Paul Bretl | 10/29/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Running back Chris Brooks has been another under-the-radar addition by GM Brian Gutekunst, but one that has proven to be an important pickup over these last few games.
“I think Chris Brooks has been a huge asset to our team, a great pick-up,” said Matt LaFleur after Sunday’s win in Jacksonville. “You’ve got to give Gutey and his group a ton of credit for that one, to be able to identify that guy.
“I know (Anthony) Campanile was super fired up when we brought him in, he was with him last year in Miami and just said a ton of great things about the guy and it’s holding true. He’s starting to get more and more time on offense; he’s obviously contributed on we-fense, and just lucky to have a guy like that.”
Brooks went undrafted in 2023 out of BYU and spent his rookie season with Miami. He would appear in four games that season, playing 36 offensive snaps, and showcasing some big play ability, averaging 5.6 yards per rush with nine missed tackles forced and two rushes of over 15 yards.
However, in a crowded Dolphins’ running back room, Brooks was released during roster cutdowns in late-August. The Packers signed him to the practice squad prior to Week 1, and then promoted him to the 53-man roster after MarShawn Lloyd was placed on injured reserve.
Coming from the Mike McDaniel offense with Miami, there is a lot of overlap in terminology and play-designs with the Packers playbook, which helped Brooks’ transition.
“He’s done a great job since the moment we got him,” said Matt LaFleur after the Texans’ win. “Very intelligent guy. Definitely can contribute on teams, as well. He’s been excellent in understanding the protection scheme. So he was familiar with our version of how we do our six-man protection. He’s reliable, consistent and does a great job. We’ve seen it in practice. That’s why he was in there at the end of the game.”
Brooks’ has seen regular playing time in each of the last three games. He’s carried the ball eight times during that span, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. However, where he’s made the biggest impact is in pass protection.
During the final four plays of the Packers’ game-winning drive against Houston, it was Brooks who was in at running back. With the Packers in field goal range at the Texans 37-yard line, Brooks picked up Houston blitzers on three consecutive plays. Two of those passes were completed, which made for a shorter field goal attempt.
But surrendering a sack in that situation, could have knocked Green Bay out of field goal range or at the very least, made the attempt much longer than what it was.
“I think we were pretty confident in it,” said LaFleur of Brooks’ ability in pass protection when the team first signed him. “But ultimately again, he’s got to demonstrate that in order for us to have confidence in him to go out there and do it. I mean, he’s been doing that pretty well. I mean, he’s stoning backers as they try to run through the line of scrimmage. That’s been a huge get for us.”
This past Sunday against Jacksonville, with the Packers at the 12 yard line, on a handoff to Brooks the Jaguars defensive line gave way as they wanted Green Bay to score in an effort to get the ball back with some time on the clock.
However, Brooks, who keep in mind, has never scored an NFL touchdown, made a very heads up play and went down on his own at the four-yard line. This then allowed the Packers to run the clock down to a few seconds before another Brandon McManus game-winner left no time remaining.
“He’s a selfless guy,” said LaFleur of that rush. “He does what we ask him to do. We told him in the situation that it was — we call it a ‘Rolex’ situation so no matter what, that you’re going down, the clock’s got to run. Obviously you’re playing for the field goal right there, and he did a good job of executing and not scoring. He’ll get his time. I’m confident of that.”
In addition to Brooks’ emerging contributions on offense, he’s been a core special teams player since joining the active roster in Week 3, playing 41 snaps across three different phases over the last six games.
Back on the offensive side of the ball, in the Arizona game specifically and in addition to the all-important pass protection component, we saw Brooks being utilized next to Josh Jacobs in some two running back sets late in the game. This was something that the Packers were implementing during training camp with AJ Dillon as the second back in those situations.
Following roster cutdowns and after Dillon was placed on season-ending IR, LaFleur mentioned that the team had a “pretty clear vision” for how they wanted to use Dillon this season and it wasn’t only in the run game. With his blocking ability and overall versatility, there was a specific role that Dillon had carved out within the offense.
“It certainly leaves us with a void,” said LaFleur about losing Dillon.
But since then, Brooks has proven to be a very capable blocker. The Packers are also beginning to move him around more in the offensive formation, which includes snaps at fullback, in-line, and from the slot, along with using him in those aforementioned two-back sets, which can help open up the playbook for LaFleur.
It would appear that the void created by Dillon’s absence has been filled by Brooks.
“He’s an intelligent player, so we can use him in a lot of different roles,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. “Obviously if you get the ball in his hands he can do some good things too. He’s a good blocker, so we used him in different fullback type roles as well.”
It’s a cliché in football, but Brooks’ contributions are the quintessential example of doing your one-eleventh. And while those contributions may not always stand out on the initial viewing of the game or show up on the stat sheet, they’re very important to the overall success of the offense, especailly when you take into account the late-game situations Brooks has been utilized in.
“I’d probably have to go with attitude,” said Brooks when asked about the key to picking up blitzes. “It has to be an attitude and you have to want to do it and then fundamentals and technique. I’d say pad level, staying low and using your hands.”