Packers head coach Matt La Fleur has historically favored a multi-back method in Inexperienced Bay however has mentioned that he views Jacobs as extra of a high-volume again. You must return to the 2017 season when LaFleur was the Rams’ offensive coordinator to discover a again he coached that topped the 300-touch mark, however that could be what’s in retailer for Jacobs this coming season.
LaFleur additionally likes calling cross performs for his backs, and Jacobs mentioned that the Packers “have me working actual routes” – maybe a veiled shot at his utilization with the Las Vegas Raiders. And it appears like he is planning on a variety of third-down responsibility in Inexperienced Bay.
“Simply to have the ability to come out and really present that I can catch the ball extra,” Jacobs mentioned. “Not simply that however trusting me sufficient to have the ability to decide up protections. It is simply so particular once you obtained a man like Jordan Love again there, and you may’t actually simply load the field each play, and also you make defenses determine what they need to cease. I believe that is going to be the most important assist for me this 12 months.”
Love additionally may assist Jacobs tremendously after wallowing at instances via some middling QB play with the Raiders. Though Love began final season slowly, he completed it on a tear, main the Packers to an sudden playoff victory.
Primarily based on Jacobs’ restricted first-hand publicity to him thus far, Love seems to own every little thing it takes to thrive persistently.
“To me, simply from what I’ve seen, he has all of the traits and all of the instruments to be a celebrity on this league,” Jacobs mentioned. “I believe that as he retains persevering with to play and will get expertise and turns into extra assured in his skills and what he can do, he will be the subsequent celebrity on this league, for certain.”
Jacobs additionally sees Inexperienced Bay as a giant a part of his future, too. Though his contract is structured in such a manner the place he is not assured to be there for all 4 years of the deal, Jacobs mentioned he hopes that it is a spot the place he can put some roots down – and begin to cement his NFL legacy.
“I can actually say that as I am getting older and I am taking part in longer, I’ve an actual aim of legacy,” he mentioned. “I believe that is a giant factor – eager to play in essential video games, play within the playoffs, make a deep run and, you recognize, play in that recreation if we get there. That is large for me. I believe that is crucial factor.”
Jacobs, at a venerable 26 years outdated, additionally can not help however discover that he is one of many Packers’ elder statesmen on offense. With veterans David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones gone this offseason, 28-year-old Elgton Jenkins is the one projected Packers starter on offense that is older than Jacobs. Almost all of the Packers’ skill-position gamers are of their first, second or third NFL seasons coming into 2024.
“I am one of many oldest guys on the staff,” he mentioned. “I do not take that basically frivolously. Coming in and also you’re seeing these guys, particularly these younger receivers on the cusp of being a gamers on this league, and being the face and being in a family staple, and having the ability to assist information them and train them little issues about what I do or what I see to assist them elevate their recreation to the subsequent stage. I believe that is part of the rationale why they introduced me in right here.”
Jacobs admits he nonetheless roots for the Raiders, however “clearly not after we play them,” he mentioned. (The Raiders and Packers should not scheduled to face one another in 2024.)
He is additionally very shut with certainly one of his former teammates whom Packers followers know effectively, Davante Adams.
When Jacobs signed with the Packers, he despatched Adams an eyeball-emoji textual content, asking him if he deliberate to comply with Jacobs again to Inexperienced Bay. Contemplating the commerce rumors that had floated round Adams, it actually may have been a loaded query, even when Jacobs insists it was all in good enjoyable along with his buddy.
“Me and Davante, you bought to grasp the connection we’ve,” Jacobs mentioned. “We joke round with one another loads. We speak about sure issues. Principally, once I despatched him the eyeballs, it was extra so about how loopy life works out. He leaves there and goes to the Raiders, and I am going there. That is type of simply what we was speaking about.”
However for now, Jacobs mentioned he is simply studying to regulate to a far totally different tempo in Inexperienced Bay than existed in Vegas, noting that it has put extra of his focus squarely on soccer, which he believes is right in his new setup.
It is so quiet, it is peaceable,” he mentioned. “Each time I take into consideration (Inexperienced Bay), I simply assume soccer; I take into consideration locking in, I take into consideration perfecting my craft. Hopefully, every little thing I do that 12 months and (have) been doing this offseason pays off.”