Has Running Back become the biggest need?
by Crackback on Feb 28, 2010 8:28 PM EST
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The Jets offense is largely predicated on having a strong, physical running game, i.e. Ground & Pound. However, the loss of Thomas Jones, the uncertainty surrounding Leon Washington's recovery (will he fully recover, and when will he be ready?), and the uncertainty regarding Shonn Greene's ability to stay healthy while carrying the load over the course of an entire season has turned what was once deemed a certain strength of the offense into... well... an uncertainty. It may be prudent for the Jets to expend their first pick of the 2010 draft on a running back. The Jets' heavy emphasis on a strong running attack almost mandates that they do.
Nowadays many NFL teams utilize a runnging-back-by-committee approach (e.g. Cowboys of this past year, Giants of two years ago). The Jets followed this approach last year and it served them well. Shonn Green stepped in nicely for Leon Washington as #2 back after Leon's horrific injury, and then he smoothly transitioned into the role of the primary back in the post-season. The Jets would be ill-advised to enter the 2010 season with just a 2-back approach.
This year's draft is loaded with talent at the running back position. Better yet, the backs best suited for the Jets style of offense are very likely to be available at the 29th pick. Some of my favorites include:
- Ryan Matthews, Fresno State
- Toby Gerhart, Stanford
- Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
- Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
- LaGarrette Blount, Oregon
These are all big powerful backs that would fit nicely into Rex's Ground & Pound running style. Matthews is considered by many to be the best of the bunch with the perfect blend of power and speed (220, 4.4). Gerhart is my personal favorite with his 230+ pound frame, 4.5 speed and excellent footwork. Regardless of who the Jets select, a good back is needed fill the void left by Jones. And it is all the more imperative with the uncertainty surrounding Leon.
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I think a lot of these guys will be there later.
Blount should probably be around at least to the 3rd/4th area, I would think, and if we are hoping Greene is our feature back, then I don’t like the idea of picking a running back first, especially when there are so many talented backs who will be available on day two. I’d rather look at a Javarris James, Joe McKnight (depending where he ends up going, some mocks have him outside the top 3 rounds), Stafon Johnson, Andre Dixon, are a few guys among many who are talented running backs. We also have Chauncey Washington, who has good size at 6’1 230, and was solid in a crowded USC backfield, rushing for 744 on 157 carries for 9 TD’s in 2006, and 969 on 195 carries and 10 TD’s in 2007.
Nothing remarkable, but he could serve as a serviceable back, especially behind our line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfO1IsXAtQ
"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS
I think the USC backs are over-rated. None them of late have panned out in the NFL. And if Washington was any good he wouldnt have been sharing time in college, and would have at least gotten some playing time in the pros. With a position of such importance to this team, waiting my be a bad idea when you can get yourself a perfect fit. I say grab Gerhart with the first and go best available with the second. If we a 3rd and 4th round pick, I might be willing to wait. But since we don’t, why wait when we rely so heavily on our running game?
Washington came into USC the same year as Reggie Bush
he was pretty good. He wasn’t taking spots from Bush or White, and when they left, he got to play, and produce, though again, while he got a good amount of carries, he wasn’t a “feature back”, but that isn’t an indictment of him, Reggie Bush shared carries, and was one of the best college backs ever. Lots of teams use more then one running back.
As for getting more time in the NFL, he hasn’t exactly been around forever, and we have seen practice squad successes lately in Derrick Ward and Ryan Grant, who both turned out to be very good players.
I think Gerhart and Greene is redundant. I love Gerhart as a college player, but there are just as good or better NFL prospects available later without as much hype. I don’t know about Gerhart, I think he may be good, but he also could be another Ron Dayne. When we already have 2 backs in place and are looking for a guy to be insurance and maybe gets 6 or 8 carries a game I hate spending a first round pick on that. Good running backs are there to be found in later rounds. Our two current running backs are 3rd and 4th round picks. I’m all for picking up depth in later rounds, but not in the first round on a guy who will be number 3 on the depth chart, and if things go according to plan (Greene emerging as feature back, Leon recovering) won’t even get many touches.
I also think we are going to be much more balanced next year. We ran about 60 percent of the time, and Ryan mentioned he wants a more balanced attack next year. We will still primarily be a running team, but I look for about a 55/45 split instead of 60/40, with us moving towards 50/50 the more Sanchez progresses.
"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS
I cant disagree with much of what you said. But my thoughts are that since we don’t have a 3rd and 4th, im not comfortable waiting all the way to the 5th for a guy we very well may have to rely on heavily. And i figure that the talent at the late first and second round are very simialr, so just grab your guy while he’s there.
Im honestly very concerned that Leon is done. I just cant see him being the same guy after that injury, with his style and everything. And i really think that Greene might be a bust. Not bc he cant play, but I think he’s going to be injury prone.
I think Gerhart deserves the hype. Not a Ron Dayne type at all. Dayne avoided contact for what ever reason. Gerhart doesnt. Gerhart’s lower half is huge, he can take a beating, he has excellent feet and balance, and he uses his blocks well. And i like the idea of having 2 big pounding backs that can come at the defense in waves and keep each other fresh. And if Leon comes around we can use him strictly in passing downs.
How about this CB...
just came to me when I was posting in another topic.
We tender Leon with a 2nd, somebody bites. We let Leon walk, take the pick, sign Sproles.
We now have 3 picks in the top 60 or so and are in good position to fill our 3 main needs, as Sproles in for Leon takes a lot of the question from the RB situation away, because we take Leon’s leg out of the equation, and we can potentially come out of the draft with Kyle Wilson, Jerry Hughes, and Jordan Shipley, and you aren’t really losing anything with Sproles taking over for Leon. Seem’s like something Mike T would do.
"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS
Honestly, i would you know what in my pants if we could do that. Thats a dream scenario right there.
If Leon walks and is still a stud somewhere else
I will be SOOOOO mad
I would be very, very unhappy if the Jets went in this direction. You don’t use a first or second round pick on a guy who is going to spend his career as a third string player. It’s so easy to find a back for cheap, and our offensive line would make a lot of runners look really good.
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I guess it depends on what you think you’ve got in Greene and your expectations in Leon.
Unfortunately, I think Leon is done and will never be the same. I hope Im wrong, but I have a hard time believing that a player with his style can ever be the same after the injury he suffered.
I think Greene is a #2 back. A guy that can give you some pop off of the bench, but not able to withstand the pounding game after game. I think he has a low pain thresh-hold and will sit out too often when he’s able to play.
Im also a big fan of having what is essentially 2 primary backs. Having two big guys that can punish defenses and limit each other’s carries and save each other from accumulating too much punishment.
For these reasons, ensuring that we get the best back for us is probably the most important pick of our draft.
Are you concerned with Shonn Greene because of his injury in the AFC Championship game?
I don’t even remember what his injury was. I’m pretty sure he got hurt in the ribs, right?
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