Mangini has no loyalty towards Curtis "I've lost 2 steps" Martin. Does anyone think we'll keep him starting?
Mangini does have loyalty towards Martin...he was the first to restructure his contract setting the pace for the team However, starting is a different story. Martin will probably start the first few games but will definitely be spelled alot more than last year. One of our other RBs might get hot and take that starting position though midway through the season.
Look at the O-line changes from 04 to 05 and then look at the o-line now. In 04 we have a great O-line that allowed Curtis to win the rushing championship. In 05 our O-line couldnt block anything. Curtis gets crushed in the backfield on just about every other play and gets injured along with blaylock and 3 of our QB's. 06? Who knows what he can do. Our O-line is better now but not as good as 04. If they can make some holes and Curt can stay healthy I think he can still do good. And yes I think he will be the start. He will probally only get around 60-70% of the carries though.
I think it depends how the other running backs on the team perform, and if they pick up another starting caliber RB.
I just hope someone steps up in minicamp and takes charge of the position. Maybe he will start the first couple of games, but who knows? At least I have confidence that he will get fewer carries...
If Mangini doesn't start him, thats bullshit. Out of respect towards his career and contract restructure, he should start pending injury.
Who exactly would you start over Martin from the current players on the Jet's roster? I see nobody who is likely to give the Jets better production or make fewer mistakes. If somebody like Travis Henry becomes available then I'd be interested in getting him and starting him over Martin but the Jet's current backs are Martin and the no-names.
Martin is a Class act and a hard worker however, he should expect less carries every season from here on out. There is no way in hell though that he won't be a Mangini guy.
CMart has to start. He's the only starting-quality HB as we go into September, and has realistic goals of becoming the all-time rushing leader. I want to see him do it, and in a Jets uniform. But I don't see him with the number of carries he had in 04, and expect the Jets will start to look for off-set backs. A lot depends on how CMart comes back from injury. He's aging and hasn't missed games like this before.
Martin will start. I don't know how long that will be for. That mostly depends on the CS's ability to teach Brick how to block for the run, and whether Askew and this TE we picked up in the draft can throw blocks for him. Let's keep in mind, last year was a terrible barometer of performance. CMart played very hurt, on a team with no other source of offense, and a line that resembled Swiss Cheese. Yes, 33 is a bit old for a RB, but let's keep in mind he is only going to be 2 years past a record tying performance, and the rushing title. Will he be the Martin that helped lead us into Denver? Of course not. Does that mean he isn't still able to get us 4.5 a carry behind a decent line? I don't think so.
We have Martin, Houston, and Moore are all similar style runners, and Leon Washington is more like Kevin Faulk. We have talent at the position, and shouldn't need to bring in any FA's in my opinion.
I'd be happy with 4.0 a carry and 1 fumble all season. If he winds up with 275 carries for 1,100 yards and somebody else gets 100 for 450 we'll be okay. The odds on him being able to carry the ball 330+ times are low but if he could do it for 4.0 a carry I'd take it.
Cmart should be the starter going into the season because of the simple fact that he did restructure and he gives us the best chance at having stability at the position. Even though this regime doesn't owe him anything am sure they will do the right thing.
If he's the best we have they better give him the ball. I don't see anybody young on the roster who might develop into a 1 back given the opportunity so please milk him for what he's worth.
He will be the starter, but no more of this "we have an awesome backup but no matter what we're gonna rush curtis 30 times a game even if he is hurt and our backup is fine" crap like from the old regime.
Why all this talk about his restructuring? Let's be honest, if he didn't and he was released, he would only have faced a slightly better market than Chad in the same position. Restructuring wasn't required, and was a loyal move on his part, but let's not give too much credit here. Where would he have wound up if we chose to leave him out of our plans? Loyalty has nothing to do with it. If he gives us the best chance to win, he will be run until his legs give out. If someone else gives us that chance, then CMart can watch from the side and be a good coach.
why would you not want to start martin? If hes "ive lost 2 steps martin", hes still 3 steps ahead of the defenders leon washington should be a good change of pace back too
To me, that is the key. Martin is still a very good back. If he is spelled down to say, 15 carries a game, I think he will average 4.5 a run. The whole key is having someone who can come in to mix it up. We have a number of RB options at this point, so hopefully one of them is a good 2 down guy and we can let him breathe once in a while.
He will start, but his carries will be limited. We have a lot of young guys at that spot and I am sure we want to see who is going to go and who is going to stay for 2007.
