..Out with the old, in with the older ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Breaking down the New York Jets' roster, unit by unit, in preparation for training camp:

Position: Running back

Projected starters: Matt Forte, Tommy Bohanon

Projected reserves: Bilal Powell, Khiry Robinson.

Notable on the bubble: Zac Stacy.

Top storyline: It's all about Forte, who will be asked to replace 1,000-yard rusher Chris Ivory as the lead dog in the Jets' backfield. Forte will be highly motivated after getting the cold shoulder from his forever team, the Chicago Bears. Forte, 30, is battling Father Time and a cranky knee that sparked some concern in free agency, but he's said to be healthy and rejuvenated as he approaches his ninth season. His workload will be an ongoing story. As a three-down back for the Bears, he averaged 315 touches (rushes and receptions) per year. That's a bit steep for an aging runner, so look for a time-share system with Powell.

Player to watch: There was a noticeable improvement last season in Powell's speed and quickness. He set career highs in yards per rush (4.5) and receptions (47), becoming a valuable member of the offense. He was the ideal complement to the bruising Ivory, but the dynamics have changed. Powell and Forte have similar skill sets, so it'll be interesting to how it plays out in terms of role definition.

Training camp will be a success if ...: The words "Forte" and "fountain of youth" are being used in the same sentence.

Wild card: Robinson is the mystery man. He played well in spurts for the New Orleans Saints, but he never was able to create a permanent niche. Some people say he's a poor man's Ivory because of his physical running style. He could wind up as the short-yardage/goal-line back (fantasy alert). Don't be surprised if he starts camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Robinson sat out the offseason as he recovered from a broken leg, but he should be good to go in the preseason.

By the numbers: Forte said he's looking forward to having a lead blocker once again. In Adam Gase's offense last season, he had only one rushing attempt out of a two-back set, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In Chan Gailey's offense, the Jets used the fullback about 25 percent of the time. Ivory ran 122 times last year in a two-back set, which gives you an idea of what Forte can expect.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/61264/jets-revamped-backfield-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-older

[kelly]

• 
  Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

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The New York Jets open training camp July 27 at their year-round facility in Florham Park, New Jersey. Here’s a closer look at the Jets' camp, which wraps up on Aug. 24 :

~ ~  Player who will have fans buzzing : Fans will get their first up-close look at Matt Forte, the former Chicago Bears star. The Jets haven't had a running back with a 50-catch season since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2010; Forte has done it six times. He will excite with his versatility, but does he have enough electricity in those 30-year-old knees to replace Chris Ivoryas the No. 1 back? Forte thinks so. He'd like to maintain the same workload from Chicago, which means at least 20 touches per game.

~ ~  Veteran whose job is in jeopardy : Zac Stacy, who began last season as the No. 3 running back and a part-time kickoff returner, could get squeezed out of a crowded backfield. Stacy is returning from a broken leg, as is his main competition for the No. 3 job, Khiry Robinson. Stacy, 25, actually is a year younger than Robinson, and he has a better track record, but the Jets are intrigued by Robinson because they don't think he has reached his ceiling.

rest of above article : 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/61094/with-camp-approaching-jets-ryan-fitzpatrick-qb-drama-intensifies

[Bleedin Green]

As much as folks like to talk about Forte's age, when it comes to RBs the only really factor in it is the player's health, especially when it's not the type of RB who is overly reliant on his speed.  And when it comes to health, Forte is far less of a concern than Ivory in that area.  Of course that doesn't make Forte a long term answer, but for at least this season, the Jets have little room for concern.

[Kleckineau]

CJ2K reduxe

[kelly]

 -- You can measure a running back's 40 time. You can be an analytics geek and chart dozens of situational stats. And, of course, you can look at the date on his birth certificate and draw conclusions.One thing you can't do is put a number on what's in his heart. If he has had his heart broken, like Matt Forte did by the Chicago Bears, he's liable to respond with a vengeance. The great ones do, anyway.

LaDainian Tomlinson knows this well, and he believes Forte, 30, dumped by the Bears, will respond the same way this season with the Jets as Tomlinson did when people were saying he was ready for retirement after a disappointing 2009 season.After nine mostly brilliant years with the San Diego Chargers, Tomlinson received a pink slip for an early 31th birthday present. Instead of folding, he reinvented himself, becoming a major contributor for the Jets and helping them to the 2010 AFC Championship Game.

Tomlinson envisions the same path for Forte, who was taken aback by the Bears' decision not to re-sign him.

"I really believe it reenergizes a player when something like that happens," Tomlinson told ESPN.com on Wednesday during a training camp visit for the NFL Network. "It's almost like breaking up with a longtime girlfriend. She realizes she doesn't want to see you anymore. You're out on the market, looking for a new girlfriend, but you still want to impress that old girlfriend because you're still going to see her from time to time. You still want to impress her."

Hell hath no fury like a scorned running back.

Forte was a terrific player for the Bears, amassing more than 12,000 yards from scrimmage in eight seasons. The Bears wanted to get younger, so they parted ways with Forte, letting him hit the free-agent market. The Jets, looking to replace leading rusher Chris Ivory, signed him for $12 million over three years, hoping he can pull a Tomlinson."In my situation, it reenergized me, but I also knew I had something to prove," said Tomlinson, a first-ballot lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. "At the end of the day, it's about how do you want to go out.

"Matt Forte is the type of guy, he's so competitive. You talk to him and he still believes he's the same guy he's always been and he's going to have a great season. His mindset is, 'I'm still the same player, even if you don't believe it and I'll prove them wrong this season.'"You could argue Forte will be the key to the Jets' offense. They know what they have in Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, but they need another weapon to balance the attack. Bilal Powell was that guy in a part-time role last season, but they need "that guy" in a full-time role. Forte's versatility as a pass-catcher could make him the X factor in the game plans of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

"In this offense, with Chan Gailey, I think he'll be terrific," Tomlinson said of Forte. "Chan likes to get the running back involved in different ways, moving him around. I would imagine Chan is going to have a lot of fun, moving him around and creating mismatches for him."

Tomlinson predicted a renaissance year for Forte, and he knows a thing or two about renaissance years.

>   http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/61743/ladainian-tomlinson-can-relate-to-jets-matt-forte-predicts-redemption