We’ve been asking for it pretty much all season. Give Ty Montgomery the football early and often.
Montgomery has had a strange year. Although he’s been productive every time he’s been given an opportunity, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t always seem to want to give him opportunities.
Montgomery hardly got on the field in the Packers’ first four games. In weeks six through nine, he had at least 10 offensive touches in each game, including two games where he had 10 receptions. In weeks 10 through 12, Montgomery went back to being an afterthought before his load started to increase again in week 13.
That culminated with a season-high 16 rushes against Chicago in week 15.
So just what is going on here?
McCarthy has now suggested that Montgomery will be a big part of the game plan going forward.
“We feel there’s more to do with Ty,” McCarthy said.
It’s about time in our estimation. Although with the way Montgomery’s snaps and touches have fluctuated so wildly this year, we’ll believe it when we see it.
The Packers, of course, would be wise to rely on Montgomery not just as a rusher, but also as a receiver. Montgomery typically draws a linebacker in coverage and that’s a matchup the Packers can easily exploit.
For whatever reason, they just haven’t done so lately. That should be No. 1 in expanding Montgomery’s role.