but I don’t see him as having the ability to find creases like Jacobs does.
He was better outside the tackles than between them, wher he lacks the instinct to anticipate creases and hesitates or dances, whereas Jacobs sniffs them out instinctively. I’d say Wilson is sort of in between the two. Brooks is more a between the tackles pounder.
GregC
November 14, 2024 at 03:59 pm
The 40 times I saw were 4.46 for Lloyd and 4.52 for Jacobs. Not all that different. Lloyd played in a wide open offense at USC and maybe didn't get tested so much running between the tackles. I'm hoping he can be effective on inside runs. It's such an instinctive thing. I'd like to see him get some chances for that kind of running. He's built low to the ground and has a lot of power.
LLCHESTY
November 14, 2024 at 02:04 pm
I liked Lloyd in the draft because he reminded me of Jones quite a bit, only bigger and faster. It was hard to judge him at USC because that offense spread defenses out so much but if you watched some of his carries at the other USC you could see the natural instincts that special backs have. If he can stay healthy that will eventually shine through.
Coldworld
November 15, 2024 at 09:07 am
Lloyd isn’t that much faster in terms of long speed, though he is. It’s his ability to hit that speed very quickly that makes him different. He’s a player that wins by burst not so much finding creases or power. Without a clear hole, he has a tendency to hesitate and dance between the Ts not plow forward decisively. Thats if he doesn’t just bounce it outside, which, with his burst, can be very effective.
Give him an opening between the Tackles and he’s through it like lightening, but we aren’t consistently good at doing that. Our RBs have been excelling at yards after contact (Jacobs is second in the league at that and Wilson is in the top 20).
LeotisHarris
November 14, 2024 at 03:48 pm
How will MarShawn Lloyd fit into the Packers offense when he returns, you ask? Let's go with multiple choice answers (Midwest edition) to that question:
1. Not too bad/not too shabby.
2. Okay, if it's not too much trouble.
3. Pretty good, if you ask me.
4. Alright, I guess, if you think of it.
5. Not sure, but they must have guys working on it.
6. Who wants to know?
7. I suppose about as well as anybody would.
8. Ope, sorry. I should have had a better answer ready.
9. Huh?
10. Well, we better get going. Long drive ahead.
Major Snafu
November 14, 2024 at 06:45 pm
Let's see, two injuries and already missing half the season and he hasn't really played.
Put me down as not expecting much from him. Besides if he was that good hey wouldn't have needed Jacobs would they.
Look he was round three in a draft full of backs so there were a lot of teams that passed on him twice a few three times.
They knew something.
GregC
November 15, 2024 at 03:40 am
You could say that about any third round pick, but it's still a high pick, and he was the 4th RB taken. Watch his college highlights. The guy's got talent.
Oppy
November 15, 2024 at 09:24 am
Marshawn Lloyd: you’ll love him if he ever wears purple
Starrbrite
November 14, 2024 at 08:12 pm
Personally I like Brooks more that Williams. He seems to have a better burst and the pass pro is critical.
But I’m jazzed to see Lloyd. The few glimpses we’ve witnessed have impressed me; it seems he can change direction on a dime.
I hope we see him this week.
Go Packers!!!
Oppy
November 15, 2024 at 09:26 am
The biggest question with Lloyd will be when he gets on the field will he protect the rock? Yet to be determined.
greengold
November 15, 2024 at 10:05 am
And, pass pro.
Oppy
November 15, 2024 at 12:52 pm
I fully expect his pass pro to be a long term work in progress.
For that reason, they may be interested in getting him involved in plays where he’s motioned out to the flank or on screens, while he gets his bearings. I don’t know if he’s a capable route runner / has soft hands, but he looks like a young man who can do some serious damage in space.