The Wonderfully Resurgent Thomas Jones?
Dave Hutchinson writes a quick blurb in the Star-Ledger on Thomas Jones and how his game is helping this offense become a more consistent threat.
The workmanlike Jones ranks second in the AFC and ninth in the NFL with 601 yards and five touchdowns on 134 carries (a healthy 4.5-yard average) this season. He also has 20 catches for 104 yards and a score.
Last season the ninth-year pro has just one touchdown on 310 carries, rushing for 1,119 yards and a paltry 3.6-yard average.
I think what we’re seeing is the proof that Jones’ game didn’t fly out the window, it was his blocking that did. Second, Jones is finally getting into a rhythm with his offensive line. I was concerned about Jones working with a worse Jets line before camp in 2007, and it played out as part of a larger unraveling of the Jets team. As of last week, Football Outsiders ranked the Jets run-blocking as a stunning fourth best in the league as compared with 21st in 2007. That’s quite a jump.
Generally, as the line goes, so does a team’s running backs.
So, the first part is that his line is actually playing better than he is, a first since his Chicago days. Also, keep in mind that Jones didn’t get a lot of touches early in his career in Arizona, so he’s probably a lot fresher than your average 30 year old running back.
Looking at last weeks game against the Bills. The Jets running game proved a lot to me. Although Buffalo has one of the most fearsome defensive lines in the league, I wrote that even though they were a stout defense, there was potential for the Jets to break some runs if they could get enough hats on the defensive lineman springing runners into the second level, the Jets did it and it showed in Jones running game and 5.8 YPC average.
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I also remember a comment here that Jones always went down at first contact. I watched for that in the replays and didn’t see much to support the claim. Although, LW carried the kicker for six or seven steps earlier and holds the record for the longest carry.
billvv -
Whoever said that is a moron. TJ is, without a doubt, one of the toughest runners in the league.
Lets also not forget that TJ is no Ronnie Brown or even Ricky Williams and that with Favre (INT machine though he may be), the JETS improved offensive line doesn’t have to deal with 11 guys in the box focusing on the run!
I’m pretty sure it was during the off-season, when we were reviewing the Jets players and needs in free agency and the draft. Having the blog history will keep guys honest if we care to go back that far!
Good points everyone!
Jones might have gone down at first contact last season because he was getting hit by 300 pound lineman instead of 240 pound linebackers … which is more a fault of his line’s execution than of Jones … but that’s just anecdotal.
Agreed on Jones versus other runnners ability. I’d always rather have a good line than a good back. I hate going backwards rather than forwards, but you have to think what could have been (at least this season) if the Jets had gotten McFadden in the draft.
Just like people hated Chad for his performance with last years line — TJ has always been able to run. To this day, Shott and Mangini do not use him properly. If they did, Favre wouldn’t be the “interception machine” that DSmiz thinks he is.
If you did look back, most of us bloggers felt that with this year’s line, TJ was going to have a great year. He could, if the coaching staff would let him. I see good things for the future. Our O-Line showed signs of coming together, against a tough Buffalo defense. St. Louis is in trouble. Bring on the Patsys.
i kno it wasnt me i was always a fan of TJ
Harvlis, I love Favre and still love the trade, but he is a certified INT machine! First player ever to throw for 300 INT’s!
My point was simply that his arm keeps defenses honest, and in addition to the OL’s improvement, that has helped TJ.
Whats your problem, mon?
I have stated over the last several weeks that the O-line has shown improvement each week in run blocking. This is the key to TJ’s success. Or any back for that matter. I’ll take a good o=line over a “premier” back any day. Look at how many no name backs Parcells and Belicheck have turned into good runners over the years. I’m not worried about the Interceptions. Our Offense is ranked 17th overall but 8th in scoring. That’s the key. Scoring. Of course we need to do all we can to cut down on INTs (Favre taking better care of the ball, better pass blocking, good communication btween Favre and the receivers), but Favre’s and the O’s ability to score will overcome them. The second half will have some very exciting games for us, and meaningful.
T Jones is a pro’s pro. He comes in here last year and has a line with only 3 viable starting players in Mangold, B moore and brick, runs his heart out and never complains even though its obvious he isnt getting the blocking. I remember he did an interview on FAN with the Carton and Boomer show and Carton is killing him to his face about how he can’t score a touchdown. He said all the right things.
On sunday he took the ball from the seven and ran like he was mad at the world, like no one was gonna stand in his way. Now he’s gonna wind up with over 10 TD’s this year, WINNING PLAYER
Great line over great RB any day. Two best examples of this are the Denver Broncos from 1996 until probably last year or two years ago and the NY Giants now.
Denver was able to put anyone in the backfield and have a 1200 yard rusher. You think Shanahan didnt know that when he traded Portis for a CB?
If TJ had the holes that the Giants provide for Jacobs he would run for 1500 this year.
The line has gotten better but nowhere near as good as the old Broncos and the current Giants.
Eddie DiGio: 100% correct. TJ is the consumate professioanl ala Curtis Martin. Go to war with these guys any day of the week and twice on Sunday as opposed to a disgruntled LT who fights with his QB and seems generally disgruntled.
Really excited about TJ after watching him break some nice runs in the fourth quarter. This team is definitely establishing a rhythm. All I ask is for Farve to put a moratorium on the “im getting sacked! let me try and throw a TD while I’m lying on my back! oh no, it’s a pick-6″ throws.
What a year for the AFC east. 8 games left, and I’m gonna be biting my nails 90% of the time. In my opinion, it’s all gonna come down to these divisional games. If we can take one from the pats and sweep the bills, we’re money in the bank. Then we just have to knock down the Rams and 49ers, then beat one of the following (SHawks, Broncos) who are both proving to be inconsistent floundering squads.
This was a bit of an obvious diatribe, but I’m stoked for the rest of the season!
TJ has been running with a vengange since the first touch against Miami. Farve worshipers on this blog should own up to all the criticisim directed at the CS for giving the to TJ ball in trying to solidify our #1 strength. Now that everyone is on the same page with a Mangini type game and peolple will start to realize that this was our true identity after all. NO MORE A DISFUNCTIONAL OFFENSE!!!. Oue defense will not have to constanly bail us out from thos ridiculous int’. Finally, we can now play our game and start to build our team chemistry. THis was the type of game I was looking/praying for.
I know I’m going to get killed for this but..
I now understand and albeit agree with Mangini for taking the penalty and here’s why. Earlier this morning Kerry Rhodes was a guest on the Boomer & Carton radio show. Boomer asked Kerry a question regarding Mangini’s meeting with the team before the game… Rhodes stated that Mangini let everyone know that moving forward players would be held responsible (no job is safe kind of thing) and that everyone is under the gun to perform on Sunday. That being said, I believe the reason he took that extra yards was to actually motivate his team mainly on defense. Letting them know that it’s up to the players to execute and if you don’t perform then your gonna sit. I think it was one if not the best motivational tactics I’ve seen in recent memory if you ask me. Most coaches would let the offense go for it on 4th and 1 to give them motivation when they pick up the 1st however being that Mangini is a D-minded coach, this is how he motivated.
and to add to my comment … The Jets returned an INT then on the ensuing Bills start of possession, Revis sacked and forced a fumble.
DannyMazz just got killed.
Sorry Danny but you dont give a team a chance to get 7 to motivate a team.
Bad decision by Mangini. He should give Elam his paycheck this week.
Not much else had worked Sean… I mean how pissed off were you when the Bills TE sat in our endzone for 3-4 seconds with no defender in sight on the first possession?
I can only imagine how Mangini and Sutton were feeling.
That was terrible execution and the D needed a spark.
DannyMazz -
The Revis sack/FF/FR was before the Elam INT, not after.
On a separate note, in regard to the possibility of winning the division, this year’s AFC East reminds me A LOT of 2002’s AFC East. The Patriots were having a down year in ‘02 and the division had some pretty good teams, but no great ones. Sound familiar? We won the division at 9-7 that year, and while it’ll probably take 10 wins and a tiebreaker this year, the similarities are striking, IMO.
TJ runs well when the defense is expecting a pass or ina spread formation. When we need a yrd for first down we dont seem to be a ble to play in your face football and get that first down. We will need that in the playoffs!!
I think Schott knew his job was on the line and he knew that after Farves pick six that he had to run the ball and hope for a miracle, which an 8 min drive when the D knows you are going to run is almost just that against Buffalo’s D. Up 12 at that point in 4th with a QB who’s thrown 299ints… RUN!!!
DannyMazz,
Sure I was annoyed but Elam (1st time starting this year) blew the coverage and the Bowens (1st time ever starting at MLB) got beat before that when he left Lynch wide open.
Also considering the D went into the game ranked in the top 5 Im not sure they needed a spark as much as Schottenheimer needed someone to drill into his thick skull that we should be a running offense.
Think of the other side too. What if they dont get the stop there? The Defense is going to be pissed and wonder why the hell their coach left them on the field when he could have limited the Bills to 3 at most.
You must be related to Schott and Mangini because you are clearly out-thinking yourself the same way they have done all season until last week.
Mangini dropped the ball here plain and simple and Elam bailed his butt out.
Revis sack was before the Elam int.
They made their statement when Revis pummeled Edwards.
I agree that it was completely risky and unorthodox and I would never have coach to my kids that way but I still think it took a set of balls to do. Mangini and Westhoff looked to be in agreement on the sidelines after mulling it over.
I could be wring on that but I thought that they looked like they were in deep thought over there.
Regardless like I said beofre I would never make that call but love it or hate it – it took a set to make that call. That sends a message.
I believe that when MANGINI told the “team” that NOONES job was safe,that was HIS way of INDIRECTLY talking to FAVRE. Basically,just letting him know that no matter your “STATUS” and career stats,you WILL be benched if you KEEP making ILLADVISED throws which are resulting in COSTLY turnovers! Which,by the way,I think FAVRE got the message because even tho he threw an interception which unfortunately was returned for a touchdown(i believe his arm was hit on that play which resulted in the “weak” pass) he played a VERY sound/fundamental game!
How did Leon not win the Special Team player of the week award or even get mentioned in Kings MMQB? And how was that not the play of the game when LW touched the ball from out of bounds? Cribbs has a TD and that makes him the Player of the week??? WTF is that?
Revis sack and funmble recovery was the most exiciting play for me. I’ve been waiting for a corner Blitz for a while.
I like TJ. He’s a tough interior runner and sets his blocks up well. My only issue is that he doesn’t have that extra gear to make moves at the second level, like Leon.
Favre keeps getting killed for the INTs. He’s thrown 3 pick 6s this season, 2 in wins. All three were not “gambler” throws and in each the WR had the opportunity to either make the catch or play DB and tackle the CB. And, IMO, 2 were just phenomenal athletic plays by the CB, like Cromartie’s pick and Greer’s. None were a Chad-special of a DB jumping a short out for an easy pick 6 (I think Chad had, at least 3, and maybe 4 of these last season, including one by Greer). The Jets are 5-3 and if the Jets beat the Rams, they will be 6-3. If Favre gets the team to 6-3, he’ll do in 9 games what was the sum total of Chad’s Jets career–lead the team to 3 games over .500. I’m not trying to kill Chad, I’m just trying to put Favre’s season in better perspective.
Favre, with the good and the bad, has had a positive effect on this team as its leader. Read what Jenkins told Favre after that pick 6…don’t worry, we got your back. Favre-haters, that’s team leadership. The Jets got Favre for the total package and that total package is an HOF QB, legendary ironman and, yes, the career INT leader. If Favre continues to win 2 out of 3 games that he throws a pick 6 (and 3 of 4 where a Favre turnover results in a TD), the Jets will be in pretty good shape. And, IMO, it’s a refreshing change that a turnover for a TD by the QB Favre does not automatically result in a loss…I have no stats for this, but I’m willing to wager that Chad lost 2/3 of the games when he gave up a turnover that resulted in a TD. Again, not killing Chad, but trying to put Favre’s overall impact in a different light.
Looks like more and more of you are starting to see the light that running, not passing, is our teams true identity.
Welcome aboard and on to Victory. 10-6 and It’s a new season. GO JETS !!
Hank
I don’t like ripping a coach on one decision, as good or bad as it may turn out. On the whole or not at all. It’s just your opinion, and we all know how the saying goes on that one. Also, a win removes any single call from consideration, period. WTF, over.
Sack I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve already posted it but I’ll do it again. The offense is ranked 17th overall, but 8th in scoring. That’s the Favre effect, at least one of them right there. We score.
THE GAME AT THE END OF THE YEAR W/ MIAMI WILL BE A BIG GAME!!! IT COULD BE OUR 11TH WIN!!!
I think this is the toughest year Brett Favre has had to face in his career. He’s reconciling his previous 16 years with what’s happening for him this year, game by game. You can see him holding his head on the sidelines. I don’t think the coaches are holding him back, I think HE’S struggling with what happens play by play. I don’t think he did that in any previous year. Previous years, I don’t think he CARED what happened. If this works out for him, I think he’ll be a Jet next year and I think there is time and teams to play where he can get it going the way he’d like. One more practice game against STL, then a two game stretch of NE and Tenn that could send him either way.
the problem with leon, is while jones might not break the 50 yard runs, leon has a hard time getting to the second level besides on screen plays
jones is a great back that gets you short 2nd and 3rd downs,
he is not in the top 5 of running backs, but i will take a 5 to 10 any year
also i will say this, chad would not have been able to win that game on sunday, he could not make those short hard passes that brett did all game. plain and simple,
I vote with DannyMazz. At the moment I thought it was a bad decision.
We’re all long suffering Jet fans. How many times have we cried about
losing games because we didn’t take chances. It was 3rd and 15. I believe
there’s a 5% chance the offense will make the first down. Yes they made it.
It could also have resulted in a sack to move them out of field goal range, a fumble or an interception.
We’ll introduce old Willie Shakespeare into JETS football, All’s well that ends well.
Et tu, Cohen ?
johnr – I think Bob has a different viewpoint on your second comment. What a jack-hole that guy is!
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spglaub045911401nov04,0,2395028.column
DSmizzle, I wasn’t arguing with you. Favre has been an interception machine. What I was saying is that, if the coaching staff used the running game properly, Favre would have more time and become more accurate. If that was happening, he would not be an interception machine. Sorry, if it came out wrong.
If our play calling was strong, Favre would look better, TJ and Leon would look better, and there wouldn’t be too many teams that could beat us.
The good news is that the O-line looks like they are gelling and they are healthy. This allows the coaching staff to pull out all the stops, when calling the plays. No excuses. If they use the run correctly, against the Rams, we should punish them on Sunday.
Sack, I agree with you about Favre. What’s more, he’s been making the right reads, just bad throws. The INT on Sunday, Cotch was in single coverage. If Favre makes even a decent throw (as opposed to the horrible throw he made), then Cotch can either catch it or defend against the INT. In his defense, favre was pressured on that play and may have even been hit while throwing. He has 300 INTs, but he also has more attempts than anyone. I wonder how his percentage of INTs vs. attempts stacks up?
Who cares if Favre throws a few picks, he has brought a sence of legitimacy to this team along with the other FA we brought in. IMO we will only get better as the season progresses, we have a lot of talent. 10 or 11 wins is not outof the question this season.