Packers: Ty Montgomery still a key piece in Green Bay’s offense
Ty Montgomery is still a key member of the Green Bay Packers offense.
There’s been a lot of discussion of late about the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart, especially after new general manager Brian Gutekunst decided to release Jordy Nelson.
After signing tight end Jimmy Graham, and then selecting three receivers on the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft, Gutekunst has ensured there’s plenty of depth.
At Ty Montgomery‘s new position, running back, second-year players Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are set to take on the bulk of the carries. They emerged as rookies while Montgomery was injured.
So where does Montgomery fit into Mike McCarthy’s plans on offense?
In all likelihood, he’ll do a bit of everything. And that’s what makes him so difficult to defend.
Staying healthy has been an issue for Montgomery throughout his three-year NFL career. But that’s fine. He no longer needs to take the majority of the carries out of the backfield. He also doesn’t need to become a starting wide receiver.
Montgomery’s versatility made him such a key piece of Green Bay’s offense late in the 2016 season. As the offense caught fire and the Packers ran the table, Montgomery was very much a part of it.
McCarthy could move Montgomery around and line him up just about anywhere. His movement pre-snap would give Aaron Rodgers clues to what the defense was doing.
Montgomery can run between-the-tackles. He can catch passes out of the backfield. He can line up in the slot or as an outside receiver. Because of his versatility, McCarthy can use Montgomery to create mismatches. It worked in 2016, and it can work in 2018.
Montgomery will continue to be listed as a running back. The Packers need the depth. Jones and Williams had their own injury problems last season. But Green Bay now has three running backs who have all proven they can deliver as the starter.
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As long as all three are healthy, the Packers can use Montgomery just about any way they want to.
If Montgomery can avoid injury, he can be a game-changing chess piece in Green Bay’s offense, just as he was two years ago.