The Green Bay Packers decided to let former starting running back Eddie Lacy leave via free agency. After a couple of years of Lacy coming into the season out of shape and falling to injury as a result, they had no problem letting him walk and sign with the Seattle Seahawks. Now, it looks like it is time for Ty Montgomery to take over as the full-time starting running back. However, the question in Green Bay is whether or not Montgomery is ready to take over as the bell-cow of the Packers offense.
Ty Montgomery’s breakout season in 2016
Coming into the 2016 NFL season, Ty Montgomery was a wide receiver with little upside.
However, something happened midway through the season. The Green Bay Packers were losing and were on the verge of their second straight season missing the playoffs when they made an interesting move. Due to injuries and ineffectiveness at running back, the Packers moved Montgomery from wide receiver to running back. In Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, Montgomery ran for his first touchdown. The next week, he had his first 100-yard rushing game, racing for 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Chicago Bears. In the regular season, Montgomery averaged 5.9 yards-per-carry for the Packers.
Is Montgomery needed as a bell-cow
The biggest problem with Ty Montgomery as the starting running back for the Green Bay Packers is that he might not be a bell-cow running back.
However, he has a chance to really show his stuff after two seasons in the NFL. He is a multi-purpose running back, also catching 44 passes for 348 yards to go with his 457 rushing yards in 2016. Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Montgomery is a running back now and there is no competition at the position. There is a chance that the Packers bring back Christine Michael and they tendered exclusive free agent Don Jackson.
This means that they have to hope Montgomery is ready to carry the load unless they find a new running back in the 2017 NFL Draft. His average in the postseason dropped to 3.6 yards-per-carry but the Packers are a pass-first team meaning that working as a bell-cow means something different in Green Bay. The team should be good with Ty Montgomery at running back thanks to his skills as a receiver but if he falls to injury, the Packers could fall hard in 2017.
