In 2016, the Packers entered the regular season with four running backs on the roster. Eddie Lacy led a group that included James Starks, Brandon Burks and fullback Aaron Ripkowski. Only Ripkowski remains. The shake up started immediately. Burks was released very early in the year. Lacy and Starks faced injuries and missed almost the entire season. Ty Montgomery emerged as the running back to led that team. The Packers called up Don Jackson and even added Christine Michael mid-season.
The preamble to the 2017 season sees a roster with five rookie running backs. Ty Montgomery is now the experienced leader of the backfield. This sudden and forceful change requires some examination.
Green Bay Packers Running Back Group Starts Over
Departing Packers Running Backs
Eddie Lacy is the biggest name moving on from the Packers backfield. Lacy took a $3.5 million, one-year earn it contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle, famously, added in bonus money for hitting weight goals throughout the offseason. James Starks is still unsigned.
These two define the role of the Packers running back. As previously discussed, the Packers became a more power running team with the drafting of Lacy. Lacy, Starks and Michael were all 220+ pound running backs.
The stream of injuries that plagued the Packers backfield last year opened up opportunities. Head coach Mike McCarthy spent time developing Ty Montgomery as a dual threat weapon. Now he will be joined by many new faces looking to take part in reshaping this Packers team.
Packers Rookie Running Back Corps
Five new faces in the backfield. The Packers spent three draft picks to acquire Jamaal Williams (BYU), Aaron Jones (UTEP) and Devante Mays (Utah St.). They immediately followed this with two more undrafted rookie free agents. Kalif Phillips (Charlotte) and William Stanback (Virginia Union) give the Packers a few small school options to push competition.
The Packers are clearly looking to remake a disappointing backfield. Part of the retooling seems to be moving from all the injuries of worn out running backs. Nothing particularly new in the raw numbers. Other than Lacy and Phillips, all these running backs put up 40 yard dash times between 4.50 and 4.59 in the predraft process. Four of the current running backs are 220 pounds or more.
One of the odd storylines heading into this Packers draft was the need to add a “bruising” running back. Analysts said this is clearly where the Packers were finally headed with the picks of Williams and Jones. Never mind that Montgomery is actually bigger than both of them.
The odd portion is that the Packers did not add players that put up good receiving numbers. With the rise of Montgomery came the thought the Packers might be finally moving toward the Patriots model for running backs. Mays had two receptions over two seasons and Williams saw his catch total drop every year. Jones did have some decent numbers to at least show he was involved in the passing game.
The Shake Up Going Forward
It is very unlikely the Packers will carry more than four of the current six running backs. Montgomery’s dual ability could affect the roster calculus on that front. This preseason and training camp will be designed to test these running backs in the passing game and in open space.
The other key aspect will be the ability to run between the tackles. Montgomery has the size to do it, but he had not played the position before. As a great college returner, Montgomery has good vision. This is a different skill than getting a single yard. With a full offseason, he may be improved. Still, the Packers clearly did not want to run him near the goal line last year. He had seven total carries inside the 10 yard line. He did turn three of them into touchdowns. Still, compare this to Aaron Rodgers completing 34 of 49 attempts inside the opponents’ 10 yard line. Rodgers accounted for 25 touchdowns inside the ten. When near the goal line, the Packers threw the ball last year. They will be looking to remedy that this year.
The release of Christine Michael and Don Jackson demonstrate a clean break with the past. The Packers are communicating that they found nothing redeeming about the existing structure. Younger players with less miles will be taking the field this year.
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