He is on pace for the same amount of 2nd down carries this year, its just the splits are different because the Jets didnt get as many of these 2nd and longs. Jones YPC in the last 5 years on 2nd and 8-10 yards, once you take out the 1 long run from the stats, are 3.5, 3.4, 3.6, 3.2, and 2.8.

He is in a lot more 2 and long spots because Leon is hurt and TJ used to be on the sidelines in those situations.

Also, the lack of a blocking TE hurts.

Jones is a proven very solid running back, to claim he is “not very good” is absurd and can not go unanswered, no matter what your stats say.

If you want to compare to last year, there is really only one area where he falls way short. He is way down in attempts of less than 2 yards from last season (he is on pace for 13, and last year he had 22) and completely ineffective in that role this year. He has 8 yards on 8 carries with a long of 11, so he effectively gains nothing. Last year he averaged 5.1 in that spot. His 3-7 totals are nearly identical. He gets caught in a ton more 2nd and long 8-10 yards spots this year than last. The stats are identical though, but because they run him more his overall numbers look lower. The other area where he is way off is the 2nd and 11+. The Jets have given up using him in that situation.

I think the Jets problems really come on 1st down. They dont pass nearly as much as last season (nor should they with Sanchez) and its leaving them in a ton of 2nd and 8+ situations where they are forced to turn to Jones again and in general Jones is no good. I dont care much for Schottenheimer but he has been saddled with a running back that puts up big season numbers because he occasionally breaks a big run and is one of the few 1 back system players remaining, but is not very good. Its not a Sanchez problem or a Schotty problem its a personnel problem in that regard. Where Schottenheimer is guilty is that when Jones is going well (such as the Bills game this year or that Eagles game in 2007) he still loses faith and stops using him in crucial spots.

My pet peeves are:

1) No running in the red zone
2) No screen game
3) No passes to the RBs or FBs
4) Too many gadget plays
5) Too many pass plays where the receivers are bunched
6) Too many empty backfields
7) Too few play action passes
8) Too much running left
9) Stops running a play that works over and over to force the defense to stop it

Generally, I wish Schotty’s offense was less complex and I think he abandons the run too early. I also thinks there is a structural flaw in his offense that causes too many INTs. Sure, he’s working with his 4th QB, but other teams have had back up or young QBs and gotten more out of them. Plus, few teams have as good an OL and running game as the Jets. Yet, the Jets’ offense has been the weak link on this team since Schott’s been hired. I just think the Jets’ offense should be better and it isn’t.

The bottom line is that the Jets need to find a hot veteran coordinator, who can become mentor, guidance counselor, guide, and teacher to Sanchez. And then it will work.

Cursed? No. [crappy] luck and overall management? Yes.