F
flgreen
Guest
Jets RB preview: Cast includes supporting actors but no stars
Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp:
Position: Running back
Chris Ivory has led the Jets in rushing the past two seasons. Elsa/Getty Images
Projected starters: Chris Ivory, Tommy Bohanon (FB).
Projected backups: Bilal Powell, Zac Stacy, Stevan Ridley.
Notables on the bubble: Daryl Richardson.
Player to watch: Ivory is the closest thing the Jets have to a true No. 1 back (even though he never has carried the ball 200 times in a season). His rushing total (821 yards) and yards per carry (4.1) took a dip last season, but the analytic geeks say he was a more productive runner in 2014 than 2013 because he compiled more "effective" yards. Whatever. With Ridley coming off a major injury, and with Stacy coming off a down year, the Jets need Ivory to be their No. 1. This is a contract year for him, so he should be highly motivated.
Top storyline: The competition. It should be intense because of the numbers at the position. Ivory and Powell are virtual locks to make the team, but what about Stacy and Ridley? Do they keep one? Both? Can Richardson crash the party? With only one practice a day, reps are at a premium, so it could be tough to give each running back a fair amount of work on the practice field and in the preseason games. It will be a juggling act, one that could continue throughout the season. By the way, Bohanon is no lock, either.
Training camp will be a success if ... : Stacy or Ridley pushes Ivory for the starting job. In the end, it'll probably be running back by committee, but they'll need more than Ivory and Powell to generate a top-10 rushing attack -- and that's what it will take to stay balanced and keep the pressure off Geno Smith. Ridley was the New England Patriots' leading rusher in 2012, Stacy was the St. Louis Rams' leader in 2013. One, or both, have to get back to that level.
Wild card: Will Ridley be cleared for training camp? He's eight months removed from knee surgery, so don't be surprised if he begins camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He was limited to positional drills and straight-ahead running throughout the spring. If healthy, Ridley has a chance to be a contributor. He was a 1,200-yard runner for the Patriots in '12, so you know the talent is there. He won't be happy if he's not on the active roster. He gets a $20,000 roster bonus if he's on the 53-man roster for Week 1 and another $21,875 for every game he's active.
By the numbers: From 2009 to 2014 -- aka the Rex Ryan era -- the Jets rushed for an NFL-best 13,156 yards. It's what they do. Coach Todd Bowles, who wants a balanced offense, won't abandon the running game.
Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp:
Position: Running back
Chris Ivory has led the Jets in rushing the past two seasons. Elsa/Getty Images
Projected starters: Chris Ivory, Tommy Bohanon (FB).
Projected backups: Bilal Powell, Zac Stacy, Stevan Ridley.
Notables on the bubble: Daryl Richardson.
Player to watch: Ivory is the closest thing the Jets have to a true No. 1 back (even though he never has carried the ball 200 times in a season). His rushing total (821 yards) and yards per carry (4.1) took a dip last season, but the analytic geeks say he was a more productive runner in 2014 than 2013 because he compiled more "effective" yards. Whatever. With Ridley coming off a major injury, and with Stacy coming off a down year, the Jets need Ivory to be their No. 1. This is a contract year for him, so he should be highly motivated.
Top storyline: The competition. It should be intense because of the numbers at the position. Ivory and Powell are virtual locks to make the team, but what about Stacy and Ridley? Do they keep one? Both? Can Richardson crash the party? With only one practice a day, reps are at a premium, so it could be tough to give each running back a fair amount of work on the practice field and in the preseason games. It will be a juggling act, one that could continue throughout the season. By the way, Bohanon is no lock, either.
Training camp will be a success if ... : Stacy or Ridley pushes Ivory for the starting job. In the end, it'll probably be running back by committee, but they'll need more than Ivory and Powell to generate a top-10 rushing attack -- and that's what it will take to stay balanced and keep the pressure off Geno Smith. Ridley was the New England Patriots' leading rusher in 2012, Stacy was the St. Louis Rams' leader in 2013. One, or both, have to get back to that level.
Wild card: Will Ridley be cleared for training camp? He's eight months removed from knee surgery, so don't be surprised if he begins camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He was limited to positional drills and straight-ahead running throughout the spring. If healthy, Ridley has a chance to be a contributor. He was a 1,200-yard runner for the Patriots in '12, so you know the talent is there. He won't be happy if he's not on the active roster. He gets a $20,000 roster bonus if he's on the 53-man roster for Week 1 and another $21,875 for every game he's active.
By the numbers: From 2009 to 2014 -- aka the Rex Ryan era -- the Jets rushed for an NFL-best 13,156 yards. It's what they do. Coach Todd Bowles, who wants a balanced offense, won't abandon the running game.
