Jets Need Analysis: Running Back

RUNNING BACK



What we have (that matters):
Shonn Greene, 25- Has the look of a future star at the position, if he can stay healthy. Little dings limited him from really hitting his stride until the playoffs, but the rest certainly worked to the Jets advantage. Strong, one-cut downfield runner with surprising quickness and can go if he hits the open field.
Leon Washington, 28- Before a broken leg ended his season in Week 7, Leon was having one of his strongest seasons as a Jet. He's a great change of pace runner and very good out of the backfield, but he's also a RFA and may not be brought back.
Danny Woodhead, 25- Partly a running back, partly a receiver, got 23 touches last season. Honestly, he probably won't return in 2010 with the Jets looking for new blood at both positions that can actually contribute.
Chauncey Washington- Gone, or return in a non-active role.
Tony Richardson, 39- Hopefully will return, still a great blocker at his age.

Why it's a need:

Ahh... the argument that's creating a buzz all over the board. I bring it up because there's been so much disagreement about how big this need really is. Before we get into degree of need, I think everyone can agree that another back has to be brought in. As good as Leon was at the start of the year and how tremendous Greene was in the playoffs, both have a decent amount of questions surrounding them. Leon is a free agent and has to prove he's healthy, and could be more value to the team in the form of a pick that the Jets would receive if another team signed him. Greene had a number of little injuries and only hit his stride from December on.

The Jets offense is predicated on a strong, efficient running game. As much potential as the passing game could have with Sanchez a year older and Braylon spending camp here, the Jets are a Ground and Pound team. The loss of TJ means no more security blanket, so any kind of post-injury issues with Leon or sophomore slump for Greene and the Jets will be bad shape. Even if one of them turns out to be a stud next year, if the other isn't producing then the offense will still have to adjust in a big way.

The fact is that the Jets need to add another back that can play. People may want to argue that these other things might be bigger needs because whoever's taken at RB won't be a starter, which is true, though only few positions would be starters at this point. The reason that it's such a need is because of what the running game means to the team. It makes everything go. The ability to have a set of running backs that can churn out drives and keep the defense off the field is vital, and that's 330 carries that the Jets let go. Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel comfortable handing the keys to a championship level defense off to any type of question marks in the run game.

Best possible role: Shows himself as a stud in camp and earns himself a full half share of the touches.

Likely role: Shares carries, ends up being a key part in the machine that makes the offense go. 125-150 carries or so, depending on what Greene is able to handle (hopefully 250).


Target Players:

Round 1

Ryan Mathews, Fresno State- All around running back, excels at just about everything he's been asked to do. Strong runner inside with some speed when he gets outside the tackles, Mathews could compliment any type of back. Plus, I don't hate the Thomas Jones comparisons I've seen, they both play RB like they're boxing, punch, dodge, punch, dodge, punch, punch, knockout.

Jahvid Best, California- Would be dependent on the loss of Leon, and the staff wanting to bring that dynamic back into the mix. Plays like a Brian Westbrook, ie a perfect change of pace guy who could be a #1 in certain types of offenses. Great stop-start speed and terrific hands.


Round 2/Mid Rounds

Johnathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech- He really hurt himself at the combine, even more than he did during the season. He's got better speed than he gets credit for, huge, powerful legs and a great frame for carrying his weight, so much so that people didn't even realize when he added 20 lbs to 250 last year (minus the mediocre play). Risky, but could be great value late in Rd 2 if his errors scared off enough teams.

Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State- A guy that I really like, no questions about the kind of player he is. Hand him the ball and he's going to run up and hit someone, over and over again. The best part about him though is that he can catch the ball too, a rarity for guys his size. Durable.
*Note, see more on Dixon a little later.

Toby Gerhardt, Stanford- Big, strong, fast, and even some great agility for a man his size. He can run with power and do all the little things that would make him valuable in a running back stable, from blocking to catching the ball.

Ben Tate, Auburn- Didn't break out until his senior year, but definitely kept that momentum going into the combine. 4.43 40 was a lot better than many expected, and threw up 26 reps on top of it. Even though his forte is inside running and breaking tackles, it's nice to know he can run a little bit.

Montario Hardesty, Tennessee- Glad to see him getting the love he really deserves. Just a really solid back, that's overcome a lot to reach this level. Injuries plagued his career, and that will follow him, but he's got all the tools to be a great player in the NFL. Fast, terrific agility, strong runner with ideal size, doesn't fumble, can catch the ball, the list goes on about what he does right, it's just that there's a huge risk involved with someone who's been injured almost constantly.

Later Rounds

LeGarrette Blount, Oregon- The negatives are pretty easy to see on this guy, and to be perfectly honest, I don't think he runs the way a back like him should. Has talent, but needs boatloads of work before he could be trusted as a contributor.

James Starks, Buffalo- Looks more like a wide receiver than a running back, and missed last year with an injured shoulder. Good speed and strength though, and has a lot of potential out of the backfield as a receiver.

Charles Scott, LSU- A lot of people are forgetting about Scott, but may be in his best role as the power part of a rotating backfield.

Andre Dixon, UConn- Jersey native who a lot of people seem to like. Some off the field issues helped Donald Brown take the spotlight for much of his career, but has good receiving skills and can block.

Andre Anderson, Tulane- Intriguing late round option, strong runner with speed, but doesn't have a whole lot of skills besides going forward as fast as he can. Interestingly enough has experience running the wildcat though with success. Plus, he wears the Ricky Watters-esque nasal strip, which is just cool.


SPECIAL BONUS SECTION:

Here's some of my favorite Anthony Dixon highlights, just showing how much of a man he is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_XKKoMdELw&feature=related Listen to the POP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGsgdmTgm90&NR=1 Dixon putting on his skyhoppers, plus great title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxjw37dZ0IE&feature=related He's a freaking gymnast.

aaand last but not least: Anthony Dixon as Tecmo Bo.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcY8Mqlu1qU[/YOUTUBE]

 

Thanks. For the comparison, if I had to match Chris Johnson with someone in the class I'd put him with CJ Spiller. I had a much longer thought on it in another thread, but real quick it's largely because Best is a start-stop kind of runner, who is dangerous as a receiver because he can turn and be gone in an instant, while Johnson and Spiller are cut and go types. It really is nitpicking though because Johnson's developed so much over the past two years, and those two will both be very successful in good situations.