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Green Bay Packers rookie expectations: Ty Montgomery

By Keegan Matheson

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Wide receiver was not a dire need for the Green Bay Packers entering the 2015 NFL Draft, but the raw potential and unique special team talents of Ty Montgomery were enough to tempt Ted Thompson in round three. With the rookie still absent from the Green Bay Packers’ team activities as classes wrap up at Stanford, we look ahead to his potential impact on the field in 2015.

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Following the selection of Montgomery, West Coast scout Same Seale told Mike Spofford of Packers.com that the receiver reminded him of recent free agent returnee Randall Cobb. “I think he’s a bigger Randall. That’s what I see in the kid.”

Like Cobb, Montgomery leaves Stanford without being categorized as a traditional or true receiver. In fact, leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, many scouts pigeonholed Cobb as a sub-package wideout or receiving back that would amount to a role player or gadget-play specialist.

To begin our look at Montgomery’s 2015 outlook, let’s first look back to Randall Cobb’s rookie season of 2011. That season, Cobb recorded 25 catches for just 375 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay worked to get him the ball in open space as part of their four or five receiver sets and experimented with him out of the backfield. Expect the same treatment with Montgomery.

Green Bay Packers reception leaders:  2011

  1. Jordy Nelson  –  68
  2. Greg Jennings  –  67
  3. Jermichael Finley  –  55
  4. James Jones  –  38
  5. Donald Driver  –  37
  6. Randall Cobb  –  25

As you can see, Montgomery is unlikely to face such a daunting pecking order for targets in his rookie campaign as Cobb did in 2011. This current roster is an offense in search of a more widespread balance, as well. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb combined for nearly as many receptions in 2014 (189) as the top three receivers combined in 2011 (190).

If and when this top-heavy attack changes, it will send targets trickling down to Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers, Ty Montgomery and likely one of Jared Abbrederis or Jeff Janis.

Oct 25, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Ty Montgomery (7) rushes for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

This theory of “another Cobb” is wildly overblown, of course, but the presence of Montgomery could prove to be especially valuable when this offense sputters. Against Buffalo, for example, the Packers slid Randall Cobb into the backfield when their passing game began to meet turbulence. Going forward, this situation could see Montgomery take a spot alongside Rodgers while allowing Cobb to still work an open-area route over the middle, or vice-versa.

Montgomery’s open field vision and thick, powerful legs have had me hoping for backfield experimentation since the day he was selected, and that could be his ticket to more playing time. With Nelson, Adams and Cobb all well ahead of him and the possibility that a Janis or Abbrederis may earn a higher level of trust with the number four routes, Montgomery could be staring at fifth-receiver snaps out of base packages.

Until he takes notable strides as a pure receiver, meaning route-running and natural catching, I forecast his stat line to come in right around Cobb’s from 2011. Randall Cobb he is not, but the link between the two can at least provide a blueprint for how a “gadget” player can evolve into an offensive focal point.

While my expectations for his receiving numbers remain fairly low, my expectations for his special teams impact is far more optimistic. I still forecast Micah Hyde as the primary punt returner entering September, but on kick return duties there is an opportunity for Montgomery to shine.

Sweeping personnel changes have come to the Packers’ special teams units over the past offseason, and nowhere was that more clear than in their draft strategy. Not only will Montgomery offer an upgrade in pure skill at the kick return position, but improvements in terms of personnel and scheme could boost the unit as a whole.

I see a low floor and high ceiling with Montgomery as a receiver, but his return game contributions will give him a value that should well exceed his stat line as a wideout. While he may not jump off the screen in year one, do not forget that just four years ago, Randall Cobb was this offense’s sixth option that saw less than two targets per game.

Next: Packers need signs of life from Khyri Thornton

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