Green Bay Packers RB coach calls out AJ Dillon for lack of consistency

Green Bay truly is in a rebuilding year, what with the Packers guaranteed to have a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2008. That means experienced guys like running back AJ Dillon need to up their game to keep the stress off new QB1 Jordan Love.

Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans said this week he needs for Dillon to be more aggressive this fall. No one can afford lulls in the running game.

“This wasn’t the type of year and expectations that, not only he had for himself but from what I had for him and what others in this building had for him,” Sirmans said of AJ Dillon. “I think that he’s the type of person, at least from what he’s shown me, that he’s going to respond to that challenge and come out and have a much more productive year.

“And you saw a lot of great things in spurts, but that was just the problem, it was just in spurts. It wasn’t consistent and that’s what our goal is.”

AJ Dillon gained 770 yards last season. That meant he took a step back from the year before. And in 2021, that’s when he rushed for 803 yards and averaged 4.3 a carry. Teams want to see year-to-year improvement with their running backs, especially in years two and three in the NFL. The Packers selected Dillion late in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

AJ Dillon is the heft to Aaron Jones’ dash in Packers backfield

The Packers have a nice approach to their running game. AJ Dillon in the might, while Aaron Jones is the flash. It’s Jones who is the starter. So far, Dillon has surpassed 100 yards in only one career NFL game. That was back in 2020, when he gained 124 yards with two scores in a romp over the Titans in 2020. His best game of 2022 was the 93 yards he gained against the Chicago Bears.

“I think that’s something that we talked about, and you bring up just a good point,” Sirmans said of AJ Dillon. “There’s been games when he’s started off the season pretty strong. But there was a point, we talked about it, where it was last year, I thought he could’ve been playing at a more aggressive level. And then we talked about it (and) watched the tape. He saw what I was referring to and then he applied what we talked about to moving on.

“Understanding that, it’s gotta be right from the start. Hey, we know the things that we like that you did last year. And when you played this way you are very effective, but when you play this way, you weren’t. So, we need to start off this way. So, there will be more of an emphasis on how we need to start.”