If the OL creates holes, the RB will find and hit it. If no holes, he'll run into line and get tackled. Unless you think we are getting Barry Sanders (isn't likely), any RB will not find much success running behind a poor line that can't spring those necessary holes. Line needs to be fixed first, RB not the top priority this year.
Running back is FAR from the Jets biggest need this offseason. Three of their four biggest needs, IMO, are on defense. First, a big, hole-plugging DT or a 3-4 DE if they feel comfortable leaving Robertson in the middle. Next, a pass-rushing OLB to give us a pass-rushing presence on both sides and to add depth to that position. Their fourth need is depth at the cornerback position, including adding a legitimate starter through the draft or via free-agency. Which brings us to the 3rd need. IMO, the right side of the O-line needs to be greatly fixed. Clement was decent and might do, but Moore needs to be replaced. And look at the Philadelphia Eagles and their offensive line. Easily one of the best, if not the best, in the NFL, it has propelled a 5-8, 203 pound running back to elite status in this league. Does 5-8, 203 sound familiar? That's right, Leon and Westbrook are the exact same size and both have similar speed and moves that, so far, has earned Westbrook status as probably one of the top-five backs in the league. And I'm confident that with the right O-line, Leon can do the same. In conclusion, there are MUCH bigger holes that need to be filled before thinking about the RB position. And I think Leon can be at least a Top 10-15 back if we surround him with the right O-line.
thats exactly my point we don't have a top 5 pick there are no backs out there that are sure thing studs so why throw away picks on a back that we could easily get through the draft. Tell me where Tomilson will be playing next week? And for that matter Alexander or LJ. They are all home. Other than New Orleans(who probably gets ousted next week) the other teams still alive have good backs but not great ones. As far as the comment abour Brown and Faulk it was sarcasm look it up in the dictionary. My point was that K. Faul and A. Smith were not good and they won anyway because like you said they had a good defense and a HOF QB. Well we don't have either so I say we work on the good defense first. That will get us further than any back will. Did you even read my post???? I Said Becht was an asset to the running game and that Baker isn't. Then I said it would be nice to have a guy who is a dual threat. So if your going to try and trash my post then try not to just type exactly what I said as your argument.
First off with the passing threat the Colts have I could run in that offense. Secondly lets not make Addai a difference maker just yet. He is the 4th best weapon on that offense. Ok Deauce and Bush are the best you have mentioned here. I can argue with that but I said when you have a chance to get a guy like Bush you do it because he creates all types of matchup problems for defense. We aren't goin to find someone like him. Deuce is great back too however he's constantly injuured and I feel if we are going to give up a high pick for him we might as well just draft a guy who's younger and more durable. Dillon and Maroney. Neither of these guys are elite backs. Maroney may be someday and you can argue that Dillon was although I wouldn't agree with that. But right now they are just two decent backs. Neither is a game changer. thomas Jones? Took this guy years to crack the starting lineup. 7th overall pick in 2000 I believe. Just goes to show you why you shouldn't spend that high of a draft pick on a guy unless you know he's a stud. he is far from a game changer.
nobody is saying that you wouldnt have back (A) and back (B) playing. like leon played along with houston/barlow...or the way dillon/maroney, duece/bush do. but you need one of those backs to be able to carry the load by themselves (like dillon or mcallistar) along with the relief guy. that makes both of them better. i dont think the houston/barlow/leon experiment is a success. leon has proven to be a solid back. but we need a "feature" back. someone that can do those things that NO, NE or CHI can do. but i dont think anyone is saying that theres only gonna be 1 back. im looking at it like the lamont and curtis show...only without lamont and curtis...:shit:
at our drafting position in the 1st round, barring someone falling insanely far, turner would be the best player at that position that we could get. imo, RB is a big hole, and to me, he can fill it. along with leon...good things. i loved how you think that running backs are a dime a dozen. if finding good backs was that easy, every team would have one. sorry but your statement doesnt really come off as sarcasm to me. the way the rest of your post was goin, i took it as your logic. to me it seemed like you were making an insane analogy. as far as where LT is playing next week...they didnt lose because of tomlinson...they lost because they were undiciplined. not only penalties, but mistakes on both sides of the ball caused them to lose the game. as far as your "we need defense not a rb" thinking...well, SD had a sick D this year...maybe a better q is where are their defenders gonna be playing next week?? last i looked, bakers a pretty good blocker,and it isnt imperitive we replace him. baker can block, and catch. hes pretty well rounded and underrated. as a jet fan, i would think youd know both. i didnt type what you said...read a little closer.
yes, hes the 4th best weapon on an offense with 3 skill position players that are pro bowlers...and hes in his first year. him being 4th best isnt a shot at him, even though you try to make it out to be. the guys on a team with insanely talented WRs, and a HoF QB. DM is wierd because he is injured every other year. he has great production when hes healthy though. id like to know how you can draft some one who you know is going to be more durable. you cant...durability in the nfl cant be figured out. anyone can be injury prone. as for bush...sure, i would have loved to have drafted him this year...i mean, we traded 2 first rounders for Dslob....but that was a different regime. in hindsight, we did the right thing not giving up both of our 1st rounders. getting ferguson and mangold were key to our success this year. this year is the year we either sig, draft, or trade for a back. and the dillon/maroney duo....maroney has been as good as advertised. and im glad you cant agree that corey dillon was an elite back on cincy. i mean, anyone with a working medulla oblongata knows that dillon was the shit and a top 5-7 back in the league on cincy. his numbers were sick. his first 6 years in the league he averaged 1253 yds a season, and 7 tds per year. TJ wasnt good early on in his career, but hes turned out to be a pretty good back. over the past 2 or 3 years. hes a much better back than barlow is though. TJ started slow, but has def picked it up. barlow had 1 "good" year. barely edging out 1000 yards, and maxing out at 7 rushing tds in a season. so jones would upgrade our depth considering who we have right now.
I used to think it didn't have to be a priority at all but Iv'e changed my mind. Washington and Houston will likely be the only two RB's that return for next season. We can't leav it at that. So do we sign a big name from the NFL. One who could be injury proned, getting to be too old, or unproven. No, we go to the draft. And that's what I expect Mangini and company to do. It's the best move for us. What round could be up for grabs....
Portis, McAlister, and Turner are a far cry from being a Dime a dozen. Barlow, Houston, and Blalock are.
who would you take from the draft? better yet, who do you think will be there? i dont think there would be a guy we could get that could really make a big impact on offense right away. i know youre gonna say look at leon, but rookies that make that kind of impact dont come along every year. i was against trading a first rounder for turner...and to a degree i still am, i think we should be anle to get him for a 2nd rounder at most....i mean, a first rounder in the nfl is a kings ransom. but with the way we can inject life into a stagnant running game very quickly, and the fact that schotty knows this kids ins and outs is making me think that a first rounder here isnt so bad. (i know on draft day, ill go nuts saying we coulda taken "......", but so be it).
Leon Washington is a scatback, he is not a guy who can carry the load. Can you imagine his little self taking the ball 300+ times a season year after year after year? Not gonna happen and it will take away from his explosiveness. Keep Leon at where he is now as a scatback who comes in on passing situations and carries the ball around 10 times a game.
Did you even realize what you said ? Are you o.k ? You just basically compared our 1 average back, and our one o.k back to the likes of laurence maroney and corey dillion. Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Reggie Bush and Duece mccalister. The thing is, any of those guys at any given moment can carry the load. We dont have that, I dont care if we share carries with Leon Washington, I just want a back who capable of carrying the load.
I used to question that too, until I saw him get leveled, and beat up against Miami, but do nothing but pop back up. I beat Eagles fans said the same thing about Brian Westbrook, and Giants fans the same thing about Tiki Barber. Size doesn't mean everything. Look at the National Championship, for example. Florida tore OSU's pro-size defense apart, because they were much faster.
If we could get Portis for the 26th pick, I'd do it in a second. Although I just don't see us getting him for that. Turner would also be nice, probally more likely if your just trading your 1st. IMO to get Portis would take a 1 and 3.
