Right off the bat, my colleague Rcon14 totally nailed it: the Packers need to hit reset on offense, especially when it comes to running the ball. What they’ve tried so far, tactically and with personnel, just isn’t cutting it, and frankly, it never will.
Back to Basics, Please
These guys are stuck in the mud, man. Adding a few new faces to the offensive line isn’t going to magically make some complex run scheme work. No way. They’ve got one choice: get back to basics. We’re talking old-school, mauling football to get that ground game moving. And yeah, maybe I’m drinking a bit too much of the “copium,” but I actually believe they *can* grind it out on the ground with a revamped O-line, just enough to stay competitive. If they can just hit league-average pass protection, their passing game should explode. But that’s a huge “if” across the board. The whole ground game hinges on finding a back who can just hammer away behind that line, driving forward.
Kaleb Johnson: The Square Peg in a Round Hole?
And when you look at that Packers roster right now, one guy sticks out like a sore thumb as the answer: Kaleb Johnson. He was a “relatively” recent trade acquisition, and GM Brian Gutekunst specifically praised his fit for an *outside zone scheme* when they got him. But honestly, I think Gutekunst has this one dead wrong. And three weeks later, nothing has changed my mind. This dude is 224 pounds and ran a 4.57 forty. To say his outside runs have been “bad” is an understatement. Johnson is physically tailor-made to hammer it between the tackles. If the Packers are serious about establishing a power ground game, Johnson’s broad shoulders are going to have to carry the load. Can he do it? He’s definitely shown he can handle heavy workloads. In his 35 college games, he had 20 or more carries eight times, with six of those coming in his final college season. That includes a ridiculous 35 carries in his second-to-last college game. Now, sure, only about 20% of those college carries were in a gap scheme, which is way different from what we saw from Josh Jacobs, who was at 42% and 47% in 2025 and 2024 respectively. But c’mon, that’s college versus the pros.
The Other Guys Just Aren’t It
Here’s the cold hard truth: the Packers don’t have anyone else. MarShawn Lloyd’s running style can be summed up as “going nowhere fast.” And Chris Brooks? He’s been counted on more for pass blocking than actually carrying the rock. So if they want to get this run game to a place where it actually matters, Kaleb Johnson is the guy. They just need to figure out how to use him like the power back he is, not some outside zone specialist.
The season is rolling, and the Packers are at a crossroads with their run game. Will they finally pivot and unleash Johnson between the tackles, or keep trying to force a scheme that just isn’t working? What they decide next could define their early season trajectory.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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