Start Me Up: Running Back
Thomas Jones was supposed to be the big splash last year, but other issues arose and although Jones’ leadership was admired as he taught Leon quite a bit, he didn’t have the stats that people hoped for. Jones, now 30, has some analysts expecting a surge and others wondering if he can ever be what he once was in Chicago at that magical barrier age for running backs.
So far, Jones has been slow to get going this preseason and more and more folks seem to be wondering if he’ll ever get back to a four yard per carry average. Whether he can or can’t he’ll grind out tough yards, and has some help in Leon Washington and Jesse Chatman, eventually.
16 Responses to Start Me Up: Running Back
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Pete57 says:
With all the additions we’ve made, the running game is now the #1 question mark. If the Jets can run the ball even moderately well, our offense will be very dangerous.
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Harlan Lachman says:
Pete wins a Kewpie for being spot on. Our running game is the #1 question mark. To some extent that is obvious because we invested the most money to fix that problem: hiring Callahan, signing Faneca and Woody and Richardson. One doesn’t fix what ain’t broke. Moreover, the running game’s success will likely determine how successful a NE team will be.
Spent is out of touch though. Going from a lot less than four yards per carry to a Jim Brownesque 5.45 ypc is not realistic, especially for a big back without breakaway speed.
h
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ramble914 says:
The question is not whether T. Jones can run, but if the OL can open holes. If the OL can, then so can T. Jones. Put a competant OL in front of him, which we have, and he will avg. 4 yds/carry.
With two new members of the OL, it mat take some time for them to gel and work in unison, but it will happen.
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Nelson17 says:
Maybe is he lifting in the off season he would be a better back
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lifted*
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Johnny Styne says:
Jones looks slower than Blair Thomas hitting the hole — If he can’t get the job done we have options — End of story –
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hank/naples says:
Harlan;
You are partly right with TJ being a big back without breakaway speedbut, as I have mentioned before, TJ needs time AND space to get going. I compare him to a 747 lifting off. Although we did some great things during the off season I believe a some of this will be negated by the way Farve hands off. Farve telegraphs his hand-offs and does no tfake very well. He will produce the same numbers as last year. I look for Washington to be the full beneficiary of our front line improvements and he will have a ALL-Pro year. -
PS. Last year he ran for 1120 yds. Thats not too bad, is it?
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Reprocity says:
Jones ran hard behind a bad line and didnt give up. I have never seen such a tough season for a running back who got over 1100yrds. How many times was he hit in the back field? Hank, it’s like a 747 with 20 feet to take off and a cliff!
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Reprocity:
You’re right. It’s really something else that he was able to run last year for 1100 yds. I don’t expect more this year because our run w/TJ will be in the same with Farve this year as our pass was w/Pennington last year. -
roof says:
maybe if TJ keeps hitting the curling bar, our run attack will be ok, we all know outragiouslys large, almost wwe level biceps = running yds right?
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I know how we win the SB, we send T. Jones and V. Gholston out for the coin toss shirtless, the other teams will forfeit every game.
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All Things NY says:
I agree that TJ is a little slow hitting the hole, and with that statement…
My only knock on TJ is that if you are a little slow hitting the hole, then you must bulldoze your way into the hole.. and considering all this bicep talk, he better be ready to bust out them guns when **** hits the fan
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Joseph Covington says:
TJ is gonna rip and run the afc east. The OL is thick and quick and smart. BF is gonna trick and make sick the Def in the way. The jets are gonna win 4 and then gel. PS. Have U seen the size of our Def line. BEAST I SAY BEAST. two256@yahoo.com.
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dakar says:
if we can manage to have 65 snaps on offense a game i would like the carries between TJ and LEON to be 20 each…and 25 pass plays for BF…that would be awsome…but if we have alot of 3 and outs like last year we wont see LEON again this year…
This guy needs to put up or retire. I want to see 120 yards on 22 carries with 1 TD. Show us something!