Faceoff - Who is the Jets RB2?
Posted 8/3, exclusive to Footballguys.com
Leon Washington - by Jason Wood
Leon Washington is arguably the Jets most dynamic offensive weapon, which is why it almost seems silly to argue that he won't be the Jets RB2. In his three year career, Washington has averaged 4.9 yards per rush and 7.8 yards per reception; both exemplary marks for a tailback. What's more encouraging is that Washington has gotten better each season. As a rookie, his YPC was a solid but unspectacular 4.3, but last year Washington averaged 5.9 yards per carry. As a receiver, Washington has seen his reception totals increase from 25 to 36 to 47. Most impressively, Washington has made the most of his part-time role, scoring 15 TDs on just 406 touches from scrimmage. His 3.7% TD conversion rate is on par with Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, Brian Westbrook and Chris Johnson.Some critics will point to Washington's size as an indication he couldn't shoulder a bigger load; but those critics apparently aren't astute observers of NFL history. Leon Washington is 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, which compares favorably to Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook and two other guys you might have heard of, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Washington is perfectly built, and strong enough, to handle a heavier workload.
Washington will produce regardless of whether Thomas Jones is healthy or not. The reason? Because his skill set is unique whereas rookie RB Shonn Greene has a game reminiscent of Jones'. Greene is a bruising, straight line runner with very little wiggle. He's also not a proven pass catcher. And like most rookies, he will need time to adjust to the rigors of the NFL blocking schemes. Even if Greene is an exemplary student in his first camp, he's playing to replace Jones in 2010 or 2011, not to displace Washington as the Jets' game-breaker. On draft day, Washington is someone who doesn't need an injury to be worth rostering. In PPR leagues, I expect he'll be a decent utility player in the majority of weeks. The same can't be said for Shonn Greene.
Shonn Greene - by Andy Hicks
Thomas Jones will be 31 this year, is unhappy with his contract and has a new head coach to deal with. Add in the anomaly of 15 touchdowns in 2008 and the opportunities afforded due to the presence of Brett Favre passing the ball and he is due for a massive comedown in 2009. Leon Washington is best used in small doses to utilize his explosive skills in the running game and the Jets will need to run the ball a lot to give first round rookie Mark Sanchez a chance to learn and develop as a quarterback. The man who will help them do that is third-round pick Shonn Greene.I personally will be targeting Shonn Greene is every draft I'll be participating in this year. Currently he is being taken as the 54th running back, which means the pick required will be amongst the late round flyers and sleepers that others will be using on riskier players. New head coach Rex Ryan saw the success the Baltimore Ravens had last year with a triple headed monster running the ball. Thomas Jones could be the Willis McGahee, Washington the Ray Rice and Greene the Le'Ron McClain. Aside from that tentative link, Greene will be a powerful strong runner who has a knack for the end zone
It must be remembered however that the Jets traded up 12 spots to the 65th overall pick to get him and the coaching staff rated him very highly. Jones and Washington are contract malcontents who were part of the previous regime. Greene is also a winner of the Doak Walker award for the nation's top collegiate running back placing him in such luminous company as LaDainian Tomlinson, Eddie George and Larry Johnson. Add in a Jim Brown Trophy which was presented to the same three NFL greats as well as Marshall Faulk and Adrian Peterson, and you have a back that is highly pedigreed and will be used more and more as the season wears on.
Leon Washington is never going to get the ball more than 10 times a game as a runner or receiver on a consistent basis. Despite his ever presence threat the Jets were wise to exceed this limit only three times in 2008, with a maximum recorded of only 16 touches. This is not going to change. By the conclusion of 2009, I not only expect Shonn Greene to get more carries than Washington, I expect him to be pushing or have replaced Thomas Jones as the chief ball carrier for the Jets. At this price he will be one of the steals of your draft. At worst he does nothing like most late rounders. The reward far outweighs any risk here.