This time last year, Jets game-changing running back Breece Hall was sidelined as he rehabbed his ACL injury. Now, he's helping lay the groundwork for the offense this season from the onset of training camp.
"Just to be out there now at the beginning, it feels good," Hall said. "[Wednesday] when we went on the field, I told the offense let's set the standard and Aaron [Rodgers] said, 'You set the standard.' Hearing that from guys like him means a lot to me. It lets me know that I'm one of the guys on the team and one of the guys that sets the standard. So it's been cool to be out there."
It can be challenging to evaluate the running game in non-padded practices (they come on Monday), but Hall was effective with the mitts Thursday. QB Aaron Rodgers connected with the former Iowa State 'back by the sideline on a broken play with Michael Carter II in coverage as Hall fell to the ground after securing the pass for a first down.
"Me and Aaron talk about doing the scramble drill all the time," Hall said. "Instead of taking a high angle, I just ran past MC and went to the sideline to make an easier throw for Aaron and he threw it to me and I caught it."
Hall, after finishing 6 yards short of 1,000 rushing yards last season, has no doubt he'll eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground this coming season and earn both Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, something he posted about on social media in January.
"I'm sure it'll happen," he reaffirmed Thursday. "So I'm not really worried about that."
Hall is, understandably, confident. His 1,585 scrimmage yards last season came behind 13 offensive line combinations while playing with four quarterbacks and on a pitch count early in the season as he returned to the lineup.
Now he's running behind a re-tooled unit headlined by All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith.
"Whenever somebody talks about the O-line I smile," Hall said. He added of Smith: "The first day I saw him, I just walked to the locker room to grab a pair of shoes or something. I think he just got done working out and had his shirt off. I thought how is he 300-something pounds with an eight pack? Seeing how big he is, how lean he is, how he works out like a young dude, it's crazy."
Rodgers back under center will help alleviate pressure from Hall considering defenses won't be able to devote as much attention as last season to stopping the run.
"I'd anticipate seeing more two shell (Cover 2) with Aaron and whenever you get a light box, it opens up things in the run game," head coach Robert Saleh said. "Whenever you give a guy like Breece space, he's proven time and time again just in his two years that if you give him enough space, he can break it."
Hall added: "Teams are going to have to pick their poison with us."
Hall, 23, is an integral part of the Jets offense. Other than Rodgers, he'll likely touch the ball the most of anyone on the team and for good reason. He's a home-run hitter -- he had three scores of at least 50 yards last season and had 7 receptions with at least 20 yards after the catch, which led to an NFL-best 649 YAC among RBs.
"He's important because he's special," Saleh said. "He's a three-down back because he's capable. He has speed, he's big, he's strong, he's powerful, he's smart and even him getting a full offseason of work without having to worry about his injury, knock on wood, really looking forward to a full season of him."
