Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Jayden Reed has not only provided a spark in the passing game over the last month but has also been getting more designed touches in the backfield.
In the last four games, Reed has six carries, five of which have come over the last two games, and has totaled 83 rushing yards with a touchdown. That’s an average of 13.8 yards per attempt with a long of 32, and three of those six rushes have totaled at least 15 yards, according to PFF.
“11 (Reed) is a playmaker,” said receivers coach Jason Vrable. “He was in college, and he’s been doing that since he’s been here. I think he’s a natural football player, he’s competitive, and yeah, as many times as we can get the ball in those guys’ hands, good things are going to happen.”
During the pre-draft process, the Packers clocked Reed running a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. With that speed, giving Reed a head start with open space and the ball in his hands can make him really difficult to bring down as his playmaking takes over.
Along with that speed, following the Packers’ selection of Reed in the 2023 NFL Draft, Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan told reporters that Reed’s versatility was another reason the Packers really liked him, specifically mentioning at that time that he could be utilized on jet sweeps and moved around the formation.
Six of Reed’s seven carries this season have come in recent weeks, but Green Bay did try to get him involved in this capacity early on. The opportunities to do so, however, weren’t available, given some of the looks defenses were giving the offense. With the Packers offense struggling through the first half of the season, defenses were very deliberate about crowding the line of scrimmage against Green Bay.
“We tried earlier in the year sometimes,” said Vrable about getting Reed more involved behind the line of scrimmage. “The right look might not be there. They might be pressuring off the edge, so then it looks like maybe we were just using him as a disguise.
“But we’ve had him, we’ve had 9 (Christian Watson) doing some of the same things, and 9 did it last year. Sometimes the front or the coverage or their look dictates where the ball is going to go, so Jordan doesn’t hand it off into a dirty edge or something like that.”
The obvious benefit of using Reed in this capacity is that it puts the ball in his hands in the open field. However, the Packers have now put on tape different ways that they will get Reed involved. Looking ahead, this now sets up the opportunity to use Reed as a decoy, for lack of a better word, helping to create for others within the offense.
Even if there is the threat of Reed getting the ball as the motion man, that can help create mismatches for the offense. Pre-snap movement changes the responsibilities of certain defenders and forces adjustments on the fly. At the snap, defenders have to figure out who has the ball, and that split-second of hesitation can either give the ball carrier the advantage or help open up passing lanes for Jordan Love.
As Reed gets more comfortable with his day-to-day responsibilities as a slot receiver, the Packers can begin putting more on his plate to truly maximize that versatility he possesses. In recent weeks, that’s what we’ve seen happening with these designed touches behind the line of scrimmage.
“He’s just a heck of a competitor,” said Matt LaFleur on Wednesday. “He’s helped us not only in the pass game obviously, but just getting the ball in his hands on reverses, arounds, whatever it may be, screens. I love how he competes, both in the run game and pass game. He’s made plays when given opportunities.”