Cory's Corner: Josh Jacobs Is The Tough Mudder
The Packers have an answer for a rain soaked Lambeau Field.
I cannot think of a better time to unleash the Packers own 4x4 truck with huge tires and gigantic exhaust pipes.
It’s supposed to rain in Green Bay on Sunday. The conditions at Lambeau are going to be less than ideal.
Which means, it’s time for Josh Jacobs. The Packers power back is second in the NFL in yards after contact with 510, second to Derrick Henry’s 521. Even though Jacobs has an ankle injury, he’s going to be the reason why the Packers win on Sunday.
Jacobs and Henry are both tied for the league lead with 145 rushing attempts. Jacobs has notched 15 carries five times — including 32 carries vs. Indianapolis in Week 2.
“He’s just a tough, rugged runner,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur in August. “I don’t think we will truly get to appreciate his value until we get into live situations, that’s really what he’s known for. He’s a punishing runner.”
Sunday’s game vs. Detroit is big. The Packers lost to the Lions at Lambeau Field last year. Then there was 2022. All the Packers had to do was win to get in the playoffs and the Lions came to town and blew that all apart. The Packers lost 20-16 and missed the playoffs in Aaron Rodgers’ last game as a Packer.
But it is still weird. These are the Lions after all. They went 0-16 in 2008. From 1993-2016, the Lions never won a playoff game — losing eight wild card games.
Even without Aiden Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in a gruesome injury, the Lions are still arguably the best NFC team right now. Jared Goff has reinvigorated his career and is a top candidate for the MVP. Goff is second in the NFL in passer rating with 115.3, behind Lamar Jackson’s 115.4. Also, the Lions lead the lead with a point differential of plus-100.
So no matter who starts at quarterback for the Packers, this is Jacobs’ game. The Packers must control the clock and the pace of the game. They need to grind the Detroit defense down to a pulp if they want to walk away from this huge matchup on the top line of the NFC North.
I think Malik Willis should start to give Jordan Love ample rest before the bye week, but that doesn’t mean the Packers don’t have a shot. Willis has looked amazing. He threw a perfect 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed with 1:13 left at Jacksonville to set up the game-winning field goal.
The Packers have ranked near the bottom in the league in run blocking, but LaFleur can get around that with misdirection and plenty of motion.
Jacobs may have had a bad ankle all week, but come kickoff, his adrenaline will make him feel full strength. Also expect Jacobs to catch the ball on screens, swings and release passes.
This game has Jacobs’ name all over it. The Lions have only allowed 102 yards a game, but they haven’t met the angry physicality that Jacobs doles out on each run.
Welcome to the next installment of Green Bay’s Tough Mudder. This is going to be fun.
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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 (37)
Matt
November 02, 2024 at 07:07 am
In 36 hours I'd love to say: "You were right!".
GregC
November 02, 2024 at 07:26 am
Does that fancy hybrid turf at Lambeau Field even get muddy when it rains? I'm not sure, but I agree that this should be a busy day for Josh Jacobs.
dobber
November 02, 2024 at 08:56 am
Remember the field has a reputation for always being a bit slick. I'm guessing the rain doesn't make it any better.
GregC
November 02, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Come to think of it, a slick field may not bode well for Jordan Love's return. He could be vulnerable to aggravating his groin injury. Malik Willis, on the other hand, may actually be more effective on a slippery field, running some RPOs and misdirection stuff.
dblbogey
November 03, 2024 at 01:00 am
Anyone remember Eric Torkelson? He was a mudder. I think he had one good game in his career, and it was in a rainstorm.
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:01 am
I vaguely recall the name but that's it
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:00 am
I miss muddy games. i'm old enough to remember when players would be so covered in mud you didn't know who they were because you couldn't see their numbers. so fun.
Guam
November 02, 2024 at 07:36 am
I love Jacobs, but the O-line is going to have to do their part and open some holes. Myers maybe out with a left wrist injury so Jenkins would shift to center with Rhyan at LG and Morgan at RG. That actually may work better as Myers is the Packers lowest rated run blocker.
Leatherhead
November 02, 2024 at 12:56 pm
And without Myers, somebody else will be our lowest rated run blocker. The question is can the offense continue to get over 6 yards/play? That's one of the top offenses in the league, in the air and on the ground. and I think it's unlikely that losing your starting Center improves that.
Guam
November 02, 2024 at 06:08 pm
Yes but if the next lowest rated run blocker is much better than Myers, doesn't the run blocking get better? And that may not be a high bar since Myers is one of the lowest rated run blocking centers. I strongly suspect Jenkins is a much better center than Myers.
LLCHESTY
November 02, 2024 at 06:21 pm
I don't always trust PFF 's grades but Myers 43.9 run blocking grade sounds about right. That ranks him 55th out of their 56 rated centers. Even Monk would probably be better but I'm not sure you want a rookie making the line calls with a hobbled QB.
LLCHESTY
November 02, 2024 at 06:11 pm
The running game will be better minus Myers. The pass blocking should be fine vs a Lions ass rush without Hutchinson.
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:03 am
he said "ass rush" heh heh, heh heh
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 10:25 pm
bet I can guess who our lowest rated ball snapper was
barutanseijin
November 02, 2024 at 07:50 am
His father was a mudder. His mother was a mudder.
Starrbrite
November 02, 2024 at 01:23 pm
Lol
murf7777
November 02, 2024 at 07:58 am
This is the main reason they brought Jacobs in. Totally agree with your thoughts.
Coldworld
November 02, 2024 at 08:12 am
The Lions run D’s best attribute has been the leads they have had. It’s not that good. In the other hand, while a slippery surface might not suit Gibbs, it may well suit Montgommery.
The worse the conditions the more it tends to level QB play. That might be our biggest advantage from really wet conditions, though it makes it harder to get to the QB fast. Love isn’t going to be 100% if he plays and wet turf may hinder Willis’ threat on the ground.
dobber
November 02, 2024 at 08:58 am
It will be interesting to see what the Lions trot out on their right side DL...they're already missing their two starting DE, and their "next man up" is out this week, too. That aligns well with the Packers strength which has been running left. Lousy conditions tend to favor the actor, not the reactor.
LLCHESTY
November 02, 2024 at 06:13 pm
If Jenkins is at center and Rhyan at LG they should have better inside running also.
beerandbrats
November 02, 2024 at 09:02 am
I really hope it's cold, wet and muddy because the lions don't like to play outdoors! Ground and pound them into submission with some old school Packer football!
BruceC1960
November 02, 2024 at 09:41 am
Anyone know when Marshawn Lloyd is due back.
GregC
November 02, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I haven't heard a peep. They put him on IR on September 17th. He was eligible to return against the Texans on October 20th, so this will be the third game he's missed since being eligible to return and the 7th overall. I'm beginning to wonder if they won't bring him back at all this season, as the backup RBs have been decent. That would be kind of a shame, though, as he was highly drafted and obviously has a lot of potential. It's an ankle injury, and before that he had hip and hamstring injuries.
dobber
November 02, 2024 at 02:42 pm
To my knowledge, they haven't opened his practice window, yet. I might have just missed it.
LLCHESTY
November 02, 2024 at 06:26 pm
LaFleur was asked about him this week. I don't remember exactly what he said but it was an evasive answer. Maybe they plan on him practicing after the bye with three weeks to make a decision then. What's surprising is he didn't think it was serious after the game.
BruceC1960
November 02, 2024 at 09:05 pm
When he gets back we’ll have some serious depth at RB. Hope he is over the fumbling problem.
dblbogey
November 03, 2024 at 12:57 am
I heard Nagler talk about Lloyd a couple of days ago. It sounds like it'll be at least another month.
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:08 am
right? I forgot he was on the team
Leatherhead
November 02, 2024 at 12:51 pm
I liked Jacobs and thought it was a good move to get him when it happened. I feel the same way now, maybe better. He gets to the LOS clean and makes one cut and the defense has one, maybe two shots to stop this guy before everybody chases him downfield. And Kraft, and our WRs, are making the kind of downfield blocks that change a good run into a great one and Jacobs finishes runs. I'm a fan.
The Lions are definitely a team that wants to "stuff the run", and they're good at it. The Packers are a team that likes to freeze the safeties with play action and then throw it deep , and they're good at that. They protect, their QB throws strikes, and their receivers are all big threats. The more trouble the Lions have in stuffing Jacobs, the more vulnerable they get to the downfield strike.
Oppy
November 03, 2024 at 05:03 am
Leatherhead, just read your last sentence. It’s almost like you’re finally admitting that stopping the run is an important factor in overall defense. Does this mean you are going to stop with the snark when someone suggests the Packers need to stop the run? Or is fundamental football different for the packers than it is for the lions and other teams?
Leatherhead
November 03, 2024 at 07:23 am
No. It means that I’d rather have teams run for 5 than throw for 7. The Lions have a different strategy.
Starrbrite
November 02, 2024 at 01:35 pm
I said it a couple times—I have a great feeling about this game. Jacobs and Kraft will be the difference makers. The crowd and the weather will help us.
I raved early on about about our acquisitions of both Jacobs and X.
I hope Lloyd will make it back soon—I love his speed and misdirection; a Jacobs Lloyd combo looks to be potentially lethal.
I mostly have disagreed with most of y’all about injuries; I am glad Love is starting; if he tweaks the injury, Willis is ready.
I said last year- Detroit would have rather played the 9’rs than us in the playoffs. Turns out both of us should’ve beaten the 9’rs.
Go Packers!!!
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2024 at 01:48 pm
#8 and Kraft vs Montgomery and LaPorta, Checkmate. Now, if Love starts, he has better control over the ball with his grip vs Goff who can fumble the nut when pressured. This Game is on the Pack's Defense to tackle well and contain the outside. The lions have a solid O line who can play beat down football.
Starrbrite
November 02, 2024 at 02:43 pm
Exactly right J.
LeotisHarris
November 02, 2024 at 09:08 pm
Do you ever, just our of the blue, feel like grinding something down to a pulp with angry physicality? I've found, historically, that The Corner is a place where random thoughts come to intertwine and become whatever they may. But, on the other hand, she had a wart. I know Bobby Layne would run it if he could. Whomever wins will be in the lead, at least for now. Sooner or later, something has to give.
Edgar Bennett was a mudder, that's for damn sure. Remember the playoff game against the 49ers in a daylong rain that turned Lambeau into a muddy swamp? Bennett led the Packers with 80 yards rushing on 17 attempts and also scored two touchdowns in a 35-14 win. A week later on a 3-degree day (okay so the field was hard mud), Bennett again led the Packers with 99 yards on 25 carries to crush Carolina. Mudder!
This is shaping up to be a big one, and it's too soon to tell if it will have playoff implications. What happens when the immovable object meets the irresistible force on a muddy not frozen tundra? That remains to be seen, I guess, but pad level will come into play. Even without injured players and with some new healthy ones, the Lions are a force to be reckoned with even if they lost the NFC title game a year ago. They lost a lot of games outside in the past 50 years. Quite a few inside, too. They play inside at home.
Dan Campbell has changed the culture in Detroit, but Josh Jacobs can produce adrenaline to overcome ankle injuries. It rained hard yesterday and it looks like rain for tomorrow. Fritz Shurmur devised a plan to hold Barry Sanders to -3 yards rushing. In the immortal words of Kevin Green "Have fun. That's it. Just get out there and have fun. Play free, That's all." That's why Jacobs is here.
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:18 am
of course this game has playoff implications
Mister Chievous
November 03, 2024 at 09:21 am
sorry to rain on your parade but there is no evidence to support your article's theme, that Jacobs is a mudder. it's all just speculation. Jacobs has no more experience than the lion's backs in today's conditions.