Does this team have the RB's it needs to be a ground and pound, run-first offense? I'm a fan of Shonn Greene, but does he have what it takes to be a feature back in a Rex Ryan run-first offense? As of right now, this team's running offense closer resembles San Diego's or the Saint's - screen passes to quick backs and stout runner up the gut. If we want to be a run first offense, instead of investing in big name WR's, should we have a Ray Rice or MJD type back?
Its tough to evaluate the backs given how badly the offensive line played this year. What concerns me is that neither Powell nor McKnight have seen any significant touches. Young RB's come into the league ahead of most positions and can play more extensively than other positions. Despite the offensive line woes the Jets needed to see if either of these guys could provide a spark. With very few exceptions they didn't do this. If Powell and McKnight are busts it just adds to a growing list of recent draft failures that is getting more and more disturbing. They need to solidify the O line before they even think of signing a big name back. I'm not convinced signing a big name back will help much at all. They need to get the QB position sorted first or its meaningless to waste money on a back. Signing a big time back is for '13 or '14 not this off season.
i agree with this completely. i also think mcknight has a chance to become the future rb of this team. he is the only explosive runner in this team's backfield at this point and he needs to be given the opportunity. That being said the o-line needs to be addressed first
Bush isn't going anywhere. McFadden is too much of a liability with his injuries. My guess is that Oakland tag's him; either franchise or transitional. Should've signed Blount 2 years ago. Or Clay last year.
Greene is a nice 2nd back..they need a RB that has to potential to break a run. Greene doesn't scare any team with the fact he might break a run 75 yards. They need a legit RB threat like Curtis Martin was...just easier said than done.
Green is not a feature back, at best he's a downhill bulldozer, he's got no acceleration or pace, his feet are generally slow with little cut backs. He's used as a dump off receiver & has improved (now he can catch the ball!) but still has the problem that when he does get the ball in space he doesn't have the speed to break away. He's a 3rd down back! McKnight has ability & pace & we should have tried him out more this season, but he's not the elite back the team needs if we have Sanchez behind centre. But Hunter has to be upgraded for any running game to excel, & if the passing game remains as anaemic as it has this season (i.e. no deep threat at all!) then defences will still find it easy to stuff up the run. So the O needs improving at RB, OL & WR. Look back over the season, 8 wins but in reality the Jets O only played well in a couple of games, painful to watch!
what legit RBs are on the market that won't be a franchise player that they could go after? Doubt there is a top tier or top tier potential back out there.
While I do agree about us needing a running back that is more of a threat for the long run, I feel no one has really seen what Greene is really capable of doing. You have to take into account that our offense was a pass first offense the whole year. The one game, we threw the ball 60 something times. It has been proven time and time again that when Greene is given 25+ carries, he runs for over 100 yards. The guy finished the year with 1054 yards, in an offense that was based around the pass. Having two quality backs would be awesome, but until Greene is given 25+ carries a game and until the right tackle is replaced, allowing him to have more quality runs up the gut, then I will not say anything bad about the guy. We have much bigger concerns than a RB right now. We have one who, I think, can be something great. 1000 yard season is sufficient enough for me, especially with how our offense played this year.
Greene hasn't shown the speed to get outside or the power to run inside. All year I still thought LT was the better of the two and he hardly ever played. Greene will never be more than a change of pace back.
I disagree. When you have an offense that throws the ball constantly and gives him less that 20 carries a game, how do you expect a back to develop? When you have a RT who is the definition of awful, how do you expect him to break a run on the outside? You also have to keep in mind that our offensive throwing scheme was passing no further than 5 yards. If a defense has no deep threat to contain, they start to overload the line. How do you expect a back to break free when the entire defense is sitting up front? Change the OC, get a new RT, include a valuable deep threat (and throw to him often), and then tell me what Greene does. New England's defense was the worst defense of the year, yet our team let up the most points. Most of which came from turnovers. How is a back supposed to develop in an offense that constantly turns over the ball? No deep threat, the opposing defense takes over in every aspect.
