-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [/QUOTE]Jets see Thomas as huge addition Sunday, June 17, 2007 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff While new Jets running back Thomas Jones has the upper body of Mr. Universe, displaying his bulging biceps by rolling up the sleeves of his jersey, he has the nimble feet and soft hands of a game-breaker. Jones, the former Bear, was impressive during the Jets' minicamp last week and figures to be the spark plug for the entire offense, much like Curtis Martin once was. Jones is a potential 20-carry per game back -- though he'll share time with Leon Washington -- and can catch the ball out of the backfield. It's a job description in a multidimensional offense that suits Jones just fine, one that is night and day from what he played in Chicago the past three seasons. "It (the Jets' offense) is different than Chicago," said Jones, who wore a play sheet on his wristbands during minicamp. "In Chicago, we ran the ball so well that we had a certain amount of plays that we ran on. "Here, we have so many good players on offense -- so many good receivers and very good running backs. There are a lot of weapons on offense, so they have a lot of different ways to get guys the ball." Jones, who turns 29 in August, rushed for more than 2,500 yards and caught 62 passes the past two seasons with the Bears, leading them to the Super Bowl last season. He'll likely get 15 to 20 carries per game this season, with Washington getting the rest. He'll also be a weapon in the passing game. "I do what the coaches ask me to do," Jones said. "If they throw me the ball, I feel pretty good about catching it." Jones, whose workout regiment is already the stuff of legend around the Jets complex, also feels good about quarterback Chad Pennington. He likes what he sees on and off the field. "The fact that he's a smart guy who comes to work every day," said Jones, who isn't easily impressed. "As a leader, he shows that he has a presence in the huddle. I have known him for a long time. I have watched his career because we came out in the same year of the draft. I'm just fortunate to be able to play with him." Coach Eric Mangini says it's the Jets who are pleased to have Jones. "He's got a great work ethic," Mangini said. "In the weight room, it's as impressive as I've seen. But then on the field, in the classroom, all the different people that we've talked to noted his leadership. Seeing it as opposed to just the research phase, it's definitely shown up in a lot of different areas. "You'll see him working with Leon (Washington) or Cedric (Houston) or one of the guys, just trying to help them understand things that he inherently understands now from the amount of reps that he's taken and schemes that he's seen." Mangini surprised his team yesterday morning by announcing the final practice of their three-day minicamp was canceled and the team would instead have an off-site team-building exercise (i.e. picnic or softball game) that incorporated the military personnel from Fort Bragg that visited camp on Friday. The Jets ended up having four practices, two on Thursday and two on Friday. The team is now off until the start of training camp in late July. The club hasn't officially announced a reporting date. Though the Jets were shocked by the candidness of the comments on Thursday by veteran guard Pete Kendall, they haven't completely shut the door on him returning, though it seems unlikely. Team officials concede that Kendall is a solid player and could help them this season. The Jets don't feel they overpaid for unrestricted free-agent DE Kenyon Coleman (five years, $20.5 million, $6 million guaranteed) because it's hard to find quality defensive linemen with experience in the 3-4 scheme, and when you do, you have to pay those players top dollar. In fact, just seven of the 32 NFL teams play the 3-4 alignment: Jets, Patriots, Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns and Chargers. All-purpose performer Brad Smith, who played wide receiver, running back and quarterback last season, took nearly a dozen postpractice snaps on Thursday and Friday with the third- and fourth-team offense.[/QUOTE] Good read, can't wait to see him on Sundays. Go Jets
To me, all Jones has to do is be a workhorse. Get 4 yards a carry like none of the backs last year could do. That will allow Washington to be our home run threat in the running game(and a great change of pace i might add) and WILL loosen up the back 7's..allowing chad to pick defense's apart and some plays downfield.
Love it, I still cannot believe what was once my favourite player not on the Jets is now on the jets, this type of stuff never happens for me
[/QUOTE]In fact, just seven of the 32 NFL teams play the 3-4 alignment: Jets, Patriots, Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns and Chargers.[/QUOTE] ummm, don't the 9ers play a 3-4 and the Steelers are projected to be transitioning to a 4-3, so I guess it offsets... I can see a little more of where kendall gets his righteousness from...paying an unproven backup 5 mil a year when a proven veteran starter at guard and mentor to two rookies asks for an extra mil and gets denied would piss anyone off...
Yeah, but nobody will have experience of playing 3-4 yet from being on the Niners, whereas the guys who were on the Steelers will. It's just semantics, but I think that's what he was getting at?
In fact, just seven of the 32 NFL teams play the 3-4 alignment: Jets, Patriots, Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns and Chargers.[/QUOTE] ummm, don't the 9ers play a 3-4 and the Steelers are projected to be transitioning to a 4-3, so I guess it offsets... I can see a little more of where kendall gets his righteousness from...paying an unproven backup 5 mil a year when a proven veteran starter at guard and mentor to two rookies asks for an extra mil and gets denied would piss anyone off...[/QUOTE] The 49ers are transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 so this year they'll be playing a mix of both, prob with more 4-3 than 3-4 because they dont have the defensive ends to pull it off yet.
I see TJ as a major addition but feel that Kendall (or another quality OG) is vital for him to succeed. Throw the old man a bone or go and get his replacement but don't leave the rest of the team without a solid O-line.
Can't agree more. Getting that first chunk and putting us in 2nd and 5's or 3 and 2's makes our "chad-coast" offense that much more effective. I don't really see it as primarily as removing a saftey from the box for chad- i see it more helpful at increasing the probability of success for the the little dink and dunks chad throws well. the less 3rd and 15's chad sees, the better he'll be, in other words, the more discretion chad has on when he wants to take his shots down the field, the better he'll be.
i didnt read the article, but yes he is a gigantic addition to the jets offense. he is no curtis martin but he can pound the ball and has somewhat of martins finesse, along with leon washington the jets running game is a force to be reckoned with.
I used to love watching Chad P's play action....now teams should actually be biting now that we have a guy you have to keep an eye out for. Looking forward to seeing our running game, especially in the 1st 2 weeks. We will know just how far we've come after those 2 games.
TJ is a great addition and is a better match againt LB's and not to trying to downplay his arrival but I'd feel better when the right side improves. I don't know how many times Leon juked defenders as soon as he got the ball in the backfield or how we were only getting 2 yards per carry from anybody else besides Houston. That Oline needs to get a bigger push off the line and open some lanes. Not everybody can run around like Leon and eventually find a hole.
Anybody you are willing to spend a 2nd round pick on is looked upon as a huge addition, especially at running back. The guy should definitely do some good things for us this year.
Do NOT under any circumstances throw Kendall a bone. He is a cancer on this time and giving in to any of his demands opens up a pandora's box with the players under contract that the team just cannot afford. Release him, deactivate him or trade him, but he should never play for the Jets again. On Jones, I hope I am wrong, but I get an uneasy feeling about Thomas Jones. I am just not feeling that he will be the answer. Hope I am wrong.
It would be wrong of me to say that TJ is just like CMart but I think once you see him in the uni and his running style you will see alot of the type of moves that CMart had. Hes not as fluid a runner but still has the smarts to look at the field in front of him. Correct me if I'm wrong , but I don't think any RB has left a SB team the following season. I give A+++++ for this move.
