For the first time in a long time Green Bay opens the offseason with a trio of running backs who are young, talented, and have shown the ability to be capable running backs in Green Bay’s offense. Throughout the Mike McCarthy era it’s often been a challenge finding depth at the running back position.

Here were the depth charts at running back during McCarthy’s time in Green Bay:

• 5/1/18: Ty Montgomery, Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams
• 5/1/17: Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams, Christine Michael
• 5/1/16: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Crockett
• 5/1/15: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, Rajion Neal
• 5/1/14: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, DuJuan Harris
• 5/1/13: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, Johnathan Franklin
• 5/1/12: James Starks, Alex Green, Brandon Saine
• 5/1/11: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, James Starks
• 5/1/10: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, James Starks
• 5/1/09: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn
• 5/1/08: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency
• 5/1/07: Vernand Morency, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn
• 5/1/06: Ahman Green, Vernand Morency, Noah Herron

You can make a strong argument that this is the deepest that Green Bay has been at running back during McCarthy’s tenure. But a few questions remain, including, who should be number one on the depth chart, how should each running back be used, and what can we expect from each player in 2018?

Let’s start by taking a look at the tape of the three running backs and break down what each running back does well, what they need to work on, and what they can bring to the team in 2018.

Aaron Jones

Let’s start our conversation with Aaron Jones who I think most would agree has the highest upside and showed the most explosiveness of the running backs in 2017. Last season Jones carried the ball 81 times for 448 yards with an impressive 5.5 yard average. He had 4 touchdowns, no fumbles, and 6 carries of 20+ yards. He also added 9 catches for 22 yards. Overall he picked up 23 first downs on 90 touches. If Jones can put up that type of production over the course of a 16 game season he would easily be a Pro Bowl running back.

I see you, Jones. I see you. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/qMlPkdlBpV

— Dusty All 22 (@All22Talk) November 4, 2017

Positives:

Jones is an explosive running back who is always dangerous with the ball in his hands. He and Davante Adams are the two most dangerous skill position players and the more opportunities Jones has to touch the ball the better. Jones had 11 carries over 15 yards and 6 carries of 20+ yards last season showing off his big play ability. In his last year in college he broke off a 40+ yard run in an incredible 8 games. Simply put Jones is a bigtime playmaker.

Week 3 in preseason last year. Aaron Jones already showing that special ability. He knew exactly where that cutback lane was going to be. He has that special feel and 6th sense as a back to just know where things are opening up. pic.twitter.com/jIbQ2EK6Pu

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

Jones also has a very unique feel for the position. Not only does he possess above average vision but he also seemingly has a 6^th sense for where holes are going to open. His ability to process information quickly and improvise are above average as well—you can just see how quickly he makes the correct decisions on the football field and he consistently puts himself in a position to find extra yardage.

Jones doesn’t have insane top end speed (he only ran a 4.56 at the combine) and you can see this a bit on tape as well. He’s not going to run away from the faster defensive backs in the league but he doesn’t always need to in order to make big plays. Jones is slippery, elusive, and straight up tough to tackle in the open field.

While Jones didn’t have a lot of production in the pass game last year, he’s a solid overall receiving back and can help in that area as well. Overall there’s a lot to like about Jones’ game and that came across when he had his opportunities in 2017.

I see ya @Showtyme_33 - it'll come...

pic.twitter.com/K8VGRjyz8T

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 10, 2017

Where Jones can improve:

The biggest issue right now for Jones is his ability to pass protect. Green Bay did a lot of unique things with Jones last year to avoid him needing to block, including leaking him out at the last moment, using him in play action, and making him the primary check down. Ultimately, Jones is going to have to learn to be a better pass protector if he wants to stay on the field. As good as Jones is, the primary goal of this franchise (besides winning) is keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy. If Jones can’t be trusted to do that he’s going to severely limit the amount of time he can be on the field. (Click the below tweet to see the full thread of Jones’ pass pro in 2017):

So I know a highlight tape of Aaron Jones would be way more fun and running back pass pro isn’t the sexiest topic in the world but IMO it’s the only thing holding back Aaron Jones from seeing the field more often and potentially becoming a superstar. So here we go:

- Thread - pic.twitter.com/6vRMgFOKHg

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 16, 2018

Jones showed flashes in pass protection but he was also wildly inconsistent. As you can see in the videos below Jones was pushed around way to easily and needs to find ways to anchor and hold his ground. Yes he’s on the shorter side but he’s also a 200+ pound back with a compact build. He needs to do better in this aspect.

Jones also needs to stay healthy. Not only did he miss time last year but he’s missed time in 2015 due to a torn ligament, 2014 due to an unknown injury, and 2013 due to a broken rib.

Durability and pass protection will go a long way in determining just how good Jones can be.

How to use Jones

Green Bay is going to use their running backs in some sort of platoon; I think that’s fairly easy to see. If all running backs are healthy I wouldn’t expect to see any of the backs getting 22+ carries in a game. Green Bay throws too much and has too many weapons in the backfield to see that many carries used on one back. It’s also the way the league is trending at the moment.

I’m actually not set on Jones being the starter, more on that in a moment, but Jones absolutely needs to be the player with the most guaranteed touches and the player who gets the ball in the most opportune moments. What this means is that I’d almost rather see Ty/Williams break down the defense a bit first and once the defense starts putting their hands on their hips breakout Jones and let him get those explosive runs.

Aaron Jones is just so good. pic.twitter.com/wlqDSKoRWJ

— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) February 16, 2018

Jones needs to be guaranteed 10-12 touches at minimum every game. It doesn’t matter the score, the situation, or how you get it to him, but get him the football. As mentioned above he and Adams are the two most explosive players and they need to have the ball in their hands. I won’t be upset if Jones doesn’t get the ball 25 times a game or isn’t anointed as the starter, but he cannot go through another season with only four games of 10+ touches.

Ty Montgomery

Do not sleep on Ty Montgomery. I repeat… do not sleep on Ty Montgomery. It’s really easy to forget about Ty after watching a season of Aaron and Jamaal show what they can do but I’m not so sure that Montgomery shouldn’t be the starting running back for Green Bay. I went back and watched the 2016 tape of Montgomery and it’s easy to forget just how explosive he was. He had 77 rushes for 457 yards and 5.9 yards per carry. He also added on another 44 catches for 348 yards. He was really used as a weapon and he didn’t disappoint.

I forgot how fun this run was from 2016 when Montgomery was still just learning the position.

88 still has a bright future as a RB in Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/X4oO0e4u28

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) January 24, 2018

Montgomery didn’t have the same success in 2017. In fact he had 184 less rushing yards in 2017 despite only receiving six less carries. The explosive plays decreased and he obviously had trouble staying healthy as well. When I went back and watched the tape, I was really reminded why I had such a positive grade (+7.2) on Montgomery. Montgomery actually ran for more yards than I would have expected based on the blocking. He ran hard, made the correct cuts, and had really solid vision all throughout the season. I expect to see him put up much bigger numbers in 2018, more akin to his 2016 performance.

This is such a nuanced run. Perfect first cut, perfect second cut, and then the power to finish for 6 through KJ Wright & Kam Chancelor. pic.twitter.com/dOfzkC7Yb3

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

Positives

With Montgomery starting out as a wide receiver it’s really easy to forget just how big and powerful he is. Montgomery is 6’0” tall, 216 pounds and he runs with power. There are multiple plays where you can find Ty running through arm tackles and finishing through contact.

Love the strength here from Ty. He sees the hole, accelerates through and then powers through the second level. Lot to like about Montgomery as a rb. pic.twitter.com/aHxQBuobVD

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

Montgomery has exceptional balance. He has under-appreciated vision and he is a very, very patient runner. When he sees his lane he will explode and he has a unique ability to get small through the hole. He’s not afraid to setup linebackers with a hesitation move and then cut in the opposite direction. He makes quick cuts and not surprisingly he has incredible hands for a running back.

Oh man that little hesitation @TyMontgomery2 pic.twitter.com/T0mLTVXYS4

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

Where Montgomery can improve

Ty runs too tall and because of this he has more surface area to tackle and opens himself up to a greater risk of injury. He lacked the explosive playmaking in 2017 and needs to find ways to break bigger runs in 2018. He also needs to develop a plan in the open field. Ty is shifty at the line of scrimmage but too often when he gets to the second level he doesn’t have a plan of attack. He needs to develop a stiff arm, spin move, etc… to help get him past that final defender. He also needs to continue to get better as a pass blocker.

How to use Montgomery

This is just silly. pic.twitter.com/3iz0yyRM5S

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

As mentioned earlier I’d almost like to see Montgomery start the game for Green Bay. Jones needs to be the guy who gets the guaranteed touches and the player who is most put in a position to succeed, but Montgomery can be used to setup Jones later in the game. Ty is Green Bay’s most well rounded running back. He can run with speed and power, run through contact, catch the ball out of the backfield, and he’s adequate as a pass blocker. Montgomery provides a lot of flexibility because of his abilities in the pass game and I like the idea of using Ty early in the game to see how the defense matches up against him. If other teams come out in smaller defenses then they know they can use Ty as a power runner. If they come out in heavy formations Green Bay will have mismatches in the passing game.

Ty Montgomery remains a major weapon for Green Bay and they need to find a way to utilize him as such this upcoming season.

I forget sometimes just how good Montgomery can be. He can be an explosive playmaker for Green Bay when healthy. pic.twitter.com/IPKmMwJ8Gy

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

Jamaal Williams

If there was one player on the team who you could see improve as the season progressed it would have to be Jamaal Williams. Williams started the season as an impatient runner who rarely setup his blocks and didn’t have a great understanding of how the play was supposed to progress.

Jamaal Williams really showed great improvement throughout the season.

In the 1st video you can see he doesn’t know his LG is going to take the LB & he chooses the wrong path.

Totally different story in clip 2 where he waits for Patrick to clear Barr & finishes w/ a nice run. pic.twitter.com/gXrL5f10jb

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 15, 2018

As the season moved forward Williams became better and better at using his blockers correctly and developing patience. Most importantly he developed timing with his offensive line and had a better understanding of how the play was supposed to develop. It was a night and day difference from early in the season through the end of the year.

Williams ended the season with 153 rushes for 556 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He had a long run of 25 yards and added 25 catches for 262 yards and 2 more touchdowns.

Jamaal Williams’ vision is getting better by the week. He makes two perfect cuts and finishes strong.

(Please ignore Super Monsters in the background...) pic.twitter.com/VJdytycOHW

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) December 6, 2017

Positives:

Williams is a physical runner who can grind down opposing defenses as the game goes on. He gets better later in games and he’s certainly not shy of contact. His signature 25 yard run against Tampa Bay ended with a violent stiff arm, a good reminder of how Williams runs on a down by down basis.

Williams was efficient in the passing game both as a receiver and as a pass protector. This is a big reason why Williams may see more time in 2018. If Rodgers and McCarthy trust their backs in pass protection they tend to get a lot of playing time, even if it means sacrificing production and big play ability.

Really nice blitz pickup by Jamaal Williams in garbage time. pic.twitter.com/4vGJ1drd8K

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) November 23, 2017

Williams was durable and had no fumbles in 2017, something that was a strength of his throughout his college career as well. Williams checks all the boxes for reliability and dependability with his toughness, ball security, and pass protection.

Where Williams can improve

Williams has to become more dynamic with the football in his hands. He had 178 carries including preseason and only one of them went for 15+ yards. Even that run was more of a breakdown by the defense and he was untouched for the first 15 yards (it went for 25).

Surprisingly this was Jamaal Williams’ only run 15 yards or more all season.

Williams saw most of his carries with Hundley at QB which didn’t help but that’s an area Williams will have to improve on this season. pic.twitter.com/ER4WhEzddM

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) May 17, 2018

It’s great to be dependable and reliable but at some point you need to be able to make dynamic plays and be a game-changer. Skill position players are paid to make dynamic plays and that was something Williams struggled with. (Yes Williams had the long touchdown catch against Cleveland and two big screen plays but the catch against Cleveland was a defensive breakdown and the screen plays were 90% blocking).

Williams’ inability to create big plays is also keeping his average down, resulting in a below average 3.6 yard per carry average.

Williams doesn’t gain a ton of extra yardage here but the power and leg drive is just incredible. It takes 5 defenders to finally bring him down! pic.twitter.com/y75XsuVWXJ

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) December 12, 2017

How to use Williams

If Jones and Montgomery are healthy then I’d prefer that those two get the bulk of the carries. Where Williams can be used is later in games as the closer. Williams is a bruising back who runs with some violence. The last thing a defense wants to see in the fourth quarter when they are worn down is a 213 pound power back with fresh legs.

4th Qtr - 2nd & 4 - Packers up 7

Williams gets absolutely no help on this play. McCray ends up OTG, Kendricks whiffs on his man, Rodgers gets beat clean by Floyd, Nelson feigns a block attempt.

No matter, Williams still powers for a first down. Huge effort by 30. pic.twitter.com/7zObs7lC81

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) November 15, 2017

There will no doubt be injuries that come up throughout the course of the season and I fully expect Williams to have an impact at some point, but until he can show he can be more of a dynamic runner the main touches need to go to Jones and Montgomery.

Oh hey, Jamaal Williams  pic.twitter.com/l0GnwXEV8f

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) September 14, 2017

Final Thoughts

Overall Green Bay is in an enviable position at running back. Green Bay didn’t bring in one outside running back this offseason. There were no free agents, no draft picks and no undrafted free agents picked up this year and that’s because Green Bay feels comfortable with their current stable of backs. I didn’t cover Devante Mays today but he could certainly still play a part as well. His fumbles last year quickly got him in the doghouse and he was never really able to recover.

I wouldn’t worry so much about who is the “starting” running back, but rather how they distribute the touches and if they put their players in positions to be successful. Green Bay has three distinct running backs on the roster with very different skill sets. It should give McCarthy, Philbin, and Rodgers plenty of options in the backfield if each are used properly. Start by setting aside 10-14 touches for Aaron Jones every game and work around that.

If a running back gets a hot hand by all means run with it but I fully expect a platoon situation and hopefully a system that uses these running backs to the very best of their respective abilities.