Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the team’s self-scouting work during the bye week revealed the obvious: His offense needs more run attempts, particularly if the unit wants more production from the play-action passing game.

“The run game needs attempts, that’s really the biggest thing coming out of the self scout,” McCarthy said Monday.

The comment was produced as part of an answer to a broader question about the Packers’ doing more with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his knee heals and the playbook opens up, especially with calls featuring Rodgers under center.

For various reasons, including the health of Rodgers’ knee and a few substantial first-half deficits, the Packers have operated mostly in the dropback passing game without the immediate threat of the action pass.

More runs will tilt the percentages in the right direction, according to McCarthy.

“When you throw the football, especially normal down and distance, you want to be higher in action pass than in dropback,” McCarthy said. “The action pass is where you want to do a better job.”

The Packers’ three primary running backs – Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones – are averaging only 19 carries per game through the first six games. In several second-half scenarios, McCarthy has all but abandoned the run game.

However, the Packers have been productive in the action passing game in recent weeks, including at Detroit and early on last Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. In the first half alone in Week 6, Rodgers hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 60 yards and Jimmy Graham for 54 yards off action passes.

The potential is there, but McCarthy wants more attempts to hammer home the threat of the run and increase the chances for big plays off the action passing game.

The Packers’ lack of opportunities for the running backs has been obvious for weeks. A chance to reflect back on the team’s first six games reinforced the need for McCarthy to commit to the run, not only because he has talented runners (see: Aaron Jones), but also to aid the passing game. McCarthy and the Packers will get their first chance to right a wrong on offense in Los Angeles against the unbeaten Rams this Sunday.