Matt LaFleur's experience in run-first offenses

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has done wonders for this Green Bay offense in his first three seasons at the helm. They are coming off of two-straight top-10 seasons in total offense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the back-to-back NFL MVP. However, the best work he has done with the offense is in the running game. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon rushed for over 1,600 yards combined in 2021 and the team has finished in the top 15 each of the last three seasons in rushing yards per game. The Green Bay Packers have been a better rushing team under LaFleur than they ever were under Mike McCarthy for 13+ seasons. LaFleur's experience before he came to Green Bay in run-first offenses has been very key to the rushing offense's success.

Everywhere Matt LaFleur has been in the NFL, he has had a fantastic running back. As an offensive assistant with the Texans in 2009, he got a great glimpse of rookie Arian Foster. In Washington, in 2012 as quarterbacks coach, he saw rookie Alfred Morris become an All-Pro as a running back. With the Falcons in 2015 as quarterbacks coach, he witnessed running back Devonta Freeman become an All-Pro. As the co-offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, LaFleur coached Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley en route to the team's Super Bowl appearance. In 2018, as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, LaFleur coached All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. In three consecutive seasons from 2016-2018, Matt LaFleur was a part of three different rushing offenses that finished in the top 10. So, it is fair to say that Matt LaFleur has been around some very good running backs, and he has been a very important catalyst for some elite rushing offenses.  

Looking at 2022 for Green Bay's offense, LaFleur will look to rely heavily on the duo of Jones and Dillon in the backfield as Aaron Rodgers looks to gain a strong connection with some of his new receivers. If there is a coach that can be successful on offense after losing his top two receivers (Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling), it is Matt LaFleur. Look for Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to have career years on the ground this upcoming season, along with the Packers offense still being very efficient.