Bilal Powell Becoming Crucial Component to New York Jets' Offensive Success

Bilal Powell should get his own "RKO Outta Nowhere" meme for the new year. The New York Jets' top third-down running back has emerged this year to become a reliable option for the Jets' passing attack.

Headed into Week 16, Powell ranks third on the team in receptions (42) and fourth in receiving yards (354). On Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, Powell led the Jets with seven receptions. 

Of course, as is to be expected from most running backs, most of Powell's damage has been done with yards after the catch. According to Pro Football Focus, Powell has earned 354 receiving yards and 394 yards after the catch—meaning he's caught more than a few passes behind the line of scrimmage.

Powell wasn't always a capable receiving back. From 2012 to 2014, he caught a total of 64 passes. That's why the Jets were met with some skepticism when they made Powell their third-down back. In 2015, though, he already has 42 receptions with two games to go despite playing just 10 games to this point. 

But Powell does more than just catch the ball out of the backfield. He wouldn't be much of a running back if that's all he could do.

Powell has carried the ball 63 times for 257 yards and a touchdown this season. Those numbers aren't eye-popping by any stretch, but coupled with his 42 receptions for 354 yards and two touchdowns, they are indicative of the kind of balance and versatility Powell brings on offense.

"He's a very good receiver. He's a very good runner out of the gun. He understands the offense and what we're trying to get done. And when he gets the ball in his hand, he makes things happen," offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said of Powell, per Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News. "And he's a good pass protector. I don't want to leave that out. He's a very good pass protector."

But the role of a third-down back isn't just about what you do with the ball in your hands. It's also about what you do when you're asked to use those hands to block oncoming defenders in the passing game.

In the words of Powell, per Popper: "If you don't block, you don't play."

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Carries	13	110	176	33	63
Yards	21	437	697	141	257
YPA	1.6	4.0	4.0	4.3	4.1
TD	0	4	1	1	1
Rec	1	17	36	11	42
Yds	7	140	272	92	354
YPR	7	8.2	7.6	8.4	8.4
TD	0	0	0	0	2

The fifth-year running back out of Louisville is proving that he can, indeed, block. According to Pro Football Focus, Powell has allowed pressure just once this year despite 25 snaps in pass protection. Over the past two years, he's yielded four hurries, one hit and one sack on 80 snaps in pass protection. At 5'10" and 204 pounds, Powell is more than just a little smaller than the average NFL linebacker.

But in pass protection, it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.

"I give up a few pounds to all the linebackers in this league," Powell said, per Popper. "I try to stick to my technique. And the No. 1 thing about pass (protection) is having the will to do it."

On pure volume, Chris Ivory has been the Jets' most productive running back. On bang-for-the-buck, pound-for-pound, Powell might be the more effective of the two backs. Either way, to have both at the Jets' disposal is a big win for their offense.