Even though Tenn has the second rated run D in the league, I still think their run D is suspect without Haynesworth. But more or less he'll probably be inactive due to extra help on D.
I didn't particularly care for the Greene selection. He looked ordinary to me at Iowa. Then again, I only saw him play a couple times and that is simply way too little in order to form a solid opinion. Maybe down the road he can be good. But here in 2009? Should we expect much? Well, history would tell us that we should not expect much out of Greene in 2009. I doubt Greene would get more than 40 carries this year unless Thomas Jones or Leon Washington miss time due to injury. #3 backs usually don't see significant action. This type of topic came up here a few years ago and I then listed the rushing attempts by teams' #3 backs in 2006. The numbers from all other seasons of this decade will be similar. Of course, in 2008 the Ravens had three backs who had more than 100 carries. That was the exception. Since I don't have time to post the 2007 or 2008 numbers, here's the 2006 list. rushing attempts by the #3 RBs in the league in 2006- Musa Smith, BAL- 36 Shaud Williams, BUF- 2 Chris Perry, CIN- 10 Jerome Harrison, CLE- 20 Damien Nash, DEN- 18 Samkon Gado, HOU- 54 Ran Carthon, IND- 3 Alvin Pearman, JAX- 19 Dee Brown, KC- 10 Travis Minor, MIA- 19 Kevin Faulk, NE- 25 Cedric Houston, NYJ- 113 ReShard Lee, OAK- 21 Verron Haynes, PIT- 15 SD- 0 (Tomlinson and Turner only San Diego halfbacks to get carries) Chris Brown, TEN- 41 J.J. Arrington, ARI- 14 Marlion Jackson, ATL- 1 Nick Goings, CAR- 11 Adrian Peterson, CHI- 10 Tyson Thompson, DAL- 13 Aveion Cason, DET- 24 Noah Herron, GB- 37 Mewelde Moore, MIN- 24 Jamaal Branch, NO- 10 (all in meaningless Week 17 game) Chad Morton, NYG- 1 Ryan Moats, PHI- 22 Tony Fisher, STL- 6 Maurice Hicks, SF- 29 Marquis Weeks, SEA- 3 Earnest Graham, TB- 11 T.J. Duckett, WAS- 38 Those were the numbers for teams' #3 halfbacks. They averaged 20.63 rushing attempts. The number decreases to 17.65 if you exclude Cedric Houston's numbers which were heightened due to the Jets backfield-by-committee mess.
Pure speculation, but I wonder if he is having problems grasping the playbook? With his past academic issues that's the only thing I can think of that may be holding him back. Sure he's behind as far as catching out the backfield and blocking, but you would think they could give him a few running plays in the gameplan. If he doesn't get a carry this week I would think that he is definitely in the doghouse.
It could be a playbook issue and/or it could be that he hasn't shown he can help pick up a blitz. It might be that right now all he could handle is rushing attempts and the thing is the Jets have two proven backs who can do that. It seems to me that Greene was drafted in 2009 to get meaningful playing time in 2010 with the idea that Jones will not be with the Jets next year.
