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By CHEESEHEAD TV By KenLass As the Green Bay Packers roster currently stands, the top two running backs on the team are Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon. Both are of the same basic style, power runners who pass block well and have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Neither, however, is what you would call a home run threat, a slashing, speed type ball carrier who can outrun a secondary to the end zone. In other words, an Aaron Jones type. Both general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur say they will continue to use a multi-running back philosophy this coming season. Jacobs will be the starter and main weapon. Dillon can give him a rest now and then. But if the committee approach is truly going to be successful, the Packers need to add an Aaron Jones-type talent. And that player is likely going to have to come from the draft. With five picks in the first three rounds, Green Bay has enough draft capital to address this need on the first two days of the draft. This is especially true considering most mock drafts have no RBs being picked in the first round. If that plays out, it means the highest rated RB prospects may still be on the board when Green Bay selects in the second round at picks 41 and 58. Aaron Jones, picked in the fifth round, turned out to be one of best ball carriers in franchise history. After watching many highlight clips and poring through personal stats, here are the RBs at the top of this draft class that remind me most of Jones. I’m not saying any of them will be as good as Jones. I’m just pointing out their styles, and the skills they bring to the table, are similar. This would be the knock it out of the park selection. The Florida State star is a bigger, more powerful version of Jones, but with the same wiggle and explosion. At six feet tall and 216 pounds, Benson flashed a 4.39 in the forty at the Combine. He also caught the ball well and was a terror on screen passes for the Seminoles. Benson is at, or near, the top of all RB rankings in this draft, so if the Packers like him, they would likely have to take him at pick 41. He won’t be there at pick 58. Yes, he is very small at five foot eight, but he still packs 213 pounds on his frame and seems to be able to take a beating and keep on rolling. You wouldn’t want him to be your workhorse, but in Green Bay he might be the perfect change of pace slasher the team needs. Terrific shake and direction reversal in the open field. His style is the definition of explosive. Can catch the ball. His size may put him at a disadvantage when it comes to pass protection, but he was born to catch screens and turn them into big plays. Was the lead back for national champion Michigan and made several clutch runs for them. Number one back in that explosive Oregon offense. Not as big a frame as Corum, weighing in at just 192 pounds at five foot nine. Also not quite as fast, turning in a forty time of 4.55. But he can get to that top speed the instant he touches the ball. Exceptional vision to the hole, and the cutback skill to get through it. Breaks a surprising amount of tackles considering his thin body. Can be a high volume pass catcher. Looks designed to be a third down back in the NFL. He’s also more likely to still be there in round three. Here again, would he be able to pass protect? Would he even be called upon to do so? With other needs to fill, Gutekunst may well choose to address the running back position on day three. He might try to repeat the strategy of his predecessor, Ted Thompson, whom he admires, and draft multiple ball carriers in the late rounds. In 2017 Thompson took Jamal Williams in round four, Jones in round five, and Devante Mays in round seven. Williams and Jones were both hits and served as an effective thunder and lightning combination for four years. Gutey told beat writers at the owners’ meetings this week that the 2024 draft class is deep in running backs and the team will be looking to add to that unit. He may not unearth another Aaron Jones, but it’s a pretty good bet that is the type of back he will be searching for. Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
Your Weekly Packers News Update
Searching for an Aaron Jones-type RB – Draft has some possibilities.
Trey Benson
Blake Corum
Bucky Irving
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly