Jason LaCanfora caught up with Rex Ryan at the Combine and asked about his rookie QB, the team’s final four restrictions, and Thomas Jones (this was from the past weekend).
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03. Mar, 2010
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03. Mar, 2010
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03. Mar, 2010
[...] thejetsblog.com » Video Link: LaCanfora & Ryan [...]
Here’s Joe Caporoso at TOTJ on whether or not Shonn Greene is ready to replace Thomas Jones:
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With the release of Thomas Jones coming this Friday, the torch is being passed to Shonn Greene as the Jets #1 running back. Greene took the NFL by storm during the first two rounds of the NFL playoffs last season. In the wild-card round against Cincinnati, he rushed for 135 yards on 21 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and had a 39 yard touchdown run. In the divisional round against San Diego, he rushed for 128 yards on 23 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and had a 53 yard touchdown run.
Those were two terrific performances that were somewhat foreshadowed at other points during the Jets regular season. Greene racked up 144 yards on only 19 carries during a week 7 win against the Raiders. He put up solid efforts against the Bills (11 carries, 59 yards), Bucs (6 carries, 41 yards), Colts (16 carries, 95 yards), and in the regular season finale against the Bengals (13 carries, 62 yards). These weren’t earth-shattering games but they showed Greene’s natural talent. He has a tremendous burst through the hole, is rarely tackled by the first guy who hits him, and has a second gear that allows him to rip off long runs.
There is no reason not to be excited about Greene’s potential to be franchise running back. By any account, he had a very good rookie year but let’s take off the green and white shades for a moment and look at some facts you can’t ignore:
—Greene came off the bench last season and gashed defenses after Thomas Jones had softened them up. He rarely received carries in the 1st and 3rd quarter. His production was absolutely enhanced by having a bruising back in front of him.
—Despite only having 108 carries in the regular season, Greene dealt with multiple injury issues in his rookie year. He missed nearly all of the pre-season and was inactive week 1 because of a rib injury. He was knocked out of the AFC Championship Game with a rib injury after only having 41 yards on 10 carries (a 4.1 average, which is down from the previous two playoff games). During training camp he also had an ankle injury and late in the regular season, he was on the injury report with a shoulder injury.
—Greene lost three fumbles during the regular season. He lost a fourth one in week 17 but it was called back because of a penalty.
—Greene had zero receptions during the regular season and only one during the playoffs.
—Despite the previously mentioned impressive stat lines, he also had these not so impressive outings against Miami (8 carries, 18 yards), Jacksonville (7 carries, 26 yards), New England (3 carries, -1 yard), Carolina (10 carries, 36 yards), Atlanta (8 carries, 30 yards).
I hate to take off those green and white shades and be so negative but the reality is Greene still has plenty to prove. There is big difference between coming off the bench and having a couple of great games and being a #1 back week in and week out for entire season. He needs to work on his consistency, ball protection, and receiving skills. You can’t have a #1 back who fumbles and who goes through the entire season without catching a single pass. . . .
The torch has been passed to Shonn Greene, let’s all hope he is ready to take it.
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Interesting that Ryan says in the video clip that even though Thomas Jones is a “great player,” Mike T has the final say in all personnel decisions.
This was prior to the team announcing that TJ would be released. But it’s as if Rex was distancing himself from taking responsibility for what was to come.
And now the players appear to be pissed.
According to Joe Caporoso:
“Brandon Moore, Damien Woody, Alan Faneca and a few other anonymous players are expressing their dissatisfaction with the decision [to cut TJ]. As one player said, it doesn’t make the locker room happy when somebody like Vernon Gholston gets his money and another chance next year but Thomas Jones can’t collect his bonus money and is sent packing.”
Of course he has lots to prove, but in tandem with Leon, this will be a very solid backfield.
The things that still kills me about people who talk about TJ is the misconception that he is a bruiser. Sure he is built like an adonis, but he certainly should was never be confused as a bruiser.
This isn’t going to divide the locker room or anything. Guy swill be pissed, but when it comes time to strap up the chinstraps they’ll be fine.
following the blog, great stuff!