New York Jets Draft Countdown: Making the Case for Duke Johnson

The New York Jets currently suffer from a strong case of redundancy in the offensive backfield. Between Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and Stevan Ridley, the Jets have plenty of backs who can hammer the rock between the tackles but none of the game-breaking threats who can make big plays in space or pose a threat in the receiving game.

That's where the 2015 NFL draft comes into play, with an opportunity to select one of multiple backs who excel in the scatback role. Enter Miami running back Duke Johnson, a diminutive back at 5'9" and 207 pounds but with the skill set the Jets currently lack in their running back depth chart.

Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is an ace at finding ways to make use of his running backs, but his best work has always been done with backs who can contribute in the passing game. That's where Johnson becomes a huge factor in the offensive game plan and could immediately carve out a niche role for himself.

Let's take a look at why Johnson might be the best back in this draft for what the Jets need.

Need

Chris Ivory will be the primary back in the Jets' rotation. Outside of that, it's hard to get a read on exactly what the Jets' plan is at running back. Ridley and Powell will probably be the complementary backs, but as mentioned above, neither has a unique skill set that distinguishes himself from the other.

Johnson, on the other hand, is unlike anything the Jets have in their backfield.

Workout	Scouting combine	Pro Day
40-yard dash	4.54 sec	4.5 sec
Vertical jump	33.5"	35"
Short shuttle	N/A	4.16 sec
3-cone drill	N/A	6.88 sec
Broad jump	121"	N/A
Bench press	N/A	18 reps

He has the long speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash at his pro day) and the agility (6.88-second three-cone drill) to make defenders miss in the open field and make them pay once they do.

That simple fact should have been easily discernible from his gaudy stats: a whopping 2,073 yards from scrimmage in 2014, with an average of 7.4 yards every time he touched the ball, to go with a total of 3,241 yards from scrimmage in two years at Miami and an average of 7.3 yards per touch.

Fit

The Jets offensive line has been built in the mold of a man-blocking scheme for years under the philosophy of head coach Rex Ryan to ground-and-pound on offense. Chan Gailey prefers a more mobile offensive line, one that gets out in front of plays and opens up holes on the perimeter for long gains on screens, outside runs, etc.

In that sense, Johnson fits what Gailey wants to do but does not fit the build of the Jets' current personnel. Thus, it would be interesting to see how successful Johnson's zone-running style would be with a Jets offensive line that is built for size and power, not for quickness and agility. 

We've seen plenty of examples of Johnson's one-cut running ability on film. 

Against Virginia Tech in 2014, Johnson had 29 carries for 249 yards thanks in large part to runs like this one. The guard and center open up holes in the A-gap, and Johnson starts to his right, but he cuts back to his left once he sees green ahead of him. 

He has a tendency to "mash the turbo button" at times, which can lead to him running into the backs of his offensive linemen before holes open up, but it can also lead to long gains when the appropriate holes open up. He will need to learn to balance his aggressive style of play with a little more patience, but if he sees a crease, you can bet he's going to hit it at full speed. 

His traits will be at their best in the passing game; although he's not the ideal size to pick up blitzing linebackers, and he'll need some polish on his technique, he has the "want-to" in protection, and you can't teach that. Let's not forget about his soft hands in the receiving game and his explosive ability in that area. Get him matched up on a linebacker and it could be a long day for opposing defenses.

Value

The Jets need a running back, but they do not need one of the top backs available. Besides, with how quickly running backs deteriorate, it's not smart to draft running backs in the first round anymore. A deep rotation will do the trick, and the Jets could fill out that rotation perfectly by selecting Johnson.

The price of admission wouldn't be too steep, either. They could probably nab him with their third-round selection, which will be 70th overall. 

The Jets may still need an answer at quarterback, but no matter who's calling the signals for their offense in 2015, his job will be a lot easier with a reliable scatback who can create big plays in the open field.  

Unless otherwise noted, all NFL draft notes and scouting combine information provided by NFL.com  and CBSSports.com.