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.