Green Bay Packers 2017 Roster: Breaking down the running backs
By Dan Dahlke
Good Bets – Jamaal Williams (6-0, 213), Aaron Jones (5-10, 208)
Even though it appears at the moment Montgomery is the successor at the running back position, Williams and Jones are two rookies who bring a lot of production and big-play ability to the roster.
As Green Bay’s fourth-round selection, Williams will be expected to immediately contribute in some fashion on offense. He could even challenge Montgomery for the starting job with a strong enough camp.
The BYU all-time leading rusher is a traditional downhill runner with sharp cutback ability and a knack for shedding tacklers in the open field. The Packers need a physical back on offense with Lacy now in Seattle.
While Montgomery is an elusive back, Williams will run through defenders. He’s also shifty and has an effective jumpcut. He rushed for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season at BYU, despite missing three games because of an ankle injury.
He can be the Packers’ bell cow, something they were missing last year even with the emergence of Montgomery. Williams gains the tough yards and is effective making hay between the tackles.
He could form a nice one-two punch with Montgomery. He may even become their go-to back in more traditional offensive formations.
Jones, on the other hand, has more wiggle to his game. He’s smaller, more elusive, and a better receiver out of the backfield than Williams.
He left UTEP as the school’s all-time leading rusher (4,114). He also declared for the NFL a year early after coming off a junior season where he rushed for 1,773 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Both Jones and Williams are 22 and have had their fair share of injuries–a genuine concern with the Packers running back group.
Montgomery has already missed a significant amount of time in his young two-year career because of injury, and now the Packers drafted two backs who have missed at least one whole season because due to a knee injury.
It may be more important than ever for the Packers to go into the 2017 season with plenty of depth at the running back position. Having said this, it seems like there’s a good chance Green Bay at least has a starting-caliber halfback in Montgomery, Williams, or Jones.