Dillon is a victim of expectations based on draft position, just like AJ Hawk.
This means Dillon will absolutely have to earn his job in camp. If he’s released he will only count $167,500 in dead cap. Dillon’s presence shouldn’t change the draft strategy whatsoever. If he’s good they keep him on a min deal. If he’s not, small price to move on. https://t.co/eRUZio32SW
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) March 20, 2024
I think Dillon is a max effort guy...I just think he lacks the wiggle of a Derrick Henry to fully maximize his physical gifts.
He has the agility of a fullback...he should have made that pitch in his exit meetings to...be be used in the DeGuara role in 2024. Jus is a little more agile, but AJ has all the other tools.
IMO, it's not that he needs to work harder, it's that MLF needs to put him in a better role to be successful.
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Dillon's biggest problem is that he doesn't have the vision to "run to daylight" ....I don't think you can teach that.
@Chongo posted:I think Dillon is a max effort guy...I just think he lacks the wiggle of a Derrick Henry to fully maximize his physical gifts.
He has the agility of a fullback...he should have made that pitch in his exit meetings to...be be used in the DeGuara role in 2024. Jus is a little more agile, but AJ has all the other tools.
IMO, it's not that he needs to work harder, it's that MLF needs to put him in a better role to be successful.
I agree with that. Dillon blocks well and would make a good lead back. More importantly, he's a better runner after he catches the ball than he is on a straight run. He had catches last year where he jumped guys, stiff-armed them, made yards after contact, etc. Get him out there where a DB has to try to tackle those tree-trunk thighs, and he's a different runner. To put him in a hyrid role where the D doesn't know if he's going to run, block, or catch would be a much, much better use of him than just as an RB.
Dillon has a very limited skill set. He runs a few plays very well but when asked to run the whole rushing playbook, he struggles. It's not a coincidence that Dillon was really good in 2022 when Jones was healthy (one of the highest RB PFF grades) , and not so good when Jones was out in 2023.
He's a good backup as long as the starter is healthy. Let Jacobs rest for a bit, getting 8-10 rushes per game in situations that he excels in. But if the starter goes down, Dillon can't step in.
Still believe it's a 50-50 shot to even make the roster (at best).
I think he's gonna surprise us this year on his one year "prove it" contract.
I'll take that bet.
Dillon is as cheap as a draft pick, knows the offense, is competent in pass pro and catches the ball well. That allows the Packers to draft a more dynamic RB without allocating more resources for the pounder role.
His cap number is only $1.2M, vet minimum for 4yr guy.
Agree with Satori. If the Packers take a RB, Wilson is the odd man out.
Regarding Dillon, it was a cheap and low-risk signing. He knows the offense and runs with some power, but if I’m the Packers I’m hoping he’s at best the No. 3 back and ideally is either on the practice squad or doesn’t make the team at all. I think at this point we know who and what he is.
PS is something I didn't consider.
If he does not make the 53 I'm pretty sure some team will sign him to theirs. So I don't think the PS would be an option. But I also think he will be on the Packers 53 when the dust settles.
@YATittle posted:I think he's gonna surprise us this year on his one year "prove it" contract.
Wasn't Dillon on a "prove it" this past season (being the final year of his contract)??? And with Jones missing so many games, he knew he be the starter and get touches. His stats were not good compared to prior seasons.
That said, I'm glad he re-signed and hope he has a place on the active roster.
One thing to consider is the OL was still coming together as a group when Dillon was forced to start due to Jones injuries. Jones got to run behind the developed group of OL.
Good point^^^^! But Dillon had the opportunity to "prove" himself when while Jones was injured, regardless of the line play. If anything, that would've "proved" his worth even more. And I'm not certain if he'll ever be "that guy" unless that means some other role (FB, H-back, TE maybe) with this team. Again, I'm glad he's back with the team and think LaFleur can find a way to use him.
I do find it perplexing how easy it is to bring Dillon down. He's a big dude, but even an arm across the thighs can take him down. In the video, he ran with better stability and there were times it took several guys to get him down, but there were also many where one guy easily tackles him. Maybe he should do martial arts or something to get better balance and learn how to better use his body.
It drives me crazy with Dillon. So many RBs and WRs do this - tries to sidestep and go lateral thinking he can break free for a big run when he really needs to just dive forward to get those extra 2-3 yards. I get it if you're Aaron Jones. Makes no sense for AJ Dillon.
Dude, just turn that 2 yard run into a 4 yard gain and we'll be stoked.
I'm wondering if he got too enamored with the quadfather/quadzilla, and Mayor of Door County persona to where he lost his way a bit. Hoping he really buckles down and trains hard this off season and comes back ready to improve over last year.
Based on college highlight videos, it seemed he broke a lot of tackles at/near the LOS, and could find a hole to get yards after contact. Often, a lot of yards.
That's the role I envisioned for him; a hard-hitting, short yard specialist who would be the guy for 3rd and short and at/near the goal line.
He would never be an Earl Campbell, but he could be a John Brockington.
He didn't get a lot of opportunities in those situations his first year or two, and blocking could get sketchy at times, but it seemed like he never could take advantage of them when they were available.
I still think that he can excel in certain roles, but I don't know if he'll ever become a bruiser. I hope he gets those opportunities.
Jones is / was way better at short yardage. It’s because Dillon lacks vision and agility. Power is nice, but without the vision it doesn’t equate to much.
@Timmy! posted:Based on college highlight videos, it seemed he broke a lot of tackles at/near the LOS, and could find a hole to get yards after contact. Often, a lot of yards.
That's the role I envisioned for him; a hard-hitting, short yard specialist who would be the guy for 3rd and short and at/near the goal line.
He would never be an Earl Campbell, but he could be a John Brockington.
I still think that he can excel in certain roles, but I don't know if he'll ever become a bruiser. I hope he gets those opportunities.
Dillon does run with his feet really close to the ground as more of a grass-cutter than a high-knee runner. Can you see the damage Dillon would do if he lifted his knees as high as Brockington did? Tacklers would risk getting knocked out with an uppercut to the jaw!
I think Dillon can excel, but I think he might be able to better do it as more of H-back to use his pass-catching ability.
Wasn’t it the Chiefs game he knocked out a player with a knee shot to the side of the head?
100 % Goalline 
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) is helped by medical staff after being injured against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3
The middle linebacker only notched seven plays against the Green Bay Packers before he took a knee to the head from Packers running back AJ Dillon.
@Fandame posted:Dillon does run with his feet really close to the ground as more of a grass-cutter than a high-knee runner. Can you see the damage Dillon would do if he lifted his knees as high as Brockington did? Tacklers would risk getting knocked out with an uppercut to the jaw!
I think Dillon can excel, but I think he might be able to better do it as more of H-back to use his pass-catching ability.
I mean...this is Dillon, no?
@PackLandVA posted:Good point^^^^! But Dillon had the opportunity to "prove" himself when while Jones was injured, regardless of the line play. If anything, that would've "proved" his worth even more. And I'm not certain if he'll ever be "that guy" unless that means some other role (FB, H-back, TE maybe) with this team. Again, I'm glad he's back with the team and think LaFleur can find a way to use him.
How can you "prove" yourself if there are no holes to run through? In games 5 through 14 he had 456 yards on 120 carries for a 3.8 average. Not great but not bad for his lack of speed.
His best game was 70yards on 9 carries for a 7.8 average against the Steelers. That's pretty damn good..
Ohio State was lined up in a 32 formation, (no WR), for most of the game. All that was missing was the cloud of dust.
@ammo posted:How can you "prove" yourself if there are no holes to run through? In games 5 through 14 he had 456 yards on 120 carries for a 3.8 average. Not great but not bad for his lack of speed.
His best game was 70yards on 9 carries for a 7.8 average against the Steelers. That's pretty damn good..
By falling forward when being tackled, more often than not. By not going down after first contact. By running through arm tackles. By punishing defenders at contact. By picking up first downs on 4th and 1, and TDs on 4th and goal, short yardage situations. By creating yards when the blocking isn't great. By turning small seems of daylight into positive yards instead of getting bogged down at or behind the LOS.
I guess I just view "prove himself" to mean that a player will create their own opportunities. A lot of NFL jags can run through holes and pick up positive yardage. But what are tehy really proving? Kinda like the Receiver who is wide open because of a break in coverage. He catches the ball and picks up big yardage, but what did he really prove?
As I've said, I'm very happy AJ is back with the Packers, especially given his contract. I just think that he had an opportunity to "prove himself" in the fnal year of his contract this past season (with Jones being out so long and no other viable RB n the roster). And I don't think he realy passed the test to show he's anything other than a backup RB. And I'm not certain why this one-year deal will suddenly change his mindset and motivation.
Everyone commented on how Brockington and I believe Donny Anderson always ran into contact with knees high. They said it was hard to tackle a guy with the high knees cuz you knew it was going to hurt and tough to get a good shot at a thigh. I don't expect Dillon to all of a sudden run with high knees; just commenting on how low his feet are and wondering if that makes him easier to bring down.
Given that Brockington's coach was Woody Hayes, the other team could have lined up with 11 in the box.
AJ Dillon FB/H-Back #SZN ?!?! pic.twitter.com/dr2eJs1G0e
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) March 26, 2024
AJ Juszczyk would be a fine addition to the offense.
If MLF carries through on his using Dillon like a "moveable piece," Dillon will look more like Juszczyk -- and that's how they should use Dillon. He's not as good as Juszczyk, but he has much of the versatility.