Two years ago, the Jets signed Le’Veon Bell to a free monster contract, hoping to solve some of their offensive problems.
Two years later, that decision now seems ridiculous. Bell failed to spend two years with the team before releasing him in October as unhappy as he was unproductive with the Jets.
Now the team is facing a decision to run again this season.
While most of the focus is on who the Jets defender will be in September, the defender will need a good running game behind him. It’s something the Jets have failed to build in recent years and one of the factors that contributed to Sam Darnold’s struggles.
The jets did not finish more than 23rd in the NFL in a hurry in Darnold’s three seasons. During his time with the Jets, the team had a 100-meter player only three times. The new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur comes from the Kyle Shanahan system that focuses on the concepts of running the outside area and the action game moves from them. It is essential for the Jets to improve their rush attack this season.
But how do the Jets do that? Obviously, he needs to improve an offensive line that has only a long-term response on Mekhi Becton. But it also needs to be added to the back room, where La’Mical Perine enters his second season as a stranger and not as someone you can create as a bottom back.
There are some interesting backs scheduled to hit the free agency, but will the Jets go that route again? Former general manager Mike Maccagnan signed Bell for a four-year contract, with 52.5 million dollars, in 2019, against the objections of the former coach Adam Gase. The marriage felt doomed from the start and Bell did not rush 100 meters with the Jets uniform. Bell is one of many warning stories about signing large money transaction allowances. The league has moved away from paying back and finding answers in the draft.
The first players to arrive at the free agency on March 17 are Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Leonard Fournette and Kenyan Drake. There are also a few who have played in San Francisco and are acquainted with LaFleur and new head coach Robert Saleh. Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida all played for the 49ers and could be cheaper than the top players in the market.
The most likely course of action for the Jets is to try to find a back in the project. The Jets haven’t written a half in the first two rounds since taking Lamont Jordan in the second round in 2001. It’s been 31 years since the Jets picked Blair Thomas, the last back they took in the first round. They elected Thomas of Penn State with general election no. 2 in 1990. No one suggests that the Jets would use general election no. 2 on the back in April. But taking a back-to-back second-round pick (No. 23 in general) might make sense. Travis Etienne of Clemson and Najee Harris of Alabama are regarded as late first-rounders.
Whatever Joe Douglas decides, it’s clear he needs to find some answers on his return. The jets averaged 105.2 meters on the ground in 2020 and this was good compared to 2019 (78.6 ypg) and 2018 (101.4 ypg). LaFleur brings Shanahan’s offense with him, so it makes sense to look at the 49ers as a role model for what the Jets want to do. The 49ers headed to the Super Bowl in 2019, averaging 144.1 yards per game, the second-best average in the league. Who can forget Raheem Mostert rushing for 220 meters in the NFC Championship game against the Packers?
This was a 12-time 49ers running back, winning at least 100 yards in the last three seasons. The 49ers had 35 games with at least 100 yards rushing since 2018, the sixth highest in the league. The Jets, on the other hand, outscored just 100 yards 18 times in 48 games, equal to 30of in the NFL with the Steelers. Only three Jets flew for 100 meters in a 2018 game – Isaiah Crowell twice in 2018 and Ty Johnson last year against the Raiders.
Douglas’ to-do list is long this season, but improving his running game should be near the top.