Green Bay Packers

Ty Montgomery has transformed the Green Bay Packers offense

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:43 p.m. ET

Fansided, Tyler Brooke/Fansided

As the Green Bay Packers make a late-season playoff push, Ty Montgomery has quickly become the key piece to turning the offense around.

The Green Bay Packers selected Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery with the 94th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. Little did they know at the time that Montgomery would become their starting running back just in time for a playoff push in 2016.

Just a few weeks ago, the Packers were 4-6 and on a four-game losing streak. Fans were calling for head coach Mike McCarthy to be fired, and the offense was relying entirely upon Aaron Rodgers to make plays.

Arguably the biggest problem for the Packers was the lack of a consistent running game. Eddie Lacy went down with a season-ending ankle injury in October. James Starks struggled to consistently see the field. Players like Don Jackson and Knile Davis were trying to be the go-to guy in the backfield to no avail.

The Packers began experimenting with Montgomery in the backfield once Lacy went down, and while he showed flashes of promise, an illness forced him to take another step back.

Now, even with the Packers signing former Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael, Montgomery has solidified himself as the starter in the backfield. His workload had slowly been increasing heading into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, but the Packers finally discovered that they have a serious weapon in their arsenal with the former Stanford star.

Montgomery had his breakout game on Sunday in the dramatic 30-27 victory. The former wide receiver carried the ball 16 times, running for 162 yards and two touchdowns. His play of the game was a 61-yard run in the second quarter, breaking tackles and showing off his breakaway speed.

To think this guy was a WR @TyMontgomery2 ???????? https://t.co/YVFFusP5Re

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) December 18, 2016

Critics are quick to dismiss Montgomery as a legitimate running back because of his jersey numbers (88), but he has continued to prove the doubters wrong this season. At 6’0” and 216 pounds, Montgomery is built more like a running back, and his patience and vision have developed much more quickly than even the Packers could have expected.

After Sunday’s game, Montgomery is now averaging 6.5 yards per carry. While that alone is impressive, Bleacher Report’s Ian Kenyon also points out that the Packers weapon has also held his own in pass protection.

Even without Lacy, the Packers look to have a reliable running game now thanks to both Montgomery and Michael. The former Seahawks running back also showed off his wheels with a 42-yard touchdown, and as a team the Packers were able to run for 226 yards on just 23 carries.

That running game was a huge help for Aaron Rodgers, who only had to throw 31 times. Rodgers is only averaging 28 pass attempts over the last three games because of the emergence of Montgomery in the backfield, keeping him from having to throw 40 or 50 times a game like he was earlier this season.

After Sunday, the Packers are now 8-6 and can win the NFC North if they win their final two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. It won’t be an easy path, especially with Rodgers hobbling around, but now the Packers have a legitimate running game that can help give them some offensive balance.

Making it to the playoffs will be a team effort, but if the Packers reach the postseason, they can thank Montgomery for his willingness to switch positions and thrive as the team’s new running back.