Lining Up Wide Receivers in the Backfield
Receiver versatility is rising, but how far should it go for the Packers?
By GregMeinholz
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.
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Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings.
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Comments (18)
PeteK
July 03, 2024 at 12:44 pm
I still remember the success we had with Swervin Irvin. Also, Watson is not only a running threat, but is a great blocker when others are running the ball.
Cheezehead72
July 03, 2024 at 01:29 pm
Can we please run the Modified Triple-Reverse, Double-Handoff Option?
LambeauPlain
July 03, 2024 at 04:54 pm
Every play! It is the most productive play in football...it can't be stopped!:-)
Johnblood27
July 03, 2024 at 06:56 pm
You talkin bout the triple lindy of football???
LLCHESTY
July 04, 2024 at 11:32 am
Only out of the inverted, two fullback, wishbone!
Johnblood27
July 05, 2024 at 10:54 am
Are you invoking the "Stork" karate kid position?
CheeseEdWest2
July 03, 2024 at 01:35 pm
What about a tight end sweep with Tucker Kraft? He loves to plow through linebackers and DB's.
13TimeChamps
July 03, 2024 at 03:07 pm
Or jump over them.
LambeauPlain
July 03, 2024 at 05:07 pm
19 total plays for all of 2023 with WRs running the ball...that would be a ONE GAME workload for the RBs last year.
I think this year, the Love directed ML IOC offense is going to confound defenses with a prolific run game more than gimmick WR backfield looks. The run game has been invested with assets to make it go.
The IOC will show the same run attack formation, if successful, during a given game pre snap, and confound defenses with an equally prolific pass attack up field with a wide array of weapons...including RBs.
I do not see much of the Packer O running through WRs in the backfield.
mnbadger
July 03, 2024 at 06:11 pm
KISS was Lombardi's underlying philosophy combined with all 11 executing to perfection.
Dare the other team to stop what they knew was coming.
MLF adds the illusion of complexity and Gutey has added the talent.
Now we need execution.
GPG!
Johnblood27
July 03, 2024 at 06:58 pm
When John Robinson was asked about his winless Tampa Bay teams execution, he said "i'm all for it"
dobber
July 03, 2024 at 06:42 pm
"19 total plays for all of 2023 with WRs running the ball."
Of those 19, I'd like to know how many of those were on sweep/jet action where the WR started lined up on the periphery, and NOT lined up in the backfield.
GregC
July 03, 2024 at 08:29 pm
I'm guessing 19.
LambeauPlain
July 04, 2024 at 11:13 am
HaHa!
Leatherhead
July 03, 2024 at 07:04 pm
You have to defend it. Even if it's only once a game, because these guys like Watson and Reed can turn this into a long play. And that means guys have to stay home instead of pursue, like they'd like to. Which keeps them out of the play for fraction longer.
GregC
July 03, 2024 at 08:34 pm
The offense has to practice it, which takes time away from practicing other things. I lean more toward them spending practice time on plays with Watson, Reed, and the other WRs lined up on the edge, where they can catch passes in space or run the occasional jet sweep, with their momentum taking them to the perimeter instead of into the guts of the defense.
LambeauPlain
July 04, 2024 at 11:25 am
Coach Hafley says the game plan for the defense will be different every week, based on the upcoming opponent. He will simplify the plan to attack the opponent's weakness and practice the Schiff out of it. "Drill baby, drill"...the objective is to play fast and confidently.
I think Matt places a high value on "drill, baby drill" as well. It makes the IOC, that seems to fit Love's skills excellently, fast and unpredictable to the opponent, but not for Love & Co. And practice time during game week is precious.
While a trick play can always be dialed up...and Matt is very creative, I don't see much of a reliance on it...given the many weapons he can scheme out of the similar looking formations.
LLCHESTY
July 04, 2024 at 11:39 am
Someone did a study of WRs in the backfield vs RBs lined up outside as far as productivity. Even when they took Deebo out of the equation it was still more productive to line up a WR in the backfield. If I was a GM I'd definitely have checkmark next to WRs that had played RB in high school or started there in college. Besides them being more elusive they probably tend to be tougher as well.
FYI Doubs was a really good RB in high school in LA.