We all know Ivory won't be back.. so we need to find his replacement. I'd like us to get some speed out of the backfield this time around. We run a spread so a speedy receving back would do us more justice than just a bruiser. My first choice would be signing Lamar Miller in free agency, perfect fit.. guarantee him a trip back home to miami every year and he'll play his former team twice..players love that shit for some reason... I also Love forte for our type of offense but he's too old. SO assuming we can't land Lamar.. Our draft will present us an oppurtunity to grab... 1. Ezeikel Elliot (Ohio State University) - Not the fastest guy but like Ivory he has that power speed. Thing i love about Elliot is his vision! He's ahead of his time as far as that goes. Usually doesn't even make many moves to get through front 7's just simply makes the perfect read and hits the hole with high velocity.. kinda like Ivory. Less violent than Ivory but much smoother.. won't scare us every time there is a collision like Ivory did. This guy pretty much does it all and unless he really blows his combine he's the run away #1 RB prospect. 2. Devontae Booker ( Utah ) - Crafty young fella. Crazy speed. Crazy change of direction speed. Great body control and coordination. Young Chris Johnson type instincts.. Stop on the dime slasher..quick decision maker.. man i can go on forever about this kid. He's going to be special. He can also catch passes very well and has good vision for the open field. He's not very strong but knows how to position himself to get extra yards after contact (crediting that body control and coordination).. Probably won't be a good blocker but he's willing to try.. won't avoid that contact with a pass rusher. Won't be our every down guy he's not work horse but he's a playmaker i can see getting 15-20 touches per game.. Would be a solid 2nd round pick IMO. 3. Alex Collins ( Arkansas ) - Beast. Straight up beast. He has size, he has speed, he breaks tackles, he runs people over, he's a mean/ angry RB. We know all about this type of RB. Looking for our Chris Ivory clone in the 3rd round? That's Alex Collins, they even run the same way and have long dreads as well (lol). Three 1000+ yard seasons. Not really a good blocker or receiver. Only started one season.. will probably have to develop into a full time role, but would be a sick 1-2 combo with Bilal until he's ready. I really don't like Derrick Henry at all. Yuck.
The idea of Elliott in the first round is growing on me if there are no good OLB or ILB prospects at #20 and he is the BAP. I like the idea of Booker in the 2nd better, unless the Jets really like LeRaven Clark's potential as a LT. I like what I see from Collins, but someone his size has to be a good blocker and the Jets really need a starting RB who is equally adept at running and receiving. They already have a one-dimensional TE that limits their offense. Ivory was pretty much one-dimensional as well. They can't keep limiting their offense that way. It makes it easier on opposing Ds. Now Collins can learn to block if he's willing, but am curious about his hands and whether he can become a good receiver. I'll be interested to see how he does at the Combine with pass catching drills. It's pretty amazing that he only started one season, yet rushed for over 1,000 yards in three successive seasons and joined a pretty elite group of RBs. As far as next season, the Jets need 2 RBs imo. I hope they won't keep Stacy as part of the RB mix. I would love it if they could sign Miller as it would help us and hurt the Dolphins, but doubt the Jets can afford him. I think they'll probably sign a cheaper vet and draft a RB. It would be great to add a RB later who is a great receiver and PR. In order to do that, however, the Jets would either have to use 2 picks on RBs or sign a vet who can carry the load as the starter, as I don't think Powell can.
Elliott is the type of explosive RB/playmaker that really adds a new dimension to the Jets offense. I'd take him if he's still on the board.
Good post fam, what vet RB would you have in mind? I think lamar would be too expensive as well, would have to revisit that idea after we see what cap space our cuts and restructures clear up. I'm honestly all about Miller, Elliot, or Booker... we'll be great if we can land Elliot, solid if we can land Booker or Miller to pair with Powell.. like you said Collins is solid but his blocking skills scare me and his lack of receiving.. he can catch screens but wouldn't trust him outside of the backfield in the pass game.
Jonathan Williams out of Arkansas has the best juke/wiggle since Lesean McCoy, 3rd-4th round prospect. That's who I want, I love Zeke but unless you're Gurley I'm not drafting a RB that high.
I would add Josh Ferguson (Illiniois) into consideration in the 4th or 5th. He has good speed and open field shake plus great receiving skills. He could compliment Powell pretty well and also pickup the KR duties. He could be like a poor man's CJ Spiller in Chan's offense.
I would love to see the Jets add a Williams, Ferguson or Prosise in the middle rounds as a 3rd down back and PR.
Thanks. Tough question. I don't keep up with other teams or their players very much. Following is a list of the FA RBs. Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings Montee Ball, New England Patriots Joique Bell, Detroit Lions LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts Bryce Brown, Seattle Seahawks Reggie Bush, San Francisco 49ers Travaris Cadet, New Orleans Saints Shaun Draughn, San Francisco 49ers Lance Dunbar, Dallas Cowboys Matt Forte, Chicago Bears Dan Herron, Indianapolis Colts Tim Hightower, New Orleans Saints Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos Kendall Hunter, New Orleans Saints Chris Ivory, New York Jets Fred Jackson, Seattle Seahawks Steven Jackson, New England Patriots Chris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins Bernard Pierce, Jacksonville Jaguars Chris Polk, Houston Texans Bilal Powell, New York Jets Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jacquizz Rodgers, Chicago Bears Stevan Ridley, New York Jets James Starks, Green Bay Packers Pierre Thomas, Washington Redskins Jordan Todman, Pittsburgh Steelers Robert Turbin, Dallas Cowboys I could be wrong, but as far as I know, the only guys on that list that have been starters in the NFL are Forte, Hillman, Steven Jackson, Fred Jackson, Miller, Starks, Ridley, Ivory, Hightower, Morris, and Bradshaw. Miller is probably too expensive, as is Ivory, and Ivory is also too injury-prone. Hillman may be too expensive. Forte, both Jacksons, Starks, Morris, Hightower and Bradshaw are all too old and don't have much tread left on their tires. Starks may be the only viable option and he is far from ideal imo. Forte might be an option as well, but is far from ideal imo. The Jets may have to draft two RBs, but I think their best option might be to draft one, then wait and sign a camp cut.
It's growing on me to take Zeke if he's there as he's the full package at runningback. Pair him with Powell on 3rd down and we have a good duo. At the same time I think we have much larger needs than runningback in a passing league. It's turning into a similar situation of taking a center or guard in the first round. You don't want to get into signing runningbacks in free agency IMO. Draft a guy and let them play out their rookie deal then move on. Lamar Miller is an exception due to his youth and low usage but he'll get more money than we can afford. The shelf life is too short on them to give them big money and the NFL just had its lowest leading rusher since LT in 2007 and only the 2nd player under 1,500 yards to lead the league since Emmitt Smith in 1992. I would imagine it was one of the lowest outputs of 1,000 yard rushers in a long time although I'm a bit too lazy to do the research right now. I'd also imagine it's the lowest year with only 3 players over 1,100 yards rushing at 3, and only 2 with more than 1,110. The rule changes and transformation into a passing league is hitting runningbacks hard. I'm torn on the pick though because I feel like we can get a solid rusher in the mid rounds and platoon them a bit. It's also a bit obvious that we're way more built for a high volume west coast passing offense than feeding a runningback a ton, so I'd imagine we see a linebacker or offensive lineman at that slot.
I voted for Forte, but I'd only sign him for the right price. The best case scenario IMO for the Jets is to find a vet to pair with Powell for this upcoming season, and then to draft a RB in the following draft where there is more talent.
If Zeke is there at 20 and Jaylon Smith, Noah Spence, Darron Lee and Leonard Floyd are gone I would take him. Otherwise, draft a RB later in the draft. Resign Bilal Powell.
maybe nobody here would admit it but i've been saying it all along we used CJ2K incorrectly it was laughable and i think he would have quite a year in chans spread offense... he'd get plenty of space to make plays.. still can't believe rex and morningwood was using him to run up the gut so often and he STILL averaged damn near 5 YPC. SIGN THAT BEAST IF ALL FAILS! CJ Still got plenty in the tank!
I can't see that (re-signing CJ2k) happening. I think we'll re-sign Powell and draft a RB. At this point, I have no idea who the 3rd RB will be or how the Jets will get him.
well you listed a bunch of Free agents that will most likely be avaialable and nobody will be in a rush to sign them. We'll see how the draft plays out and maybe sign the best but most affordable free agent we can get. Or maybe Mac moves a draft pick again for one.
Yes, I think some of those guys will probably still be available, and there are always camp cuts at RB. I'm confident that Mac will find someone.
Understand your doubts, but Powell seems to have come into his own this year. He seems to have learned how to follow blocks and where to pick holes to run through. This year, the back he reminded me of was Tiki Barber. It just makes me wonder, in a positive way, what he could do if he got 20+ carries a game. Might be a big mistake to give up on this guy right now.
I'm not saying give up on Powell at all. I like him. He's the only one of our FA RBs I want re-signed, and I want Stacy cut. I just don't think he can physically hold up to the pounding as a "carry the load" type back. He's had some problems with injuries in his career as well. He's too valuable a weapon when healthy and fresh. I think he ought to get 10-15 touches a game as part of a RB by committee situation or part of a rotation, but think it would be a mistake to try to make him our feature back carrying the ball 25-30 times a game.
I think in Chan's offense, versatility in a back is key. Three Powell type guys not necessarily one feature back. Also, we don't have a dominating run blocking line. We struggled converting short yardage situations because of that inability to dominate the man across from you. If you even keep a bruiser back, you pick him up off the waiver or UDFA line. Another point we haven't seen is how the front office will look at FA's now that we are tighter on the cap i.e. will we use it like the Ravens to generate extra picks. If that is the case, you don't sign marginal talent that could prevent you from gaining extra picks.
