Ty Montgomery becoming the Patriots’ new secret weapon

It’s well-known the Patriots love a versatile player that can be used in several different ways. Could Ty Montgomery be their next secret weapon?

The loss of Brandon Bolden in free agency this past offseason may not have been newsworthy to some. But the veteran running back was as versatile of a player as they come and the Patriots benefitted from that over the years.

Their current backfield is stacked, with Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Pierre Strong Jr., but with James White’s status for the season up in the air, a new face has been making his mark during training camp so far.

Back in March, the Patriots signed RB/WR combo player Ty Montgomery. If Bill Belichick is looking to replace as much of the production given from Bolden, Montgomery appears to be making strides to fill those shoes.

How do Montgomery’s stats compare to Bolden’s with the Patriots?

When comparing the careers of these two players, one thing stands out most; how similar their performances have been.

Although Bolden was drafted three years before Montgomery, playing in 53 more games because of that, their stats are nearly identical.

Their role on their respective teams has always been clear; use their versatility and success at multiple positions to your advantage. Dual-threat players aren’t easy to come by, and have become more valuable over the years as the style of football has changed in the NFL.

In the 78 games Montgomery has played so far;

• RUSHING: 258 rushes for 1,180 yards | RECEIVING: 139/195 receptions (71.3%) for 1,104 yards
• RUSHING: 7 touchdowns | RECEVING: 3 touchdowns
• RUSHING: 4.6 rushing yards per attempt | RECEIVING: 7.9 yards per reception

As for Bolden’s stats in 131 games played:

• RUSHING: 283 rushes for 1,297 yards | RECEIVING: 100/138 receptions (72.5%) for 902 yards
• RUSHING: 12 touchdowns | RECEIVING: 6 touchdowns
• RUSHING: 4.6 rushing yards per attempt | RECEIVING: 9.0 yards per reception

In playing the same type of role for teams throughout their careers, Montgomery and Bolden have accumulated very similar statistics. It’s possible Belichick knew this before signing Montgomery, realizing how truly valuable Bolden was to the team.

What is Montgomery’s special teams value?

On top of losing Bolden to the Raiders earlier this year, the Patriots also lost their All-Pro returner in Gunner Olszewski. With both players gone this season, there is a need to find a new reliable returner. And as of right now, Montgomery appears to be the front runner for kick returns.

Because the running back room is not necessarily a weakened area on the team, Montgomery’s versatility is serving him well to earn a spot on the roster come September.

How has Montgomery looked during training camp?

Throughout the first seven practices, Montgomery has been used all over the field. He’s seen good time as a running back, receiver, and kick returner sometimes all within the same day.

His contributions in multiple areas on the team are being noticed, particularly with White remaining on the P.U.P. list and Stevenson limited during Wednesday’s practice. Montgomery has been one of the more consistent offensive players in camp thus far, making him one of the better Belichick signings of this past free agency.