Martha Careful
4 months ago
Greg Meinholz wrote (emphasis by MC)

Lining Up Wide Receivers in the Backfield
Receiver versatility is rising, but how far should it go for the Packers?

Jul 03, 2024

There once was a time when wide receivers only lined up wide-out or in the slot. They only carried the ball out of the backfield for a reverse or an end-around. And at that time, they were still lined up wide. It was unheard of for a player labeled a wide receiver to line up in the backfield. But little by little, we started seeing some of the smaller, quicker wide receivers line up in the backfield in the shotgun formation. This was mainly done to create mismatches in the passing game. The Packers would line up Randall Cobb in the backfield, for the most part, it would be for mismatch only, but it wasn't unheard of to see the occasional hand-off. Then in 2016, wide receiver, Ty Montgomery began lining up in the backfield due to injuries to the running back room. And he was effective, taking 77 rushing attempts for 457 yards and three touchdowns.

Suddenly, Ty Montgomery was a running back. It made my brain suffer minor malfunctions on occasion watching a player with the number 88 take hand-offs out of the backfield. Those minor malfunctions actually still occur to this day as my kids have a "Packers Football By Letters" book that must've been published back in 2016-2017 because when you get to the letter "R" it shows a picture of Ty Montgomery for "Running Back." I might search for a newer version to help me escape these minor mental setbacks. Despite these brain hiccups, it has to be admitted that Montgomery, a drafted wide receiver, did a pretty decent job at running back and showed that with that type of conversion, the Packers may have been on to something.

Now, I wouldn't say Ty Montgomery was a pioneer for versatile receivers, but ever since his WR/RB season, we're suddenly seeing an influx of receivers taking hand-offs. The good majority still tends to be via end-around or jet sweep, but there are still many more receivers lining up in the backfield than before. Could the Packers benefit from utilizing this idea more?

How could it benefit the 2024 Packers?
When you look at the 2023 Packers, you'll see receivers registered 19 rushing attempts. This is doubled from 2022 and 2021. The difference between these seasons is definitely personnel. The receivers in the last two years are absolutely more versatile than before. The majority of these attempts in 2023 of course came from jet-sweeps or end-around, but coming from lining up in a running back position could be effective as well.

Heading into 2024 we have a shakeup at the running back position. Josh Jacobs has taken over was is likely to be the feature-back role. Behind him is rookie Marshawn Lloyd, and returning veteran, AJ Dillon. Jacobs and Dillon play mainly the power role, but Lloyd is believed to be able to play both ends, quick and agile as well as powerful. But I believe, they could benefit from receivers switching out on occasion.

Imagine a backfield with Josh Jacobs lined up next to Jordan Love in the shotgun, but on the other side of Love, is Jayden Reed. Defenses would have to respect that Josh Jacobs can power his way through a 5-6-man box, but if they stack the box, Jayden Reed could easily take a toss-off play-action for 10+ yards before he's even touched. I'm also imagining the absolute confusion that could be caused by Christian Watson lining up in the backfield and taking a screen pass. If blocking holds up before the opposition knows what hit them, Watson or Reed could be 10 yards downfield. Then, the more the Packers build these passes, the more teams will assume the receivers are only back there for passing out of the backfield, that's when you start running the ball with the receivers right away.

I still believe that a receiver's spot is lined up wide or slot. But if the Packers find success doing it more commonly, I will be 100% on board.

I love strategy-thought columns like this....
Go Packers!!!!
beast
4 months ago
I enjoy strategy columns too, but I think the increased WR carries was mostly due to RB injuries and an OL struggle to run up the middle.

Though some was also due to having more depth at WR and the versatility of a guy like Reed.

But even when someone (I think it was MM? Maybe LeFleur) was trying to put three guys in the backfield with the QB, the most guys you put back there, the more that becomes a single target for the defense and I think it's smarter to spread them out than have too many in one spot.

So I prefer the idea of just QB and RB in the backfield and having a WR in possible motion, not nessarily stopping in the backfield.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (1h) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (2h) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (2h) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (2h) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (15h) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (17h) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (17h) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (18h) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (19h) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Mucky Tundra (19h) : Dennis Allen has now been fired twice mid-season with Derek Carr as his starting QB
Zero2Cool (19h) : Kuhn let go
beast (21h) : I wonder if the Packers would have any interest in Z. Smith, probably not
Zero2Cool (21h) : Shefter says Browns and Lions will figure out how to get a deal done for Za'Darius Smith..
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Packers are more likely to have 1,000 yard rusher than 4,000 yard passer
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : It's raining hard.
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : Packers inactives vs. Lions: CB Jaire Alexander S Evan Williams C Josh Myers Non-injury inactives: WR Malik Heath OL Travis Glover DE Bren
packerfanoutwest (3-Nov) : Malik Willis: My focus is helping the Packers win, not proving I can start elsewhere. But he could
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : I had Texans, but the loss of another WR flipped me
wpr (1-Nov) : I thought about taking the Jets but they've been a disaster. Losing to the Pats last week
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : Surprised more didn't pick Jets in Pick'em.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
49m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

2h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

2h / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Derek

5h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Cheesey

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

18h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

2-Nov / Around The NFL / wpr

1-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

1-Nov / Around The NFL / beast

31-Oct / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.