After Browns stint, ‘sore loser’ eager to prove himself with Jets

[Gas2No99]

After Browns stint, ‘sore loser’ eager to prove himself with Jets

June 3, 2018 | 2:15am

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Isaiah Crowell AP

When Isaiah Crowell signed a three-year deal with the Jets in March, he did it hoping he found a home where he could be a featured back.

“I want to be a big-time player here,” Crowell said. “I want to prove it to my coaches and my teammates that I’ve got what it takes to be an every-down back and help my team win games.”

Crowell came to the Jets after four years with the Browns. He was Cleveland’s leading rusher last year with 206 carries, but he still felt unsure of his role at times as he split carries with Duke Johnson.

“You just never knew,” Crowell said. “Sometimes it was [an every-down situation], sometimes it wasn’t. You just never knew week in and week out. I felt like that was discouraging and annoying.”

Also annoying was all the losing. The Browns went 0-16 last year, one season after going 1-15.

“It wasn’t a good feeling. Nobody likes to lose,” Crowell said. “I’m a sore loser. I do whatever I can to win. It wasn’t a good feeling.”

The marriage of Crowell and the Jets looks like a good one. He will still have to share time with Bilal Powell and Eli McGuire, but Crowell will get the brunt of the work. The Jets get a durable running back who has not missed a game in his four-year career. That is something the team has lacked in their lead running back under coach Todd Bowles. Both Matt Forte and Chris Ivory battled injuries and missed time.

“We liked his toughness,” Bowles said of Crowell. “We liked the way he can slash through and cut. He is a tough runner. We think he is a pound-it back as well as having some versatile, lateral movement that can play out on the edge a little bit, and we thought he would be a great younger-leg type of Forte utility guy coming in. Maybe not the receiver that Forte is to a certain degree, but from a running-the-ball standpoint. We thought he helped in the backfield from a toughness standpoint.” 

Before deciding to sign with the Jets, he checked in with former teammates Josh McCown and Buster Skrine, who both came from Cleveland before landing with the Jets. He heard good reviews and said he is enjoying his time with the team so far.

“I like the system they have,” Crowell said. “I like everything. I feel like it’s a good place to be. I just felt really good about it.”

Crowell should like the system under offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. The team is trying to improve its run game from last year, when it finished 19th in the NFL and seemed to forget about the running game at critical times.

The lack of a commitment to the run contributed to the firing of coordinator John Morton. Bowles replaced him with Bates and also brought in run-game coordinator Rick Dennison to improve the offensive-line play.

Some Jets players have already seen a difference in OTA practices.

“The emphasis has been about running the ball consistently,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “Even in some of the third-down periods … we had some runs. It’s great to know that there’s a real emphasis and we’re not just talking about it but implementing it throughout practice. That’s been great for us because all that’s going to do is set up the play-action and some of the deep balls for our receivers.”

It is tough to evaluate running backs in spring non-contact practices, but Bowles likes what he has seen from Crowell.

“Right now, he has been great,” Bowles said. “He is doing everything we have asked of him right now. He is running the ball, he is picking up his blocks and picking up the system well. It will be exciting to see him in pads.”

[slats]

1 hour ago, Gas2No99 said:

Before deciding to sign with the Jets, he checked in with former teammates Josh McCown and Buster Skrine, who both came from Cleveland before landing with the Jets. He heard good reviews and said he is enjoying his time with the team so far.

“I like the system they have,” Crowell said. “I like everything. I feel like it’s a good place to be. I just felt really good about it.”

Jets motto: "Hey, we're better than the Browns!"

[Thai Jet]

I'm excited for Crowell. I envision him as a younger version of Matt Forte.

[TuscanyTile2]

2 minutes ago, Thai Jet said:

I'm excited for Crowell. I envision him as a younger version of Matt Forte.

A younger version of a young Matt Forte?  Or an old Matt Forte?

[Thai Jet]

  Take a guess.

[Freemanm]

1 hour ago, Gas2No99 said:

After Browns stint, ‘sore loser’ eager to prove himself with Jets

June 3, 2018 | 2:15am

Modal Trigger

Isaiah Crowell AP

When Isaiah Crowell signed a three-year deal with the Jets in March, he did it hoping he found a home where he could be a featured back.

“I want to be a big-time player here,” Crowell said. “I want to prove it to my coaches and my teammates that I’ve got what it takes to be an every-down back and help my team win games.”

Crowell came to the Jets after four years with the Browns. He was Cleveland’s leading rusher last year with 206 carries, but he still felt unsure of his role at times as he split carries with Duke Johnson.

“You just never knew,” Crowell said. “Sometimes it was [an every-down situation], sometimes it wasn’t. You just never knew week in and week out. I felt like that was discouraging and annoying.”

Also annoying was all the losing. The Browns went 0-16 last year, one season after going 1-15.

“It wasn’t a good feeling. Nobody likes to lose,” Crowell said. “I’m a sore loser. I do whatever I can to win. It wasn’t a good feeling.”

The marriage of Crowell and the Jets looks like a good one. He will still have to share time with Bilal Powell and Eli McGuire, but Crowell will get the brunt of the work. The Jets get a durable running back who has not missed a game in his four-year career. That is something the team has lacked in their lead running back under coach Todd Bowles. Both Matt Forte and Chris Ivory battled injuries and missed time.

“We liked his toughness,” Bowles said of Crowell. “We liked the way he can slash through and cut. He is a tough runner. We think he is a pound-it back as well as having some versatile, lateral movement that can play out on the edge a little bit, and we thought he would be a great younger-leg type of Forte utility guy coming in. Maybe not the receiver that Forte is to a certain degree, but from a running-the-ball standpoint. We thought he helped in the backfield from a toughness standpoint.” 

Before deciding to sign with the Jets, he checked in with former teammates Josh McCown and Buster Skrine, who both came from Cleveland before landing with the Jets. He heard good reviews and said he is enjoying his time with the team so far.

“I like the system they have,” Crowell said. “I like everything. I feel like it’s a good place to be. I just felt really good about it.”

Crowell should like the system under offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. The team is trying to improve its run game from last year, when it finished 19th in the NFL and seemed to forget about the running game at critical times.

The lack of a commitment to the run contributed to the firing of coordinator John Morton. Bowles replaced him with Bates and also brought in run-game coordinator Rick Dennison to improve the offensive-line play.

Some Jets players have already seen a difference in OTA practices.

“The emphasis has been about running the ball consistently,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “Even in some of the third-down periods … we had some runs. It’s great to know that there’s a real emphasis and we’re not just talking about it but implementing it throughout practice. That’s been great for us because all that’s going to do is set up the play-action and some of the deep balls for our receivers.”

It is tough to evaluate running backs in spring non-contact practices, but Bowles likes what he has seen from Crowell.

“Right now, he has been great,” Bowles said. “He is doing everything we have asked of him right now. He is running the ball, he is picking up his blocks and picking up the system well. It will be exciting to see him in pads.”

With six sacks allowed and no pancake blocks last season, Beachum needs to stay focused on not getting Darnold or whoever is starting killed

[Warfish]

I hope he sucks and gets cut.

[Drums]

Whether we “emphasize” the run game or not, I just hope we aren’t predictable. Let’s not run it every first down...

[sourceworx]

He's tired of losing, so he signed with the Jets. ????

[JohnnyLV]

biggest fear of this season is Bowles is going to go all hyper-Rex on us and run every first and second down putting our QB in an unwinnable situation all the time...funny thing is we were one of the more balanced teams last year. But Bowles wont be allowed to ruin Darnold. I can easily see him fired my mid-season if he is not getting it done

 

 

 

[BigO]

1 hour ago, slats said:

Jets motto: "Hey, we're better than the Browns!"

The NY Browns

[T0mShane]

8 minutes ago, johnnysd said:

biggest fear of this season is Bowles is going to go all hyper-Rex on us and run every first and second down putting our QB in an unwinnable situation all the time...funny thing is we were one of the more balanced teams last year. But Bowles wont be allowed to ruin Darnold. I can easily see him fired my mid-season if he is not getting it done

 

 

 

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

[JohnnyLV]

9 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

Quite possibly. Not sure Bowles realizes that Darnolds success is more important to the Jets now than he is. Bowles will be on a very short leash. It is very simple to make Bates head coach and slide in McCown as QB coach next season and add another good voice for Darnold in a new OC, sort of duplicating the Philly model

 

[T0mShane]

8 hours ago, johnnysd said:

Quite possibly. Not sure Bowles realizes that Darnolds success is more important to the Jets now than he is. Bowles will be on a very short leash. It is very simple to make Bates head coach and slide in McCown as QB coach next season and add another good voice for Darnold in a new OC, sort of duplicating the Philly model

 

I’d disagree in that Bates is being hysterically overrated by the fans right now, especially as it relates to his ability or desire to become a head coach. This dude was in the forest for four years, and his track record before that is questionable at best. In the unlikely event that Bowles is fired in-season, the only dude with any sort of qualifications to take over would be Rick Dennison. 

[slats]

45 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

This was the Rex model, the difference being that he, at least, achieved it. 

All defensive coaches are conservative by nature, but Bowles takes it to an extreme. Outright quitting in Denver comes to mind. More than anything, that will be his downfall. His offensive personnel right now is much better suited to throw the ball than run, especially if Darnold delivers as advertised, and he either needs to embrace that this is a passing league, or he’s gonna be gone. 

[Integrity28]

Bowles comparing Crowell to Forte should be the first thing on his resume after he gets fired this year. The two players couldn’t be more different.

[jetstream23]

Quote

Crowell should like the system under offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. The team is trying to improve its run game from last year, when it finished 19th in the NFL and seemed to forget about the running game at critical times.

The lack of a commitment to the run contributed to the firing of coordinator John Morton.Bowles replaced him with Bates and also brought in run-game coordinator Rick Dennison to improve the offensive-line play.

Some Jets players have already seen a difference in OTA practices.

“The emphasis has been about running the ball consistently,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said.

Love reading this.  I don't care if the Jets feel like they have the best QB group they've had in 20 years or the fact they're currently rostering something like 16 WRs.  We need to run the ball.  A team needs to be able to get a minimum 2 yards in any situation on any down it wants.

I like having Crowell, Powell, McGuire, Rawls, and Cannon battle it out this Summer.  And, it will be REALLY encouraging to me if this team keeps a FB like Flowers.  Emphasize the run!  Then, when a guy like Darnold really develops you have a true dual-threat offense.

[sourceworx]

1 hour ago, Integrity28 said:

Bowles comparing Crowell to Forte should be the first thing on his resume after he gets fired this year. The two players couldn’t be more different.

Agreed. It's a terrible comparison. He's more like Chris Ivory to me, which I'm cool with. We've missed that physical style RB the last two years.

[Larz]

That’s been great for us because all that’s going to do is set up the play-action and some of the deep balls for our receivers.”

Yassssd

[Dcat]

6 hours ago, BigO said:

The NY Browns

Brown 25 from Uranus

 

[jgb]

8 hours ago, johnnysd said:

biggest fear of this season is Bowles is going to go all hyper-Rex on us and run every first and second down putting our QB in an unwinnable situation all the time...funny thing is we were one of the more balanced teams last year. But Bowles wont be allowed to ruin Darnold. I can easily see him fired my mid-season if he is not getting it done

 

 

 

He’s not clever enough to lie about it and already said that’s exactly what he plans to do.

7 hours ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

 Remember Rex used to come up with the most obscure statistic possible to demonstrate the defense was #1 in the league? “We lost but the defense gave up the least number of yards ever in a game played with the moon in the seventh house and Jupiter aligned with mars.”

[ljr]

Had forgotten Skrine came from CLE ... Wonder if there is a way to give him back !?!

[GreenFish]

10 hours ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

Man that is one twisted way of looking at things. If Bowles is thinking this way, he should be fired. Bowles has to be judged on the development of the entire team and especially the development of Darnold. 

I might be one of the few optimistic fans when it comes to our defense. But if the Jets have a top 10 defense and it looks like Darnold is not being developed properly, CJ needs to fire Bowles.

[BurnleyJet]

1 hour ago, GreenFish said:

Man that is one twisted way of looking at things. If Bowles is thinking this way, he should be fired. Bowles has to be judged on the development of the entire team and especially the development of Darnold. 

I might be one of the few optimistic fans when it comes to our defense. But if the Jets have a top 10 defense and it looks like Darnold is not being developed properly, CJ needs to fire Bowles.

Correct if the emphasise is on making his D look good, and not developing S Darnold he should be fired.

[RutgersJetFan]

12 hours ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

This sounds almost too hyperbolic and diabolical, but then again that's exactly what Rex did.

[Jetster]

17 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

Love reading this.  I don't care if the Jets feel like they have the best QB group they've had in 20 years or the fact they're currently rostering something like 16 WRs.  We need to run the ball.  A team needs to be able to get a minimum 2 yards in any situation on any down it wants.

I like having Crowell, Powell, McGuire, Rawls, and Cannon battle it out this Summer.  And, it will be REALLY encouraging to me if this team keeps a FB like Flowers.  Emphasize the run!  Then, when a guy like Darnold really develops you have a true dual-threat offense.

If you have a legitimate QB & you can RUN THE BALL, it's very tough to be beat. There are very few great defenses in the NFL. If you don't stop the Patriots running game you have ZERO chance of beating them. How many times did we fail running the ball on 2nd & 3rd down & short? Think about the Atlanta home game in the rain. Jets easily win that game converting short yardage & moving the chains. Dennison & a free agent like Crowell tells you Bowles knew enough about offense that it was unacceptable to be so bad in short yardage. Crowell is a badazz tough as nails RB. He's a slasher & a leg driver, Eli proved he wasn't strong enough, Rawls is the same runner as Crowell, with the difference being staying healthy. I could see Rawls sticking & Powell being traded for another late round pick late in camp.

[HessStation]

He's the best FA signing in the Maccagnan era imo. 

[MaxAF]

20 hours ago, Warfish said:

I hope he sucks and gets cut.

I think know what you mean, brother.... (in arms.)

[NoBowles]

20 hours ago, T0mShane said:

The surest way to pad your defensive statistics is by running the ball 40 times and controlling the clock, so I wonder if some of this is self-preservation on Bowles’ part, in that if he’s fired he can tell a future employer that his defense only gave up X points per game, and that it was the offense that cost him his job. 

Ive said this many times with regard to Rex and Bowles. These guys who consider themselves D gurus do not want dynamic offenses. A dynamic offense is the worst way for your offense to look good in this day and age.

[Ken Schroy]

I hope the kid runs as hard as he sounds.

[jetstream23]

2 hours ago, Jetster said:

If you have a legitimate QB & you can RUN THE BALL, it's very tough to be beat. There are very few great defenses in the NFL. If you don't stop the Patriots running game you have ZERO chance of beating them. How many times did we fail running the ball on 2nd & 3rd down & short? Think about the Atlanta home game in the rain. Jets easily win that game converting short yardage & moving the chains. Dennison & a free agent like Crowell tells you Bowles knew enough about offense that it was unacceptable to be so bad in short yardage. Crowell is a badazz tough as nails RB. He's a slasher & a leg driver, Eli proved he wasn't strong enough, Rawls is the same runner as Crowell, with the difference being staying healthy. I could see Rawls sticking & Powell being traded for another late round pick late in camp.

Interesting.  I guess that's possible.  What's Powell's contract status?

[Jetster]

5 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

Interesting.  I guess that's possible.  What's Powell's contract status?

$883,300 cap hit with 4 million saved. Bilal is definitely on the hotseat! He's never been a Bowles favorite, I've never understood why, as I like Bilal but saving 4 million on the cap? That money can be used for better depth if Rawls is healthy picking up a few cuts as teams start finding cheaper alternatives with rookie camp surprises.

[rangerous]

3 hours ago, Jetster said:

If you have a legitimate QB & you can RUN THE BALL, it's very tough to be beat. There are very few great defenses in the NFL. If you don't stop the Patriots running game you have ZERO chance of beating them. How many times did we fail running the ball on 2nd & 3rd down & short? Think about the Atlanta home game in the rain. Jets easily win that game converting short yardage & moving the chains. Dennison & a free agent like Crowell tells you Bowles knew enough about offense that it was unacceptable to be so bad in short yardage. Crowell is a badazz tough as nails RB. He's a slasher & a leg driver, Eli proved he wasn't strong enough, Rawls is the same runner as Crowell, with the difference being staying healthy. I could see Rawls sticking & Powell being traded for another late round pick late in camp.

right.  remember that patsies game where they just about ran on every down on one drive?this from a supposed passing team. teams need to be able to run the ball to be successful.  and maybe it does pad the defensive stats but at the same time it keeps the other team's offense off the field and forces them to be more one dimensional when they get the ball.

[T0mShane]

Who has more rushing yards this year: Crowell or Saquon? 

[Gas2No99]

7 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Who has more rushing yards this year: Crowell or Saquon? 

I say Crowell will have more Rushing Yards, but Saquon "The Jets Fan" will have more Offensive Yards from scrimmage. Eli will be hitting Barkley A LOT out of the backfield for receptions and HB screens. 

Crowell will be our new Chris Ivory:

COW BELL