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Green Bay Packers: 5 Players Who Must Step Up For Jordy Nelson

By Kevin Parvizi

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Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad wide receiver Ty Montgomery of Stanford (7) returns a kick against the South squad in the third quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The North won, 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

WR Ty Montgomery

Reggie Wayne already opted to sign with the New England Patriots after receiving some interest from the Packers, but the Pack could still be in the market for a veteran receiver with Cobb locked in as their only truly proven pass-catcher. James Jones has been whispered as a possibility, but the Packers could just as easily forego a reunion with the current New York Giant (if he’s even released, of course, since he could beat out Corey Washington for the No. 4 WR gig) and roll with their current crop of receivers.

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When I watched Montgomery as a prospect at Stanford, I didn’t see a guy who could be an immediate success as a wide receiver in the NFL, and I honestly viewed him as more of a special teams prospect with the upshot of being a “wrinkle” player for a high-powered offense. So, yes, I was one of those people who saw Montgomery as a big reach pick in the third round of the draft.

Montgomery has poor hands and doesn’t really seem to understand the position, but he has so many excellent qualities that could allow him to overcome his deficiencies as a receiver in his rookie season. I’d like to see him as that “wrinkle” player for the Packers, because he’s so dangerous with the ball in his hands. There might not have been a more dynamic player in college football after the catch than Montgomery, who weaved in-and-out of traffic, switched fields, and dazzled defenders with his footwork.

He has plenty of holes in his game as he enters his first season in the NFL, but he’s already starting to look like less-and-less of a reach and more-and-more like someone who was undervalued as a prospect. I’m not willing to jump on the bandwagon yet, but I know that Mike McCarthy, Rodgers, and the Packers are creative enough to get the most out of his incredible foot speed, acceleration, and explosiveness without drawing too much attention to his dreadful hands.

So far, Montgomery has done nothing but impress the Packers and their fans, and he hasn’t committed a drop in the preseason yet. Nelson’s injury has created a sudden opportunity for Montgomery to be a big part of the offense, and while it would have been more ideal to allow him to stick to returns as a raw rookie, he’s a guy who could add a new dimension to the Packers offense.

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