INDIANAPOLIS – New assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery has two core principles he wants the running backs in his room to live by.
"There are two things we want to be known for," Montgomery told a group of local reporters at the Combine this week. "We want to protect the quarterback and we want to protect the football. All the rest of the accolades will come at the end of the year if we do those things."
Montgomery joins Dan Campbell's staff as the new assistant head coach and running backs coach, replacing Duce Staley, who left to join Carolina's staff to be closer to family. Montgomery was the Colts' running backs coach the last two years but also has experience as a head coach and offensive coordinator in the college ranks.
He interviewed with Campbell for the open offensive coordinator position last offseason that ultimately went to Ben Johnson.
"To be able to acquire him as our running back coach/assistant head coach from the Colts, man, was big," Campbell said of Montgomery. "So, I think he's going to be an outstanding teacher. I think he's got a lot of versatility. He's coached the receivers, he's coached running backs. He's been a head coach, he's been a coordinator. He's worked with quarterbacks. So, I just think that this is a talented coach, man, that's got a lot of wisdom."
Montgomery inherits a Lions running back room coming off a career season in which the team rushed for 1,880 yards, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. Veteran Jamaal Williams led the way with his first 1,000-yard season and broke the single-season franchise rushing touchdown record with 17. Williams is an unrestricted free agent, but there's mutual interest on both sides for him to re-sign.
Montgomery said he's excited to work with the running backs in that room when they return to the building for the offseason training program.
"There's things that we think we can get better at," he said. "Let's go do that. It's not my job to say who's going to be in the room. My job is to say how hard I'm going to coach these guys. I'm going to coach the hell out of whoever is in the room."
Montgomery said he's also eager to start working with D’Andre Swift and see where he can go as a player entering his fourth season. Swift has all the tools to be a productive back in this league, but injuries have limited him some early in his career. Montgomery said all the tools are there for Swift to be a great player.
View photos of the linebackers at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisville linebacker Yasir Abdullah runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisville linebacker Yasir Abdullah runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Nebraska linebacker Ochaun Mathis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Nebraska linebacker Ochaun Mathis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas linebacker Lonnie Phelps runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas linebacker Lonnie Phelps runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama linebacker Henry To'Oto'O runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama linebacker Henry To'Oto'O runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oregon linebacker DJ Johnson runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia Tech linebacker Charlie Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas linebacker Demarvion Overshown runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
TCU linebacker Dee Winters runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
TCU linebacker Dee Winters runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Georgia Tech linebacker Charlie Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana linebacker Cam Jones runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana linebacker Cam Jones runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Montgomery helped Jonathan Taylor become a superstar ball carrier in Indianapolis, and also played a key role in making him a better pass blocker, receiver and overall more complete player. Montgomery said coaching a player the caliber of Taylor helped him become a better coach because it made him find unique ways to make an already terrific player even better. Those are the things he'll bring to that room in Detroit.
"Overall if I had to put three words together (to describe the kind of room I want to have) it would smart, tough and reliable," Montgomery said. "We got to protect the football and protect the quarterback and work our (butt) off on doing those things."
