Packers' Aaron Jones emphasizing lower body strength en route to second season

-- There's no lead dog in the Green Bay Packers' backfield, but entering his second season, Aaron Jones is focused on doing all he can to win that job.

One of the steps he needs to take en route to receiving an abundance of snaps -- or, more than his competition -- is improving in pass protection. That's been an emphasis for him during the spring.

"I'm bigger all around," Jones told Packers.com. "That's something that's going to help me in pass protection and that's something I want to get better at. I'm stronger, so definitely when a defender who's bigger than me comes up I can hold my ground this year."

Those carries, for now, are instead in the hands of Jamaal Williams -- a fourth-round (No. 134) pick in 2017, also entering his second season.

The biggest distinction between the two is that Williams has much advanced in pass protection since stepping on the field for rookie minicamp last year. Mastering such a facet of his game is vital for any running back in Green Bay when it comes to protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

That's why it's so crucial that Jones, widely considered to be the most talented tailback on the roster, takes the proper steps necessary in rounding out his game.

Jones had six carries of 20 or more yards in his rookie season, which tied him for the 11th-most in the league. The rate at which those runs came was at a better rate than any other runner in the league, however, which occurred every 13.5 carries.

Jones' explosiveness was one of his most impressive physical traits last season. He presented a nice switch-up from Williams, who is more of a ground-and-pound type of runner.

"I feel like any athlete wants to get bigger, stronger as long as they can stay explosive. I still feel just as explosive as I was, if not even more."

The Packers are operating in a "running back by committee" system, meaning Jones, Williams and Ty Montgomery are all expected to see extended looks in the offense.

That may very well be the best way to approach the situation with so many talented runners in the backfield. It also ensures the possibility that Jones keeps his legs fresh after injuring both knees last season.

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (23)

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pooch's picture

July 03, 2018 at 03:09 pm

He is bigger because he on peds

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TarynsEyes's picture

July 03, 2018 at 03:41 pm

Marijuana isn't the marijuana for the 60's-00's...I don't know but it sure sounds like they do a lot of things to it these days....can PED's not be added?

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egbertsouse's picture

July 03, 2018 at 03:48 pm

No, he's bigger because he scarfs down a whole package of Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies every time light up a blunt.

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GBPDAN1's picture

July 03, 2018 at 04:38 pm

What a bummer as our first 2 games are big division games. Go, Williams, Go Monty!!

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

July 04, 2018 at 08:22 am

You must be smoking PEDs.

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DetroitSUCKS's picture

July 04, 2018 at 12:24 pm

`why do you whore on our site ?m skank

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Lphill's picture

July 03, 2018 at 03:28 pm

Suspended 2 games to start the season.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 03, 2018 at 03:54 pm

My administration endorses strength, power, speed, explosiveness, and pass protection. Not always in any particular order.

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Lare's picture

July 03, 2018 at 04:17 pm

Jones' suspension to start the season may affect how many RB/FB s make the roster on the final cutdown. Could help Mays make it if he has a good camp.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 03, 2018 at 04:42 pm

Wait. When did this suspension happen??? Why have I not heard this before?

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Colin_C's picture

July 03, 2018 at 05:08 pm

I think the league just rolled out a bunch of them today. Saw that Reuben Foster got one as well.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 04, 2018 at 03:01 am

You must have forgotten. He had a traffic stop early in the 2017 season and he was found to be in possession of marijuana as well. That was widely reported. The legal folderol has ended, and the NFL suspended him. He probably was already in the substance abuse program (probably due to a previous positive test) since they handed down a 2-game suspension. Allison got 1 game last year for a traffic stop and possession of marijuana.

Rueben Foster indeed was suspended for 2 games. SF opens up against MN and Detroit. SF figures to be better this year, so I had hopes of SF beating one or both. Of course, SF still might win, but this doesn't help.

Winston was suspended for 3 games, including one against NO. That doesn't help us with getting a higher pick for that first rounder we're going to get.

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Spock's picture

July 04, 2018 at 09:42 am

Bearmeat, For a traffic stop last October where he had been smoking Maryjane.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-suspends-packers-running-back-a...

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stockholder's picture

July 03, 2018 at 06:18 pm

I liked Jones as he was. He's not a FB. He's not a bruiser. He must beat the defense with his legs. Hopefully he doesn't get slower from the weight gain. Power runners get hurt. While strength matters. Jones must use it to his advantage. Monty bulked up to avoid injury. It won't make them a better blocker over night. DeAngelo Yancey lost weight to make himself faster. The backs must hold onto the ball and Run.

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Spock's picture

July 04, 2018 at 09:56 am

stockholder, There was a story on the Packers official site about this. It said Jones and his coach felt he needed to bulk up his legs some to protect against the type of knee injuries (ML's in both legs last season) he had sustained. Sirrians (spelling?) said Jones had not lost any speed and may have even increased his burst. Too bad we won't see that for the first two games. :(

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Tundraboy's picture

July 04, 2018 at 12:56 am

Idiot, Way to put the team first.

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NickPerry's picture

July 04, 2018 at 08:00 am

What I don't understand about the Jones traffic stop was he admitted to smoking Marijuana to the State Trooper. The article in the MJS said the Cop smelled weed, asked about the smell, and Jones told on himself stating he smoked that morning. There was no weed, drugs, or drug paraphernalia in the car. WHY in the world would you offer that up to a policeman? He was already going to get the tickets for speeding and driving without a licence anyways so why throw more on the pile?

Look I get it's the admirable thing to do. I also appreciate his apology because I actually believe it was a heart felt apology. But man o man I'd like to have him against the Bears and Vikings to start the year.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

July 04, 2018 at 08:33 am

"WHY in the world would you offer that up to a policeman?"

I was asking the same thing myself. Police should be treated respectfully, but don't incriminate yourself either.

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zeke's picture

July 04, 2018 at 10:46 am

I spent 15 years as a criminal defence lawyer and cannot count the number of times I told clients "DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE." I can probably count the number of clients that actually followed that advice on one hand, as they were very much the exception to the rule. (Added fun fact: police officer's kids almost never talk, as that's been drilled into them at home). There is a weird dynamic when you are being questioned by police, so it doesn't surprise me.

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Cartwright's picture

July 09, 2018 at 02:30 pm

"Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut." If you can quote me the movie where that line came from, you get two points. From my neck of the woods where the movie is from that got drilled into me at an early age.

Since you were a lawyer, didn't the cop have to prove he was not sober, by administering an on the spot sobriety test so there is hard evidence to show the judge like a breathalyzer does with alcohol? Speeding isn't enough, is it? Couldn't his lawyer have told him to recant his confession putting the onus on the cops to prove it in court. Poor Aaron, if he learned one thing he learned that the cops won't let you slide for anything anymore even if your honest with them. I don't know where he got popped but I bet the flatfoots were Bear fans.

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Koosh's picture

July 10, 2018 at 01:56 pm

Gotta remember, if you didn't call the police, they aren't just not there to help you, the are literally there to hurt you. Always assume that their goal is to make your life worse.

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PatrickGB's picture

July 04, 2018 at 02:38 pm

Driving impaired is always wrong. Those who say it’s ok to do so and then lie about it are also wrong. Sheesh!

Edit.
Zeke, my reply was not in response to your post.

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Cartwright's picture

July 09, 2018 at 03:37 pm

If you drank two beers and hopped in your car you are now legally impaired. Who hasn't ever done that. The law has gotten too strict. People work hard and deserve some time to decompress. Going to the bar does that for many of us. In fact, if your at the bar and had more than one chances are your coming out of the bar legally impaired, not actually impaired. It's just a legal racket to keep the little guy down and make money off us. They may as well prohibit the stuff or shut the bars down like they did back in the thirties and not make criminals out of ordinary hard working people. It ain't fair. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. It's easy for straight folk to just say no but we live in a free society and some freedoms have their consequences. Take the 2nd amendment for instance it has it's consequences but we live with it. Give me liberty or give me death.

When I grew up the drunk driving laws were never this severe. What happened? I'll tell you what happened, we are becoming a police state like or not and we just have to accept it. That's what the Aaron Jones saga tells me. The guy would have made it home. He wasn't shitfaced. That's why he was honest with the Man, but the cops don't give breaks even if the cop drinks himself and believe me many do. You'll find them at the local bar. They need to decompress too, its a tough job. BTW, I drink at home, no more bars, even if the Packers are on TV to enjoy the game with other fans, that's been taken out, I won't do it, I learned my lesson.

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