With the addition of Faneca (7 pro bowls), Woody (1), Richardson (3) and Bubba Franks (3) the Jets have added 14 pro bowl selections in the hope of significantly upgrading their running game. Assuming McFadden doesn't last till our pick what do you think the impact of these changes will be on the following players and the team in general? Jones - 1119 Rush Yds, 1 TD (2007) Washington - 353 Rush Yds, 3 TD (2007) Chapman - 515 Rush Yds, 1 TD (2007) with Miami Also comment on what the impact of a stronger run defense and pass rush will have on the Jets running game as well. Keep in mind that Richardson was the Fullback blocking for Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson and Adrian Peterson during their best years and was a pro bowl selection last year.
Obviously the running game (and the passing game) should be improved with these additions, but there are a few things that need to happen... #1) Richardson needs to be USED! Hopefully with Callahan aboard, our illogical refusal to use an I-formation outside of the redzone will end, and we'll give Richardson an opportunity make his impact felt.... #2) D'Brickashaw needs to take a big step forward with Faneca next to him, and Mangold needs to get back to where he was at the end of his rookie year. The LG isn't going to improve the running game by leaps and bounds simply because of his blocking, he needs to make the guys around him better. Brick took a pretty significant step back last year, and Mangold had a decent little sophomore stumble as well. Hopefully, those issues were due simply to the huge gaping hole in between them. We'll see. If Brick can't get any sort of push in the running game this year, Faneca's addition won't be all that significant. If a T is a pushover in the running game, the line essentially collapses, it gets more difficult to pull guys out, and cutback lanes all but disappear. Brick's got a lot of work to do... So, if the CS is willing to change things up, and commit big time to a power running game. And if Faneca's presence really does help Brick and Mangold take a step forward, we should absolutely see an improved running game. I think that goes without saying...
The FA moves have been terrific, but a lot more has to be done in order for these moves to pay off for real. First of all, WE HAVE NO DEPTH on the OL to speak of -- there are several people on the roster that have yet to prove themselves as worthy of the designation offensive linemen. They should either show up in terms of their powerful performances this year or be run off the team like craven dogs. It is not enough to be big and shambling to be an offensive lineman -- it is necessary to give offense at the line of scrimmage to whomever dares to look you in the face before the ball is snapped. If you are big and shambling and yet nobody is afraid of what you are doing or about to do to them, then it is of no consequence and you should go back to work at the florists in your local suburban strip mall where you probably belong. Whether we transform these invisible Big Uglies, or get their just replacements from the draft or from FAs over the course of the summer -- we NEED DEPTH in the OL, not just some promising starters. For the NYJs to consistently whip the AFC East, North, and South, their level of disrespect on the line of scrimmage has to CHANGE radically for good. This is more important than preoccupations about any new skill player. We've got plenty good skill players if the OL and DL give them a ghost of a chance to do their work.
If McFadden isn't wearing green and white, which i'm expecting, I hope to see Leon get more carries this year than he did last year.
