Link: RB Competition
John Clayton of ESPN.com recently listed his top five position battles to keep an eye on during training camp, and coming in at number two is the Jets RB competition.
2. New York Jets: RB LaDainian Tomlinson versus RB Shonn Greene: Although Tomlinson was brought in to share the position with Greene, coach Rex Ryan has to figure out during practices and in preseason games how to use both backs. Greene is the ideal first- and second-down back because of his powerful running style and his ability to gain yards between the tackles. Tomlinson is a future Hall of Famer who wants to prove the Chargers wrong for letting him go. Can he accept more of a backup role, or will he want to establish himself as the starter?
While Clayton makes valid points, in the end I still see Shonn Greene as the Jets starting RB come September 13th. He has the edge right now over LT. As Clayton mentioned, Greene is younger, more powerful and great between the tackles. All signs point to Greene as the Jets lead back.
On a side note I am surprised to see this so high up on Clayton’s list. I’m not even sure this is the biggest battle on the team as the Ducasse and Slauson fight for the starting left guard spot is going to come down to the wire.
What do you guys think? Anyway LT is the starter when the season opens?
25 Responses to Link: RB Competition
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Agree completely. Greene is the every down back. Might see Tomlinson on some third and longs.
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I think the media wants to blow this up to be much more bigger than it actually is. Seeing the downfall of a HOF back like LT is something the rest of the country will thrive on. The fact is that both of these guys have a good understanding of each other and what is expected of them. As long as they can work together and feed off each other than it shouldn;t be an issue. Greene probably sees more carries but that’s nto to say LT can;t get hot at certain points and hvae big games too. Rex is great at dealing with egos and as much as all the naysayers would want to see it, there really shouldn;t be that much of a battle.
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No I really don’t see it. I am on record for being against the LT signing, mainly because we had just finished releasing Thomas Jones who I had so much respect for. He was a team leader and one of the hardest working guys on the team. Not to mention that TJ finished 3rd in the AFC in rushing last year and led the AFC in rushing in ’08. So basically I think releasing Thomas Jones was a terrible move and I don’t think LT has much in the tank. I guess we can use him on screen plays every now and then but I am a HUGE believe in the human bowling ball. I think there is no doubt Shonn Greene should be the starter at RB and I think he will. I just hope he learns to not cough up that old pigskin. The kid is an absolute MONSTER however. One last thing, I am really going to miss Leon he was a great Jet and a very likeable guy, but as far as production we aren’t going to be missing that much because I think Joe McKnight was a better option than Leon coming off that injury. And Kyle Wilson will take over the return duties, so Leon will be missed, but also replaced rather easily.
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as of right now,I honestly believe they are both gonna touch the ball almost around the same amount of times. Yeah,LT will catch the ball out of the backfield more which I already figured into my opinion. I just hope they BOTH stay HEALTHY!
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I brought this article up yesterday and just laughed about how people just don’t do research on the Jets and then write articles on the team.
LT was brought in knowing he was not the starter. He’s accepted his mentor role, and according to some early reports he is enjoying it. Clayton is usually pretty solid, but come on, LT is not starting.
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i agree – this is a terrible article by Clayton.
this isnt a battle at all, if anything the competition is media driven. the war machine was our go to back at the end of last year, and he had beat out TJ who was in the process of completing a 1,400 yard, #1 RB year. LT isnt that type of player. he was brought in to get 5-10 carries a game, catch balls out of the backfield, and mentor greene and mcknight
this is not a position battle at all
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The more I read of John Clayton, the more I realize he only LOOKS smart. He actually rarely says anything insightful, but the fact that he’s old, has an odd-shaped head and wears spectacles makes us assume what he’s saying is profound. Plus, ESPN always refers to him as “The Professor” or some other such asinine nickname, further leading us to believe he’s a football genius. He’s an average sports writer at best.
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I don’t think this is competition at all… I thought LT was brought in just to help ?
Besides how many teams go with just one RB anyway ? I feel like those 2 are our starting backs.
I also think that LT will do pretty well behind a good line and not being the primary runner. Too many people are saying he has nothing left. Thomas Jones didn’t have much left aside from being a savvy vet that knows how to get yards behind a huge line. I think LT is just as savvy and will be pretty impressive.
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Clayton really has lost his feel for NFL news. First he says that Dustin Keller is going to be extended this year, now he says that Shonn vs. LDT is a legitimate training camp battle. LDT will get his 10 touches a game, but the War Machine is the horse.
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Does this story originate with Clayton looking at the depth chart and then raising a competition issue, or is derived from a conversation he had with someone who might know what they are talking about?
Although I fully expect a healthy Greene to be the primary runner on this team and do not see any competition, Clayton, nevertheless, is a reliable sports reporter who has earned the respect that he has in the ESPN community despite his age, appearance or whatever other nonsense is applied to him. -
There is no debate that Greene is going to be the starting back, but there is a possibility that Greene and LT2 may split quarters in my opinion. Have Greene bruise up the D line for LT2 and McKnight to split carries in the later quarters. This is formula I’m hoping and hopefully it works out that way.
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LDT is what a lot of people use. let him call the guy LT2 if he wants to. Everyone knows there’s only one real LT.
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Tomlinson has primarily been referred to as LT pretty much his entire career. LT2 is queer and the original LT is a rapist.
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btw – obviously he can call him whatever he wants, I’ll make fun of LT2 every time I see it though.
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I like LDT.
Lawrence Taylor’s legal issues and poor life decisions aside, he still has my respect for his career as a football player.
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daddybe1 says:
Last year the jets were trying to give who ever was hot the ball but greene hurt himself with the fumbles or injuries so I’m pretty sure they will continue that idea
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How’s LTDeux sound then? HAHA There’s only one LT and LJ in my opinion…. Didn’t realize people were using LDT, will keep that in mind next time jeez…
The ONLY way LT starts over Greene is if Greene gets injured. LT is washed up and has zero chance of winning a competition for the starting RB position against Greene. That said, I think LT even as a shell of his former self will be an asset on the goal line and in passing situations as a blocker/receiver and possibly to take a handful of carries/game. If Greene doesn’t stay healthy we’re probably in some trouble at RB.