The Jets defense has to contain Reggie Bush Sunday in South Florida as the Dolphins electrifying RB is off to a torrid start, ranking second in the NFL in rushing with 241 yards and he is averaging 6.0 yards per carry. As a team, the Dolphins have the league's second most proficient ground attack at 171 yards per contest.
Conversely the Jets rank tied for 18th in rushing offense and are collecting 104 rush yards an outing. Shonn Greene has 38 of the team's 58 rush attempts and the fourth-year back is a hot topic of conversation in our latest Q&A. We will post our next installment of "Fan Friday" tomorrow and I'm still accepting matchup breakdowns and game predictions.
Aaron S.Huntsville AL
Q: Do you see Shonn Greene remaining the lead back after this season? I just don't see him being an elite or ideal back for a Ground and Pound offense. This offense could definitely use a true home run hitter at RB. How many runs of over 30 yards has Shonn Greene had in his career?
EA: After two games of regular season action, it would be presumptuous of me to guess what is going to happen in the offseason. Greene, who is scheduled to be a free agent in March unless he gets an extension or is given the franchise tag, is the Jets No. 1 back now.
Greene is the ideal fit for this offense — a big, thick runner who can wear a defense out. He has averaged 3.1 yards a carry through two contests and the Jets will be challenged Sunday by a Dolphins defense that is yielding an NFL-low 2.2 yards per carry.
The 5'11", 226-pound Green is a bulldozer, a back who is looking for contact and he can run people over if defenders aren't prepared for a collision. Including postseason play, Greene has rushed for more than 30 yards on four occasions—a 33-yard TD vs. the Raiders on October 25, 2009, a 39-yard TD vs. the Bengals in the 2009 Wild Card game, a 53-yard score vs. the Chargers in the '09 Divisional Playoffs and a 31-yarder vs. the Chiefs on Dec. 11, 2011.
Joe McKnight is the home run threat in the Jets backfield and Rex Ryan said Wednesday that, "He'll probably have a bigger role this week." Bilal Powell, who is the top pass protector in the backfield, continues to impress every time he touches the rock.
MauriceMontreal, CA
Q: Why don't the Jets use Tebow as a running back on every play? I believe he will never be a regular QB in the NFL. But I also believe he can run and that he is stronger than Greene.
EA: While Tebow is an accomplished runner and will get moved around by the Jets — he is not a running back. Tebow is the backup quarterback and an offensive specialist.
Even after an inconsistent performance against the Steelers, Mark Sanchez is tied for second in the NFL with 4TDs and his 95.0 passer rating ranks fourth in the NFL. He is the fifth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win 30 career games in his first three NFL seasons, so the Jets already have a regular quarterback.
While Tebow has proven to be effective on the run and he has tremendous vision, operating the read option and the Wildcat is a lot different than being a team's No. 1 RB. I don't know how you can say Tebow is stronger than Greene either (how are we measuring their strength) because Greene also has a great base and is a load to bring down.
JuanAllentown, PA
Q: What's up Eric?! Obviously Rex and Mike Tannenbaum truly believe that Shonn Greene is good enough to be an every down back and lead our rushing attack. However entering his 4th season, he just hasn't broken through the way we've expected him to. It's almost as if his production the last three years is a product of a great O-line. Do you think the team will look elsewhere at RB if he underachieves this year?
EA: This truly is the first time in Greene's career when he is the bellcow. LaDainian Tomlinson signed with the Jets in 2010 and had a wonderful first regular season while leading the Jets with 914 yards on the ground. But in the 2010 postseason, Greene paced the Jets in rushing while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
Last season, the Jets admittedly fell in love with their personnel on the outside early and never truly found an identity. The O-line had its share of struggles too as Nick Mangold's early season injury took its toll and RT Wayne Hunter experienced his well-documented struggles.
RichardKamas, UT
Q: What did LaRon Landry do to heal his Achilles and is it likely to hold up all season?
EA: The Jets singed Landry in March. The hard-hitting safety declared in June that his Achilles was totally healed and his issue was the heal bone connected to the tendon.
His rehab regiment consistent of one treatment with Ammino Matrix (cryopreserved liquid wound covering derived from amniotic tissue and cells) as well as a couple of PRPs — platelet-rich plasma transfusion — to speed up the healing process.
The Jets eased Landry along throughout the summer, placing him on a training camp "pitch count." And he's been full-go through the first two games. The 6'0", 227-pounder lays everything on the line each play and you hope he can play 16 games. Between 2010-2012, Landry was limited to 17 games of action with the Redskins.
MichaelWatertown, CTQ:Get real dude. The Jets will go about 4-12 unless Rex teaches them how to tackle.
EA: Thanks for your thoughts. Do me a favor dude — drop me a note in January when the regular season is complete. I will take the over on 4 and Rex Ryan is one of the finest defensive coaches in the National Football League. I wish I could wager when I hear from "realists", but let's just leave it at that.
