Posted on July 15th, 2008 by Bassett
First in a series of position rundown posts (I got the idea from Mike Reiss) leading into the Jets training camp, today focusing on running backs:
| STRENGTHS |
Experience. With Thomas Jones atop the chart, there are still three players (Leon Washington, Jesse Chatman & Musa Smith) who have started an NFL game. Jones is still the lead back and has the one-cut style that will work better with the reworked line this year. Behind him, Leon Washington is an explosive threat with a another gear outside the tackles. Chatman and Smith are more the same downhill / one-cut runners that Jones is so expect them in break the glass emergency situations. Undrafted rookie Danny Woodhead is a smaller back who played at D-II Chadron State breaking divisional records and will have to make the 53 man roster as a special teamer, but projects to the squad. |
| WEAKNESSES |
As we learned last year, this unit is only as good as it’s line. With Jones as the lead back, more often than not, this unit will need the lanes to gain yards. The success of this group will depend on the cohesion of the guys in front of them. |
| QUESTIONS |
Can the running game improve in short yardage situations? Will a return to stability allow for more carries for Leon? Can Thomas Jones stay healthy? Who will be the fourth (and maybe fifth) running back on this roster? |
| ANALYSIS |
With an upgraded line and some additions at blocking skill players along with Bill Callahan to work with the line, the running game should be much improved, but it still might take a few weeks for them to get into the groove. If the Jets keep Smith or Chatman, they will have valuable insurance for Thomas Jones, a player who although didn’t take the traditional pounding earlier in his career, will reach that magic number for running backs (30) before the season starts. |
| FUTURE |
Thomas Jones is in the second year of a four year deal signed through 2010. Leon Washington is locked until 2009, but the team might look to re-sign him this coming offseason. Jesse Chatman signed a one year deal, and Musa Smith might have done the same, but no contract details were announced. |
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Summarizing, the Jet backfield situation is certainly adquate to compete with playoff-type teams. The improvement in the OL and depth at RB including Richardson, make this a team strength. On paper, the Jets look strong enough in the backfield to survive the loss of any of their players.
If TJ is ever going to have a big year in a Jets uniform, this is it. I think he will.
Although we dont have big name players. We at least have great depth at that position. Wish I can say the same about the O-line
One thing that surprised me about TJ was his success as a receiver. I looked at FO’s numbers quickly, but he might have been, overall, the Jets best pass receiver last year. Who knew?
Just for clarity 1) Woodhead isn’t smaller per se, he’s shorter.
2) He holds many NCAA ALL-division career and season
records (including career rushing yards @ 7962 yds).
3) Is there a faster Jet?
Unless you are L.T. or Adrian Peterson, you are only as good as your O-Line.
1500 yards this year plus 8 TDs for TJ. Anything less is unacceptable.
LT and AD are would do better than Thomas Jones behind our line last year but not a ton better. Maybe 200 yrds better 3 tds better.
Adrian Peterson wouldn’t have lasted four games with last year’s line.
Is 1500 yds and 10 TDs about what we should expect out of TJ this year?
My point was that while Thomas Jones is a good, hard nosed running, he needs his line to create holes for him.
As opposed to LT or AD or even Larry Johnson, those guys can make plays on their own.
TOON2388,
I said 1500 yards and 8 Tds because TJ doesnt really break long runs for Tds. Also, we dont have a proven legitmate red zone threat on our team yet so look for us to struggle running the ball inside the 10 because most teams will know that we are running the ball.
Inside the 10, we either throw a fade or run up the middle and teams will key on that which is why I think we will struggle in the red zone. Unless guys like Bubba Franks and Dustin Keller can step up.
newyorkjets.dk has been running this sort of series for quite a while now. I realise its in danish, but it, like this, is good stuff.
Bassett, Could you explain why Tony Richardson was omitted?
Howard Tish also noted that his contribution could be huge. We have not had a good blocking back in years (Lorenzo Neal?).
Tony eliminates the need for another receiving back, may make Leon or Woodhead if he even makes the team more effective by creating a sliver of a hole.
Tony R either belongs with the OL or RB. IMHO, if our running game takes off, he will be a key (the key?) reason.
harlan
LJ didn’t do so well after he lost his linemen and his lead blocker who coincidentally went to A Peterson. And A Pete has one of the best lines, top 10 rated, in the NFL but now lost his lead blocker.
I’m not saying they aren’t good but it’s not like they had Adriene Clark blocking for them.
And TJ ran well without an exceptional line so that just means he’d do much better with the KC line from a couple of years ago or the top 10 line of the Vikes.
Harlan,
I agree 100%. Tony Richardson is the guy that puts this running unit over the top. We know the left side will be terrific with Faneca, but Richardson adds whole extra element. The running attack is key to the success of the quarterback…whoever it is.
I mean just mentioning Adrien Clarke makes my stomach churn.
1500 yds and 8 td’s from TJ is not out of the question, I honestly believe he can surpass these numbers, if he is healthy. Agree that Tony R. should be listed here, as he is the blocking bruiser this backfield needs. This unit will be 10x better than last year cause of the improved OL. Dont forget Chatman coming in on certain situations as he didnt do too bad for the Dolphins last year.
Tj has never gotten to 1500 yds in his career. I find it surprising that people would suggest that as acceptable. If he gets 1500 yds and 8 TDs I would be ecstatic. More realistically, I think that Washington and Chatman, to an extent, will take carries away from TJ and that he will finish more in the range of 1350 yds and 6-7 TDs. A very good season but not 1500 yds. The Jets blocking should be improved but I don’t think they will produce a 1500 yd back. In fact, not a single back broke 1500 yds last year and only 5 did it in ‘06 (LT, LJ, Gore, Barber and Steven Jackson). I am not enough of a fool to put Jones in that category.
I’m excited to see what Leon can do behind a vastly improved offensive line. I love this guy. He’s the electric playmaker we always seem to forget that we have!
I expect Thomas Jones to put up yardage only slightly better than last year, in the 1200s, with a marked increase in TDs, with 6 or 7. The main improvement I look for is the relative ease with which we should be able to pound it up the middle for 4 yards when we need to. Couldn’t do that last year!
Who cares how many yards he gets!! Is this a fantasy forum or the jets blog? As long as he and the other running backs control the game and convert on 3rd and short and goal situations, I dont care what the stats are.
Recent Super Bowl Champions:
2007 Pats- Maroney, 835 yds
2006 Colts- Addia, 1081 yds
2005 Steelers- Parker, 1202 yds
2004 Pats- Dillon, 1635 yds
2003 Pats- Antwan Smith, 642 yds
2002 Bucs- Pittman, 718 yds
2001 Pats- Smith, 1157 yds
I think I get the point!!
Anthony,
A very fair point indeed, this is a post about the running back position as a whole, not just TJ, and their numbers collectively are truly what matters, instead of 1500 yards for one player maybe the goal should be 2000+ yards for all of them. I wouldn’t be too quick to project a dramatic increase in TJs TDs for the same reason, with Chatman, Musa Smith, Richardson and Caulcrick back there I would expect 10+ rushing TDs this year, but I don’t know how many TJ would get himself.
I expect Jones to rush for around 1250-1400 yards, with 6-10 TD’s. Leon will take touches away from him, and Chatman may as well.
Thanks Sec108, but I will go one step further in saying I dont care how many yards the team rushes for as a whole!! Generic stats, in football especially, are hard to judge a team by. There are too many contingencies. If the Jets run for a lot of yardage, and a lot of carries, it is the best possible scenario– it means they are not playing from behind as much!!!
Anthony,
I agree to an extent, but you have to admit it bodes very well for the jet offense and even the team as a whole to be able to rush for 2000+ yards, it would mean that our O line make over was a success, that the offense was able to impose its will on defenses for long stretches, that much pressure was alleviated on the QB (whomever that turns out to be), all very good things for the success of the Jets this season.
Anthony get your numbers correct before you try to make a point.
Recent Superbowl Champions
2007 PATS?
Think before you write!
i think if we keep leon long enough he could be a franchise back like how tkie barber turned out 2 be wit the giants
Curtis Marting eclipsed the 1500 yrd mark with the JETS two times. TJ needs a few more TD and the same amount of yards with less carries while Leon needs to have a lot more touches either in the running game or receiving. Teams with over 2000 yds rushing tend to have very good seasons… Just ask Elway and Aikmen!
My bad- As I was doing research I wanted to add them because they were the most explosive offense of all time, and I put them under the heading by accident– kill me.
FYI Harlan – I assume Richardson and Caulcrick were not mentioned because fullbacks will be covered separately (although I maintain that Jeebus is more of a ball carrier than a blocking back).