http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1211517492191910.xml&coll=1 Last season, Jets running back Thomas Jones sometimes had to make three moves just to get back to the line of scrimmage -- and still managed to rush for 1,119 yards.
Barring injury to himself or one of the new lineman he should improve on his totals from last season. I remember a thread on the other site about which RB would lead the east in rushing for last season. As bad as the OL was, it was still Jones by a hair. Granted the Pats threw every freakin down but still, not a bad accomplishment for TJ behind one of the worst OL's in the league.
Let's hope Ronnie doesn't go down, however, Jones is a monster and, if Ronnie does get hurt, TJ is a huge thread as far as yardage is concerned.
To get 1,119 yards behind that Offensive Line last season was a great accomplishment, IMO. Unfortunately there are a lot of Jets fans that are willing to kick him to the curb because he "only" had 1,119 yards. Some Jets fans continue to not realize how putrid that line was last season and with a much better line in place with Faneca and Woody, I don't see how Jones can't rush for 1,3-400 yards. Then again, at 30 years old I don't think he'll be seeing 300+ carries this season, and I honestly hope he doesn't, because I think the Jets need to get the ball into the hands of Leon Washington more. Jesse Chatman should also get a few touches here and there each game. We'll see what happens via his #'s, but either way our ground game should be much, much better.
I agree with you 124. With your line being improved, Jones could easily gain that many yards. I'm a huge fan of his and always wondered why Chicago "gave" him to you guys for a song.
Thomas Jones got the yards behind a bad offensive line, but he is no game changer. I expect him to pound it out this year but be replaced next year. BZ
Surprised me what we got him for just as much as it surprised you, especially with Cedric Benson doing absolutely nothing in his first two years. So much for that eh Chicago? Benson continued to produce little in 2007 and now is in the middle of an off the field incident. I think Benson gets one last chance in 2008 and after that could be out of the NFL.
BZ My best friend is a Jets fan. He was practically doing back handsprings when he found out you guys signed him. Is he not that good?
TJ is a little above average. Last year he had no help but also never hit the hole hard enough for me. He danced left and right half the time when he should have been running north. We did better with a bunch of scrubs rotating in and out of the RB position two years ago, so we shall see. BZ
Thats interesting about the dancing part. I thought he seemed impatient last season at times like he had poor field vision or something. We can all agree that there weren't many holes for him to run through, but it seemed to me that he didn't give anything time to develop. He would just run into the back of an O lineman and get dropped after a yard or 2.
We did better with scrubs at the position the year before because the 2006 line was much, much better than the 2007 line. Yes the only difference was Pete Kendall, but Pete Kendall is a proven veteran and Adrien Clarke is a bum who still has not signed anywhere after starting the majority of the 2007 season. Thats why that platoon of failures faired better in 2006. Thomas Jones is a good Running Back who when he has a decent or better Offensive Line can run for at least 1,200-1,300 yards consistently.
I personally like Thomas Jones, I think he is a good player. Last year wasn't as bad like you guys stated, I thought he did well behind that porous offensive line. I think he will get around 1200 to 1300 yards this year. Hopefully we will have good competition for the rushing title between him, Ronnie and Marshawn Lynch. The thing I am most hoping for is for a competitive division, I want to see someone over throw the Patriots. I think it will happen the NEXT season, not this one. The Patriots are bound for a decline in my opinion and there time has come. They have had their run of success, cheating or not, and now its one of ours. Hopefully its the Dolphins .