how could you possibly say that thomas jones is below average? 2007: 1100 yds 2006: 1200 yds 2005: 1300yds with a horrible line....he still broke 1000 yds. to be able to break 1000 yuds brings you to be a top tier rb. by no means should we draft mcfadden. by no means should we spend all the money on a #6 pick for a hopefull extra 200-300 yds. gholston....longs.....or trade down for mkelvin are the only answers to bring us to the next level
1000 yards is a below average season nowadays for RBs. 1100 yards with one TD and under 4 YPC is a below average season. Combine that with the fact that he is in his 30's and he has has had two seasons of a now 8 year career that could be considered a good season and that makes him not good enough to pass on an elite talent like McFadden.
Agreed 100%. 1000 yard seasons are meh nowadays. And 1 rushing TD is pathetic no matter how bad our line is. Look at the Buccaneers... they took a 3rd string/ reserve RB that started only 10 games behind a meh o-line and the guy ran for almost 900 yards and 10 TD's.
TJ is a top 20 back. The guy was considered a first round bust for most of his career, until he had a good year for TB and then for Chicago. He's not a dynamic back, but he's a legit starter/platoon back who deserves the ball some. Leon is a great platoon back. Together they work out to be a solid, not spectacular, RB core. If McFadden is the BPA, that duo is not nearly good enough to say it should be left alone if we have an easy way to fix it. If McFadden lives up to the hype, you'll forget TJ ever existed and greatly improve the offense. Either way he's a legit big play threat every down, something we never have.
The Bucs do not have a meh O-line...they have arguably the best young RT in the NFL in Trueblood...two sick guards in Joseph and Sears... They need tackles, but as far as run blocking goes that line is pretty damn good.
Everybody thinks Mcfadden is the answer. I think we have other needs that are more pressing. The article makes perfect sense.
TJ is a can do RB -- I would take him again any day. He should shine behind this OL if it is anywhere near as good as it is being cracked up to be. The alternatives of Leon dashing in and out and Jesse bashing into the secondary are all EXCELLENT. We need for the OL to dominate the line of scrimmage and enforce these RBs' obvious talent.
No one player is "the answer" except for the QB. The Jets didn't spend $175mm in guarantees this off-season to draft for need. BPA is the way to go at 6 and no CB or S (the two most pressing needs) will be the BPA at that slot. However, if you want to talk about need, the offense "needs" a playmaker that is on field for more than just third down.
No. 6 money is just too danged much money for a running back. We can get a fine running back anywhere for less.
Wow! The poker boys are pulling a different face this year, or are they? Apr 18 Rich Cimini, of the New York Daily News, reports the New York Jets have met with University of Arkansas RB Darren McFadden three times in the past month, including a night on the town. McFadden was escorted by team officials Wednesday, April 16, to a dinner and to a boxing event in Manhattan, N.Y.
It is kind of hard to rush for TD's when your team doesn't call running plays inside the 5 yard line. The Jets probably called Jones' number a handful of times inside the 5 last year behind a horrible run blocking OL. On the other hand, they threw that fade pass to Coles about 30 times. Jones' numbers from last year have nothing to do with his performance. The OL stunk as did the play calling.
If half of Jet fans want McFadden and half don't, which half would be exercising sound judgment???? We won't find out for three years, whether they draft him or not.
What this suggests to me is that the Jets are seriously considering McFadden on the 6 and they are trying to figure out if his character issues are a problem. The best way to do that is to actually do things with him multiple times. You take somebody to dinner to see how he/she treats the people waiting on you. If they're an ass in that situation the odds are they're an ass, and you're better off avoiding hiring them if possible. You also watch for attitude and you probably make sure you'll have a cute waitress to see how they react to that. You take somebody to a boxing event to see how they react when inhibitions are laid low by the excitement of a blood sport. Are they in control of themselves or do they get caught up in the flow and lose it? You take them around town to see how they react to the big city. Especially if they're from Arkansas. Is this somebody who is going to be in the clubs (like Justin Miller) until the small hours of the night and get in trouble or are they fairly grounded? If the Jets do draft McFadden the odds on the pick being successful are much greater if they've actually looked very hard at how he's going to adjust to moving his harem to NYC.
I agree we can't judge Jones on last year alone behind a terrible OL but we can judge him on his overall career performance. Over his career he has been nothing more than an average RB who has had two seasons out of 8 that can be considered good. I like Thomas Jones, I think he is a decent back that can be good with a really good OL. Considering his age and talent though, he is not the kind of player you pass on an elite talent for. If McFadden reaches his potential he is a major upgrade to the running game and the offense overall.
Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are serviceable back they don't have that home run ability to rip off a big gain and get into the endzone, Mcfadden does.
Ding Ding Ding...not to mention the Jets have Zero Stars on O, and McFadded has the good to be a star in the NFL. Can he be a bust, sure but so can Chris Long or any other player.
He averaged 3.6 yards a carry, that's how and behind that same horrible line you like to use as his excuse, little tiny Leon Washington averaged 5.0. He is average on his best day. If Washington could handle the punishment he would be the starter over Jones. That's why they will take McFadden if he is there.
