For the last four seasons, running back Ty Montgomery has been no stranger to inhabiting multiple roles on the football field.
In 2016, in only his second year out of Stanford, the receiver was forced into double-duty due to a host of injuries to the Green Bay Packers’ running-back corps. Montgomery began taking handoffs from Aaron Rodgers rather than catching passes, and he averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.
Montgomery has been utilized as a dual threat to varying degrees in every season since during stints in Green Bay, Baltimore, and with the New York Jets.
He signed with the Saints this offseason, and Saints Radio Network color analyst Deuce McAllister says Montgomery can occupy a unique space in the Black and Gold’s array of offensive firepower.
“I think he is a guy that allows them, from an offensive standpoint, that when Alvin [Kamara] needs a blow, I don’t have to completely change my offensive philosophy,” McAllister told WWL Radio. “Sometimes the offense might not look the same because you don’t have that satellite player like an Alvin Kamara or even to an extent a Reggie Bush or a Pierre Thomas or a Darren Sproles. He gives the Saints even two backs that have a similar skillset like Alvin.”
McAllister said Kamara isn’t the only Saint who could benefit from a lighter workload.
“Another player I think he’ll help in a sense is Taysom Hill because some of the things you ask Taysom to do, Ty Montgomery can do for you.”
McAllister added though that there is one concern.
“My only question for him is is he gonna be healthy. I think that’s what kind of hurt him as he’s went on in his career in the NFL. It’s just been the injuries,” McAllister said.
You can hear the full audio of McAllister’s observations from Saints practice by clicking the podcast link.