Two years ago, the Jets signed Le’Veon Bell on a monster-free agent contract in hopes of solving some of their offensive problems.
Two years later, that decision now seems laughable. Bell failed to spend two years with the team before leaving him in October as unhappy as unproductive with the Jets.
Now, the team faces a decision to run again this offseason.
While most of the focus is on who will be the Jets quarterback in September, that quarterback will need a good running back game. It’s something the Jets haven’t been able to build on in recent years and one of the factors that contributed to Sam Darnold’s struggles.
The Jets finished no better than 23rd in the NFL in a hurry in all three seasons of Darnold. During his stint with the Jets, the team has had a 100-yard run only three times. The new offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, comes from the Kyle Shanahan system that emphasizes concepts of outside zone execution and the action-game that passes them by. It’s crucial for the Jets to improve their rushing offense this offseason.
But how do the Jets do it? Viouslybviament, they have to upgrade an offensive line that has only left Mekhi Becton as a long-term response. But they also have to join the room of the last currents where La’Mical Perine enters his second season as a stranger and not as someone in whom you can pencil as behind.
There are some intriguing backs scheduled to get to the free agency, but will the Jets be back down that road? Former CEO Mike Maccagnan signed Bell for a four-year, $ 52.5 million contract in 2019 over the objections of former coach Adam Gase. The marriage felt doomed from the start and Bell didn’t rush for 100 yards in a Jets uniform. Bell is one of many warning stories about signing important money contracts. The league has moved away from paying streams and looking for answers to the draft.
The main currents planned to get the agency free on March 17 are Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Leonard Fournette and Kenyan Drake. There are also a few who played in San Francisco and know LaFleur and new head coach Robert Saleh. Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida played for the 49ers and could be cheaper than those behind the market.
The most likely procedure for the Jets is to try to find a back in the draft. The Jets have not drafted any races in the first two rounds since taking Lamont Jordan in the second round in 2001. It has been 31 years since the Jets drafted Blair Thomas, the last they caught in the first round. They picked Thomas of Penn State with No. 2 overall in 1990. No one suggests the Jets use No. 2 overall in a backhand this April. But grabbing his back with his second-round pick (No. 23 overall) may make sense. Travis Etienne of Clemson and Najee Harris of Alabama are seen as the first final players.
Whatever Joe Douglas decides, of course he needs to find some answers to go back. The Jets averaged 105.2 yards on the ground in 2020 and were good compared to 2019 (78.6 ipg) and 2018 (101.4 ipg). LaFleur takes Shanahan’s offense east, so it makes sense to look at the 49ers as the model for what the Jets want to do. The 49ers attacked the Super Bowl in 2019, averaging 144.1 yards per game, the second-best average in the league. Who can forget Raheem Mostert running for 220 yards in the NFC Championship game against the Packers?
It was one of 12 times a 49ers runner has won at least 100 yards in the last three seasons. The 49ers have had 35 games with at least 100 running yards since 2018, the sixth most in the league. The Jets, on the other hand, have only surpassed 100 yards 18 times in 48 games, tied at 30th in the NFL with the Steelers. Only three Jets runners have rushed for 100 yards in a game since 2018: Isaiah Crowell twice in 2018 and Ty Johnson last year against the Raiders.
Douglas ’to-do list is long this low season, but the improvement in the current game should be near the top.