Running back is the priority this off-season

A new RB is only going to help a little, if at all. Our OL is poor at run blocking.

 

This is what everyone has been saying...

You guys do realize it is possible to improve two different positions in once offseason????

We can add a guy like Eric Steinbach and still get a franchise RB...

 

That would work.. but if you told me I only get to pick 1, I'd take the guard.

 

If fantasy football has taught us anything, good running backs are the product of good systems and/or offensive lines. Mike Shanahan doesn't have some crazy ability to spot talented running backs. However, year after year, Denver produces some great running backs... at least while they are in Denver. How have they done since they left? Anderson was on the Ravens as a back up. Droughns had a terrible year in Cleveland. Some of you mentioned Portis...however he's never looked like he did in Denver. There are a few exceptions... Barry Sanders could run behind me... but I think we can agree he is a rare runner. So.... I think there are many needs before RB.

 

respect your opinion but totally disagree--jets need to spend a 1st or second rounder on RB --leon is co-back material at best--I hope Blaylock and Barlow get their walking papers.

 

Exactly...Brick and Mangold will only get better, especially D'Brick.

I think the right side needs some improvement, but other than that the Jets REALLY need some stability in the Running game. Cedric and Leon are good backs, but they aren't the kind of RB's to take over a game. We need a RB we can hand it off to 25 times who can take the game in his own hands.

Curtis Martin was so great in this aspect. In any game the Jets struggled offensively early on, they could look to Martin to create some plays to open up the offense.

The New York Jets will add a RB this offseason.

 

i have said a couple of times that I think Mangini sees Leon as a Kevin Faulk-type. 3rd down back, gets carries as a change of pace or against the right opponent, can be a weapon in the pass/screen game.

The Jets certainly need a bigger between the tackles back to receive 70% - 80% of the carries. And, no, I don't think Houston or Barlow is that back...at this time. (Hopefully, they'll both have strong offseasons and be the answer, but I don't think the Jets can rely on that.)

I am on the Michael Bush with the first 2nd round pick bandwagon.

 

Exactly. Kevin Faulk would probably be a bad starter, but coming off the bench this guy makes plays and consistently helps his team. Leon did just that this season. His future is bright, but only as a 3rd down back/backup.

 

There is no reason to use a first or second round pick or throw money at a free agent running back until we have a much better offensive line. You can throw Tomlinson and LJ behind our line and they still won't put up numbers anywhere what they did this year. Having a great running back is a luxury, having a great line is a need. Build the house then put in the luxuries.

 

Actually the LT normally has little to do with the run blocking. The run blocking is more dependent on the RT and OGs. The fact is the run blocking sucked this year. Most of the time they didn't even run through the line, the run game consisted of Penny passing it to Washington on the outside behind the line. There is a reason for that, there was no push. RT needs to be addressed, Clement is good for depth not as a starter anymore. Kendall is getting old. And Moore is average on a good day (he had more false starts and holding calls than the rookies combined). Add on top of that Askew blows. They need a better blocking FB (want to see what a good one does for the run game look at SD or Seattle).

Yes RB needs to be addressed. But the run blocking needs to be addressed and you will see how much the run game improves.

 

I read the first sentence and stopped. In the Seahawks superbowl season last year they had an excellent left side...Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson...they ran to the left side all of the time because of Hutchinson and also because of Walter Jones. So to say that the LT doesn't have much to do with the run game is silly.

 

My feeling on the offensive line/running game is that Houston and Washington and another mid round pick are more then fine for one more year.

We probably had the worst running game in the nfl and that is squarely on the offensive line, tight ends fullbacks and then the running backs.

Other then Brick and Mangold everyone else can be replaced over the next year or two as far as I'm concerned.

LT- Brick, after one offseason he should be able to put on 15-20 pounds of muscle/fat. I think he has the ability and technique to be a top notch player but the fact that he was probably 285-290 when the season ended really hurt him and the team. I think he will be fine in the long run.

LG- Kendall, he's still a great technique player, very smart but he's just not as strong as the guys he's going against and therefore unless he's using an angle he really is not able to move the defender off the line of scrimmage. Maybe he has one more year before they have to replace him.

C- Mangold, going to be a very good player, I think next year he'll probably play at or near a pro bowl level.

RG- Brandon Moore is absolutely horrible. Not only does he not get a push but he also is average at best in pass blocking. Has way too many penalties. Just not a starting caliber guard, undersized and will either be a backup or cut going into next year.

RT- Anthony Clement was a surpise in pass blocking, did a very good job. Unfortunately he was horrible as a run blocker. Did not generate any leverage or move the opponent off the LOS. I think he will be back unless another team offers him a lot of money. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he came back for another year but I'd rather have him as the third tackle.

TE- Baker and Ryan are both nice players, but thats about it. Neither one is anything more then an average blocker. I can't say that this was really the cause of the problem but a tight end is basically a 6th offensive lineman and we all know what Becht did for our running game. Of course he did have hands of steel but it's not that hard to find a solid blocking tight end who can catch.

FB- I won't even go here, we badly need a real fullback.

RB- While I don't think that Leon or Houston will ever be a 25 touch type of player I also don't think that Mangini wants one back on the field for 45-50 plays. So I think as long as we can improve the other positions for the running game Leon/Houston are fine in the short term.

 

Absolutely! As soon as we get a RG, RT, pass rusher, a 3-4 defensive lineman, a TE, and a CB, running back is our highest priority.

Seriously, there is no point in drafting a flashy runningback to play behind a OL that can't open holes for hiim.

 

Add a legit starting run helping RT and pick up a legit NFL starting running back and we'll have a good show at running the ball next season.

 

I'd rather get someone to complement Leon late in the draft or something, rather than the other way around. We have to let him develop into this team's franchise back. He's proven he has the ability.

Cut Blaylock, Barlow, & Houston.

 

No it isn't. The LTs primary responsibility is protecting the QBs blind side. It is protecting him from getting killed when he is exposed passing the ball. If he can run block too, that is an added bonus, but the LT is there to protect the QB and his blind side period. So he is normally more athletic than the RT. So the more physical tackle is placed as RT, who has better run blocking abilities and is more involved in the run plays along with the OGs. Of course there are exceptions (and if you noticed in my first sentence I said "normally). But the general rule of thumb is LT - pass blocker, RT - run blocker.

 

Absolutely agree. Well said, and is actually was the point I was trying to make. I only disagree with your assessment of Clement. He is over the hill and nowhere near the player he once was. As a back-up he is fine for depth, but if the Jets want to see any improvement in the run game, I think he needs to be replaced. There are some pretty good RTs in the draft this year actually.

 

I'd love to keep Washington and either draft Lynch or trade for Michael Turner.