The Green Bay Packers turned some heads across the NFL, when the franchise allowed legendary running back Aaron Jones to walk via free agency — and Jones walked right into the arms of the division rival Minnesota Vikings, but the coaching staff is all in on his replacement.
Josh Jacobs, whom Green Bay signed moments after free agency began last spring, is turning in one of the more prolific and memorable seasons in recent memory for the Packers.
Through the first 14 weeks of the season, Jacobs is currently the NFL’s third-leading rusher, trailing only Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry for the rushing crown, while posting 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“He’s a coaches dream,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur recently told reporters, of Jacobs.
Josh Jacobs Impressing Packers Coaching Staff in First Season in Green Bay
Jacobs has become a focal point of the Packers’ offense, while surpassing 100 rushing yards three times and posting three multi-touchdown games.
Packers special teams coach Rich Bisaccia coached Jacobs with the Las Vegas Raiders prior to a reunion this season, and believes that the best days are in front of the 26-year-old former rushing champion.
“As far as football goes,” Bisaccia said, via The Athletic. “I still think we’re just scratching the surface with Josh Jacobs. In this building, we’re all just learning about what the young man’s makeup is. He is a real-deal running back. He’s built to carry the ball, he’s built to catch it, he’s built to protect and he loves football.
“He loves the grind of practice, he loves the grind of mental preparation, he loves the grind of playing in games. What you see from him in games is the way he practices. That’s the way he practiced when we were together before and that’s the way he practices now and I think because of the example he set in practice, they have gotten a certain amount of respect for him and for what he’s going to do in the games.”
While it might be a longshot for Jacobs to win a second rushing title of his career this season, he says its his goal to continue rewarding the coaching staff’s faith in him and do what he can to power the Packers’ offense down the stretch.
“I just like believing in myself, man,” Jacobs told reporters after rushing for three touchdowns against the Lions last week. “I like giving the extra effort. I know, like at the end of the day, if it’s one guy, two guys, I still like me. So that’s why I just try to come in and give coach the confidence to keep handing me the ball in the red zone.”
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