Bilal Powell can be a starting tailback in the NFL — if statistics have anything to say about the matter. Could 2017 finally be the year he becomes one?
A six year veteran, Powell is coming off his best season with the Jets, rushing for 722 total yards on 131 attempts and scoring three touchdowns, achieving a personal-best 5.5 yards per carry. He also covered 388 yards and scored twice through the air off 58 receptions.
For this effort, the team offered him a three-year deal worth $11.25 million last offseason.
But, as good as his production was overall, a more detailed look reveals another element of Powell’s dominance at the position: according to Pro Football Focus, Powell ranked second overall in yards per carry, third in yardage after contact per carry, and ninth overall in missed tackles forced per carry.
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Are those numbers enough to unseat Forte as the Jets’ lead back this season?
In his first season with the Jets, the Chicago Bears veteran had his worst career showing, finishing with 813 yards, only his second season rushing for fewer than 900 yards, off 218 attempts for seven touchdowns. He added another touchdown as a pass receiver for 263 yards.
That downturn in production could be blamed on a number of factors: the deterioration of the Jets’ offensive line, wear and tear owing to Forte’s advanced age, or the fact that Chan Gailey at times seemed to simply forget running the ball was part of the game.
Forte eventually ended up the Jets’ 18th player to be placed on the team’s injured reserve list after suffering a knee injury on Dec. 12, eventually having arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. Could the injury be enough for him to be demoted to second place on the depth chart?
The decision made by offensive coordinator John Morton and head coach Todd Bowles, who says he’ll be more involved in the offensive game plans this season, will be rather important, given the Jets’ professed focus on the run game in 2017.
Given Powell’s production, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he got the promotion.
A six year veteran, Powell is coming off his best season with the Jets, rushing for 722 total yards on 131 attempts and scoring three touchdowns, achieving a personal-best 5.5 yards per carry. He also covered 388 yards and scored twice through the air off 58 receptions.
For this effort, the team offered him a three-year deal worth $11.25 million last offseason.
But, as good as his production was overall, a more detailed look reveals another element of Powell’s dominance at the position: according to Pro Football Focus, Powell ranked second overall in yards per carry, third in yardage after contact per carry, and ninth overall in missed tackles forced per carry.
[TWEET]848645219935563776[/TWEET]
Are those numbers enough to unseat Forte as the Jets’ lead back this season?
In his first season with the Jets, the Chicago Bears veteran had his worst career showing, finishing with 813 yards, only his second season rushing for fewer than 900 yards, off 218 attempts for seven touchdowns. He added another touchdown as a pass receiver for 263 yards.
That downturn in production could be blamed on a number of factors: the deterioration of the Jets’ offensive line, wear and tear owing to Forte’s advanced age, or the fact that Chan Gailey at times seemed to simply forget running the ball was part of the game.
Forte eventually ended up the Jets’ 18th player to be placed on the team’s injured reserve list after suffering a knee injury on Dec. 12, eventually having arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. Could the injury be enough for him to be demoted to second place on the depth chart?
The decision made by offensive coordinator John Morton and head coach Todd Bowles, who says he’ll be more involved in the offensive game plans this season, will be rather important, given the Jets’ professed focus on the run game in 2017.
Given Powell’s production, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he got the promotion.
