The run blocking has been adequate. I think the Jets need to take a "Ride the hot hand" approach. Every defense is different & different ones struggle w/ different kind of runners. Additionally, running backs can be very hot/cold w/ their performance. Jets have 3 RBs who bring very different skills to the table. Right now Greene looks slow to the hole & doesn't have much confidence. Conversely Powell looks much better. Time to play Powell till his hot streak runs out. Then you go back to Greene or give Mcknight a try.
Why do the Jets not have a back who is a reliable safety valve in the passing game? This is 2012. How can you build your backfield and not have at least one guy who can reliably catch the ball and often make something out of a busted play with his legs? This is just completely pitiful on the part of the Jets FO. In a year that they were planning to Ground and Pound they have a group of misfit toys in the backfield. I guess a future hall of famer was not let go by his team prematurely this season, so the Jets being unable to evaluate talent just went with what they had. This is the equivalent of hiding under a pile of coats in the corner and hoping the monster just goes away.
Manish Mehta Rex Ryan guaranteed RB Joe McKnight would have greater role in Wk 3 than he did in Wk2 when he had 1 snap. McKnight played in 3 snaps Sunday
I think you have to look at Joe Mcknight for that role. He has the skills you are referring to. Can beat you w/ his legs, has the ability to get depth on pass routes & has above average hands. The issue is he can't pass block to save his life...therefore if he's in the game on 3rd down, the defense already knows his intentions pre-snap.
There was I think some reason to expect the Jets would use McKnight more, but then there came the news of problems he was having. Apparently not problems enough to move him off the roster, and I am not suggesting they should have. But if the team entered the regular season not expecting much from McKnight, does that mean Greene was going to be any better? Of course not, and while Powell has played somewhat better, he has yet to show he can be a dependable receiving back. Imo, the Jet backfield is another example of piss poor work by Tanny and his office.
Your right the league has tilted towards the pass. And defenses have adapted to focus on stopping high powered passing attacks. If you pay attention you will notice that running games around the league are going wild because of it. As soon as offenses go too far in one direction (run or pass) the other direction opens up. Now we have defenses around the league built to stop high powered passing games and the running game is going to kill them. A great ball control team could go far right now.
Very good observation. This is something I thought would happen within the next couple of years and in actuallity it's happening sooner than I had thought.
