Three Running Backs Lead The Way For Jets Next Season

Six Yards. It wasn’t the longest run of Shonn Greene’s college career, nor was it even close, but it was his most memorable.

This six-yard run resulted in a touchdown, a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown, that allowed Greene’s unranked Iowa to ruin a perfect season for No. 3 Penn State by a narrow 24-23 score.

Now, after a trade by the Jets to open Day Two of the NFL Draft, the 5'11", 235 pound running back finds himself as a member of Gang Green.

The trade was the second of the draft for the Jets, the end result leaving them with a possible franchise quarterback, Matt Sanchez, and a runner, Greene, who topped 100 yards rushing in all 13 games he played at Iowa a year ago en route to a 1,850-yard season.   

Greene’s presence in New York’s backfield gives first-year head coach Rex Ryan a problem.

How does Ryan find carries for Greene, incumbent starter Thomas Jones and the explosive Leon Washington?

It is a problem Ryan surely loves to have.

Ryan and returning offensive coordinator Bryan Schottenheimer realize the strength of their offense lies in the versatile three-headed monster that roars out of the backfield.

The Jets, whether or not they start fourth-year quarterback Kellen Clemens, who has only eight career starts, or rookie Sanchez, will be dealing with plenty of inexperience under center.

How do you cover an inexperienced quarterback? How about by unleashing three talented runners.

Having a young quarterback is nothing new for Ryan. One season ago in Baltimore, Ryan was the defensive coordinator of a team that featured rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens rode their rookie all the way to an appearance in the AFC Championship game before being upended by the eventual champions in Pittsburgh.

Baltimore's secret to demolishing the myth that a team can’t win with a rookie quarterback: having three good running backs with distinctly different skills complimented by a great defense.

In Baltimore, it was Willis McGahee as the do-it-all veteran, the hard-running Le’Ron McClain and the lightning-quick Ray Rice.

It appears as if Ryan is bringing the same blueprint to New York. Jones is the Pro Bowler coming off of a 1,300-yard season, which included a career-high 13 touchdowns.

Greene assumes the role of the bruiser, a punishing change-of-pace to Jones speed, and Washington, who scored eight touchdowns of his own last year in limited duty, is the home run hitter.

Assuming Jones and/or Washington do not holdout, defending the Jets backfield will cause matchup problems for most defenses around the NFL.

These Jets runners will be able to beat teams with speed, with power, and with big plays, and protect their young QB in the process—just like Ryan likes it.

If Ryan’s history is any indication, there will be plenty of success to go around.