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RB dept. - Elijah McGuire, Trenton Cannon.. ~ ~ ~


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  • 1 month later...

Rich Cimini  ESPN Staff Writer 

If something happens to star RB Le'Veon Bell, the Jets can turn to an experienced player — Ty Montgomery. Evidently, coach Adam Gase didn't trust Eli McGuire in the No. 2 role. That's why they signed Montgomery on Thursday to a one-year contract. Montgomery also returns kickoffs, and that, too, was a factor in this move. It stinks for McGuire and second-year RB Trent Cannon, but that's life in the NFL. Gase, who has said he won't overwork Bell, now has a seasoned and versatile No. 2 back — a poor man's Bell because of his dual-threat ability.

>   http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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With all that Bilal Powell brought to the table at running back, replacing him this offseason was not going to be easy.For eight seasons, Powell did it all for the Jets. Whether it was running between the tackles, catching passes out of the backfield or picking up edge rushers in pass protection, the Louisville product was a steady source of production for New York.Now a free agent, Powell’s days with the Jets are seemingly over. A season-ending neck injury suffered in Week 7 pointed towards his time with the team being up, but the signing of Ty Montgomery on Thursday all but confirmed the end of an era in New York’s backfield.

Montgomery is not Powell, but he has the skill set to be the ideal replacement for the eight-year vet. Running back is not Montgomery’s natural position, but it is one that he has adapted well to thanks to versatility stemming from his days as a wide receiver.Before ascending to the NFL, Montgomery was a star receiver at Stanford while doubling as an All-American return specialist. His prowess at wideout made him a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers’ in 2015, but his time at the position in the pros did not last long.After falling down Green Bay’s wide receiver depth chart in 2016, Montgomery was deployed at running back out of necessity. However, production catching passes out of the backfield followed, so Montgomery stuck there.

Montgomery’s mix of running and catching ability puts him in a good position to carve out a niche in Adam Gase’s offense. Le’Veon Bell will account for the bulk of the touches, but Gase shouldn’t have much of a problem turning to Montgomery in a pinch. As a proven runner and pass catcher, it shouldn’t be too difficult for Montgomery to fit into Gase’s plans.In New York, Montgomery won’t be asked to carry the load as he was in Green Bay. He won’t be asked to take on as much responsibility as Powell was, either. Nonetheless, Montgomery’s versatility bodes well for his tenure with the Jets. As New York’s No. 2 running back, Montgomery has what it takes to emerge as a legitimate threat in 2019.

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/14/new-york-jets-ty-montgomery-leveon-bell-bilal-powell/

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The New York Jets made a smart signing recently by inking Ty Montgomery to a one-year pact. His versatility should pay big dividends in 2019.

There was no gushy fanfare. Le’Veon Bell received all of that. However, the recent signing of Ty Montgomery by New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was a smart under-the-radar transaction.Gang Green needed to replace Bilal Powell and adding Montgomery to the roster made a great deal of sense for a myriad of reasons. Powell is going to turn 30 this season and is coming off neck surgery. The Jets needed a younger version of him, someone not as injury prone and with some air still left in the tires. Montgomery’s pact is only for one year, so his incentive level should be through the roof.

The 6-2, 216-pounder is one of the most versatile players in the NFL. In his four-year career with the Packers and Ravens, Montgomery has 932 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) and 892 receiving yards (8.3 yards per reception) with 10 touchdowns.He’ll be a perfect backup to the workhorse Bell because he can spell him for a tough third down carry or he can grab a key reception out of the backfield or slot. Montgomery is also just 26 years old, so he’s still in his prime.The Jackson, MS native can chip in as a kickoff returner as well. With the departure of Pro Bowler Andre Roberts to the Bills (a huge loss), Trenton Cannon and Montgomery may vie for the lead role. Montgomery has averaged 22.7 yards per return on 35 attempts during his brief career.

This is an opportunity for a fresh start for Montgomery after a rough 2018 campaign in which split his time almost evenly between Green Bay and Baltimore. He spoke about what qualities he brings to Gang Green “I think I can really bring something to the table to help this offense in being a guy that can go out wherever, make plays from wherever on the field, and I’m really excited about that,” said Montgomery, who also added, “I can line up anywhere. I can create mismatches, I can go make plays at any given moment at any point on the field.”

The flexibility and versatility that Montgomery gives the Jets will be important because he can spell Bell for a carry or two (along with Elijah McGuire) and he’ll be a potent weapon out of the backfield as a receiver to boot. It’s just a one-year commitment so Maccagnan has not mortgaged anything of significance. All in all, it’s a win-win scenario for all concerned.

>   https://nflspinzone.com/2019/04/16/new-york-jets-ty-montgomery-solid-under-the-radar-signing/

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Le’Veon Bell will get the bulk of the touches at running back for the Jets in 2019, but Ty Montgomery isn’t expecting that to limit his potential to make plays in New York’s offense.

A month after landing Bell, the Jets went back into free agency to bring in Montgomery as the No. 2 running back. Montgomery is not a natural at the position, but his versatile skill set allows him to hurt opposing defenses in a variety of ways. That, along with his eagerness to take advantage of a new opportunity, as Montgomery is itching to get onto the field with Bell and the rest of the offense.“It’s a fresh start,” Montgomery told  newyorkjets.com’s  Ethan Greenberg. “”It’s a new opportunity and it’s a great opportunity. I get to go out there and I speak for myself with my play. Finally. And I’m looking forward to that.“I think I can really bring something to the table to help this offense in being a guy that can go out wherever, make plays from wherever on the field, and I’m really excited about that. I can line up anywhere. I can create mismatches, I can go make plays at any given moment at any point on the field.”

Coming off a rough 2018 campaign in which he was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the Baltimore Ravens after fumbling a kickoff return and costing his team the game in Week 8, Montgomery has plenty to prove with the Jets. Past production indicates that the Stanford product will be able to get back on track both running in between the tackles and catching passes out of the backfield.Montgomery profiles similarly as dual-threat weapons out of the backfield, but that could help the 26-year-old to get back on track. What the Jets do to ensure Bell thrives will also benefit Montgomery, a major reason why he ultimately signed with New York.“The Jets were a right fit for me because of what this offense has,” Montgomery said. “Coach Adam Gase has a reputation of what he can do with an offense and the players in his offense. Signing Le’Veon Bell was huge and having an offense built around a back like that really suits me. I think it complements my game well.”

Only time will tell when it comes to seeing if Montgomery can put it all together in 2019. If he does, the Jets could wind up with one of the better running back duos in the league.

https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/18/jets-ty-montgomery-leveon-bell/

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Heading into the 2019 NFL season, the New York Jets have completely revamped their backfield, and the unit seems poised to significantly outperform last year’s group.

It’s no secret that the New York Jets offense was downright abysmal in 2018 & that can be attributed to multiple factors.Those include the ups and downs experienced by rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, the lack of playmakers he was surrounded with, and the inconsistency of a weak offensive line.In addition to those key factors, however, it’s also evident that the team’s backfield was wildly unsuccessful throughout the 2018 campaign as well.Prior to the start of the season, for example, the Jets inked a three-year deal with former Cleveland Brown Isaiah Crowell in hopes that he would add a much-needed spark to the team’s rushing attack. That, however, didn’t turn out to be the case.

On the season, Crowell appeared in 13 games, totaling 685 yards on 143 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns. Those stats are a bit inflated though as much of Crowell’s success came in one game: a week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos in which he racked up 219 rushing yards.Ultimately, the 26-year-old was far too inconsistent and his time as a Jet will likely be remembered most for an inappropriate touchdown celebration in week 3 that earned him a fine. He was subsequently released by the team last month.Longtime veteran Bilal Powell also had a down year last season, totaling just 343 yards on 80 attempts. And then in week 7, Powell suffered a season-ending neck injury that likely put an end to his time playing for the green and white.

Entering the 2019 offseason, it was clear that the Jets had a wide variety of holes and needs to address, but as one can see, the backfield was clearly at the top of the list. And with the 2019 NFL Draft now just days away, fans can be pleased that the situation has actually already been addressed.Last month, the Jets made waves when they signed former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell, a player considered by many to be the best on the market, to a four-year $52.5 million deal. Upon the signing, Bell instantly became the most electrifying playmaker the Jets have had in years.Despite sitting out for the entirety of the 2018 season due to contract disputes with the Steelers, Bell remains in the prime of his career at just 27-years-old. As a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro selection, Bell’s abilities as a dual-threat back are undeniable.

Aside from being the first player in league history to total 4,000 rushing yards and 2,000 receiving yards through his first 50 games, Bell picked up 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 321 attempts in 2017. He also brought in 85 receptions for 655 yards and two touchdowns during that year.And while signing Bell represented a big splash that needed to be made by the Jets, the team didn’t stop there in regards to improving the running game. Just a few weeks ago, the team agreed to terms on a deal with 26-year-old Ty Montgomery to serve as Bell’s backup.To be clear, Montgomery isn’t a natural running back and he is coming off a bit of a rough year in 2018, but he remains a versatile player and he could be used creatively by new head coach Adam Gase given that he, like Bell, has the ability to both run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield.

In addition, 2017 sixth-round draft pick Elijah McGuire remains under contract with the Jets. After suffering a foot injury, the 24-year-old returned near the tail end of the season and showed a bit of promise. With Bell and Montgomery ahead of him, McGuire could be used as a situational back by Gase and perhaps add a bit of spark when needed.Heading into the draft, the Jets still have work to do and it’s unlikely that they’re a playoff team at the moment. However, it’s a good sign to see that the team has been nothing but active through the offseason thus far and that’s certainly been seen with the additions to the running game.

With that being said, the team is set to enter the 2019 season with a completely revamped backfield, something that should help the production of Darnold and the offense as a whole.

>   https://thejetpress.com/2019/04/22/new-york-jets-set-bring-revamped-backfield-2019/

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  • 2 weeks later...

When it comes to voluntary workouts, New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell said on Monday that he knows what "works for me to be the best player I can be."

Bell took to social media to respond to a question about when he's going to attend practice after skipping some voluntary workouts: "When it's time to play football...l got to stick to the formula that I know works for me to be the best player I can be...l'm not just tryna win football games, I want a ring! I want to desperately show everybody what I can what I can REALLY do...I'll take the heat right now, everybody will forget about that once January comes around."

Bell attended the first week of voluntary workouts, which began April 8, but hasn't attended since. Last month, coach Adam Gase appeared unconcerned about Bell's absence at the start of the team's voluntary three-day minicamp."It's voluntary," Gase said. "[Bell] was here that first week [of offseason workouts], and we got a lot of good information that week to him."

Gase also said that players who don't attend can stay on top of things remotely with their iPad playbooks. The Jets will conduct their first official practice on May 21, but that, too, is voluntary. The first mandatory event is their second minicamp, starting June 4.The Jets signed Bell this offseason to a four-year, $52.5 million deal that includes $27 million in fully guaranteed money.Desperate to add playmakers on offense to help second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, the Jets made Bell the focal point of their offseason game plan on offense. They also signed wide receiver Jamison Crowder and traded for former Pro Bowl guard Kelechi Osemele.

>   http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26688008/bell-sticking-formula-voluntary-practice

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Rich Cimini      ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets LT Kevin Beachum, who played with Le'Veon Bell in Pittsburgh, said he's not disappointed his former teammate isn't a regular participant in voluntary workouts. "Not at all," Beachum said Tuesday night at the Gridiron Gala, hosted by the United Way on NYC. "I know he's a special individual. He's still got time before it's official. He's been here. ... I know the type of player he is. I know the type of work he puts in. I'm just excited to see him when he's in peak performance. That matters in September, November, October, December, January. That's when that stuff matters and I know he'll bring the juice then."

>    http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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The Jets appear completely OK with their star running back skipping the team’s voluntary offseason workouts. After Bell posted a “public service announcement” explaining his decision not to practice with the team yet, head coach Adam Gase, safety Jamal Adams and left tackle Kelvin Beachum defended the running back.Gase reiterated that these workouts are voluntary and that Bell attended offseason programs earlier, while Adams and Beachum offered their player perspectives. Adams commented on a Bell Instagram post that he understands Bell’s decision and that he’ll hold down the team while Bell does his thing.

Beachum, who blocked for Bell from 2013-2015 in Pittsburgh, said he isn’t disappointed in his former and current teammate.“I know the type of player he is. I know the type of work he puts in,” Beachum said, according to ESPN. “I’m just excited to see him when he’s in peak performance. That matters in September, November, October, December, January. That’s when that stuff matters and I know he’ll bring the juice then.”

As Gase mentioned, Bell isn’t completely ghosting the Jets after they gave him a four-year, $52 million contract this offseason. He also isn’t missing vital practices. The three-day minicamp this week is as casual as offseason practices can be – mostly with walk-throughs and positional drills.There are obviously reservations with Bell missing time with the team, though, after he skipped the entire 2018 season with the Steelers over contract disputes. Reports Bell was out of shape all of last year surfaced throughout free agency, and he’s publically voiced concerns of Steelers’ practices in the past.

Bell not showing up for a voluntary workout is important, but not alarming. All offseason workouts are voluntary except for a three-day minicamp in June. As long as Bell shows up for that, the Jets shouldn’t be concerned with his absence this early into the offseason.

>    https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/09/jets-jamla-adams-kelvin-beachum-leveon-bell-missing-jets-voluntary-workouts/

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The Jets running back room will have a brand new look in 2019. Mike Maccagnan reloaded with star talent to accompany Sam Darnold in the backfield.

The New York Jets went out with the old and in with the new regarding running backs this offseason. They cut Isaiah Crowell and let Bilal Powell walk in free agency, while bringing in two new backs for the 2019 season.The Jets desperately needed a change at the running back position. Their rushing offense was among the worst in the league last season, averaging just four yards per carry, which ranked 29th in the league. If they want to see Sam Darnold succeed, a good running game is a huge priority.Mike Maccagnan and Adam Gase made the right decision in making the running back position a focal point this free agency. They acquired two great talents that will help the offense evolve as a unit. And one of them is really, really good.

Le’Veon Bell

The Jets went all in on acquiring Bell this offseason, giving Bell a four year, $53 million deal which includes $25 million guaranteed in the first two years. Bell, who’s arguably a top five running back in football, will make a gigantic impact on the Jets offense.Bell could be the one to flip the switch and activate the Jets’ offense. The Jets struggled to run the ball well in 2018, averaging less than three yards per carry in six games. SIX. Even averaging less than four yards per carry is underwhelming. Averaging less than three? Six times? That’s an atrocity.Insert Bell into the Jets offense, and this problem should diminish. Bell has averaged less than three yards per carry once in his last three seasons. This is an extremely impressive feat. Bell will provide elite play at a consistent level for the Jets.      

 
#Jets RBs as a group ran for fewer than 3.0 YPC six times in 2018

Le'Veon Bell ran for fewer than 3.0 YPC one time over his most recent three seasons
 

Adding a talent as good as Bell will boost any offense in the league. Adding him to a sophomore quarterbacks backfield just makes it that much more beneficial. Bell will take a huge load of pressure off of Darnold’s shoulders. Whether it’s as a runner, a pass catcher, or even a blocker, he will be a game changer for Darnold.

Ty Montgomery

Ty Montgomery also joined the Jets this offseason, signing a one year deal with the team. Montgomery’s incredible is versatility is something the Jets haven’t had in years. His role will be mainly in the passing game, and maybe in a few third down situations here and there.Montgomery is a solid back in every aspect of the game. He can run well, he can catch well, and he can even return the ball well on special teams. If Montgomery wants to get serious reps in New York, he’ll make his money through special teams.Bell will likely take on a gigantic role in the Jets’ offense, leaving little room for anyone to get legitimate reps behind him in a secondary role. Montgomery will be a key piece to the Jets offense, but he probably won’t see the field at a serious rate. He is a strong candidate to be the teams kick/punt returner, and that’ll likely be his calling in the green and white.

The Backups

The rest of the Jets’ running back room consists of Elijah McGuire, Trenton Cannon, Deangelo Henderson Sr., Jalin Moore and Valentine Holmes. The crowded room will certainly be trimmed down before the season begins, but for now, that’s how it stands.Elijah McGuire is nearly a lock to be the Jets’ third string running back. He’s shown flashes when given opportunities in his first two years and should only get better. He can even give Ty Montgomery a run for his money if he plays well enough.Former Jets running back coach Stump Mitchell had extreme praise for McGuire, saying he shares the same traits as LaDanian Tomlinson. It would obviously be a reach to say McGuire’s talent is anywhere near Tomlinson’s, but you don’t just throw around comparisons like that for no reason, right ?  As for the rest of the Jets’ running backs, the depth chart will probably stand like this: Cannon, Henderson, and Moore/Holmes. Trenton Cannon is a solid special teams player who will likely maintain a roster spot to carry out his role for Brant Boyer’s special teams unit.

As for the other three backs, they’re all likely headed for the practice squad. Henderson saw a little bit of playing time last year, but will likely see little, if any, playing time for the Jets this year. He’s a solid backup who can possibly turn into a potential target if the Jets choose to waive and/or put him on the practice squad.Jalin Moore put up monster numbers at Appalachian State before getting injured in his senior season. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry in his career and put up 33 touchdowns in his four years at App. State. The Jets likely view him as a potential developmental player they can stash on the practice squad for a year or two to see if he has upside.Holmes is a former overseas rugby player who can be an 11th practice squad player if the Jets choose to keep him around. He’s also listed as a wide receiver and a kick returner on the Jets’ official roster. He’s likely a lock for the practice squad considering the Jets can create an 11th slot for him.

>   https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/14/jets-early-roster-preview-running-backs/

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On 2/9/2019 at 6:15 PM, TuscanyTile2 said:

Improve the OL and, all of a sudden, our RBs will seem much better.

Agreed. I hated the bell signing as its the most overrated position in sports and has the shortest shelf life. Have we not learned this by now. Give me a stud at qb and quality oline play. I can care less who the rb is. Not to mention bell is a complete cancer and asshat

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Le’Veon Bell has seen his name appear in the media throughout his career, most recently for accusations that the New York Jets head coach Adam Gase did not want to pay him as much as he received.

Le’Veon Bell is a game-changing, perennial all-star type of running back and will surpass any hype. Many people worry that Bell not playing for an entire year and focusing on other activities other than football impacted the pro-bowler negatively. Le’Veon being out for a year is dangerous for opposing defenses.

Bell will be coming back with fresh legs and a fresh mindset, and some fresh new colors. According to Pro Football Reference, while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 Bell had a total touch count of 402. Bell needed some time to recuperate after adding such a hefty workload to his body that previously came off a 336 total touch season.That’s a serious amount of wear and tear for a running back to take on within a two-year span. Those pondering whether Bell will be football ready need not to worry as Bell is a proven talent and has been constantly working out with his own trainer in Miami, Florida.Since Le’Veon became a Jet I have been following him on Instagram as well as Twitter. Bell has been working out constantly with his own trainer and other players. Bell has gone to extreme lengths to ensure his body is in full gear ready for football to even try pilates. Bell has communicated to Gase that he will be in once the Jets start mandatory training.

It should be noted that Bell trained the same way in Pittsburgh as a Steeler. Bell is a pro bowl caliber running back and knows what he needs to do to get in shape and be football ready. Le’Veon will be football ready once he arrives in New Jersey for mandatory training.Adam Gase did not want to pay the best free agent available 52 million dollars for four years, based off the fact he is a running back? This is ridiculous, and after further reviewing Le’Veon Bell’s career stats one will come to see that he averages 60 catches a season over his five-year career. Jets leading receiver Robby Anderson from last year averages just over 50 catches compared to 47 by Quincy Enuwa. The contract Bell received is a by-product of Bell’s hard work over the past five years.

The league has diverted from a run dominate league to a pass dominate league. Le’Veon Bell is an absolute dual-threat running back who can not only produce on the ground but also in the passing game.Most of the playoff teams with young quarterbacks have surrounded the quarterback with all-star talent at running back. Jared Goff has Todd Gurley, Patrick Mahomes had Kareem Hunt, Carson Wentz had LeGarrette Blount and Dak Prescott has Ezekiel Elliott. Even some of the older quarterbacks have talented running backs surrounding them, Phillip Rivers has Melvin Ingram, Dree Brees has Alvin Kamara and Tom Brady has James White. Now Sam Darnold has Le’Veon Bell, the Jets will be fine.

>    https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/17/will-leveon-bell-live-up-to-the-hype-for-the-jets/

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  • 2 weeks later...

MetLife Stadium is the new running back capital of football.

Saquon Barkley might have been the NFL’s best running back in 2018 — when he broke a rookie running back record with 88 catches and finished second in rushing yards (1,307) — but that was in a field that didn’t include Le’Veon Bell, who certainly can stake a worthy claim to the title.Bell, who sat out last season in a contract dispute with the Steelers, signed with the Jets and now shares his home with Barkley and the Giants. As Bell piled up huge numbers as a run-catch threat with the Steelers, Barkley was sharing Pennsylvania ground as a high school and Penn State star.The Giants and Jets will meet in the first preseason game and in Week 10 of the regular season, where the two running backs can compete for King of the Meadowlands. Bell is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro.

“I wouldn’t say it’s extra motivation," Barkley said. "At the end of the day, I’m competing with myself, I’m competing to be the best for my team.

"Obviously I would love to have this and that, but I really don’t care what any running back in the league does. The only thing I’m focused on is winning games here.”Barkley finished second in the NFL with 352 touches and led the way with 2,028 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, and those numbers could be on the rise without former teammate Odell Beckham.Bell is the most recent of the 27 running backs since 1979 who have eclipsed 400 touches in a season, doing so in 2017 before his holdout. He was second in the NFL with 1,946 yards from scrimmage.

Was Barkley watching?

“It’s funny you say ‘watch:' I was a fan,” Barkley said. “When I got here, he was one of the first guys I broke down his film.”It’s been a quiet start to Organized Team Activities for Barkley, who had his reps reduced in the rain Tuesday as backups Paul Perkins saw first-team snaps ahead of Wayne Gallman and Rod Smith.

OTAs are non-contact and voluntary, and it is difficult to assess running backs and linemen without pads. Bell is not participating with the Jets.“We definitely both respect each other’s games,” Barkley said. "Obviously, he sat out last year and that’s just not good for the league in general because he is such a tremendous player and you look forward to seeing a guy like that on Sundays.“For him to play in the stadium ... I’m just excited and happy for him. Happy that he has found a spot and is able to show his talent. I wish nothing but the best for him.”

>    https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/05/saquon-barkley-not-good-for-nfl-when-leveon-bell-sat-out-do-giants-jets-have-best-2-rbs-in-nfl.html

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Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets DT Steve McLendon, who played with Le'Veon Bell in Pittsburgh, said he has talked to him about the importance of attending voluntary workouts to build chemistry with his new teammates. But McLendon also said he respects Bell's decision to work out on his own. Said McLendon: "I know there have been a lot of people saying, "Why isn't he here?' Listen, man, he's not an All-Pro and Pro Bowl running back for no reason. Would we love him here? Yes, but when he comes here and we're rocking and rolling and he's helping us get to where we want to go this season, ain't nobody gonna be thinking about this."

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-- Le'Veon Bell has a unique running style. If he doesn't see immediate daylight, he waits ... waits ... and ... vroom. You can't argue with the results: He has more than 5,300 rushing yards in five seasons.

You might say he has taken the same approach to his first offseason with the New York Jets, training in South Florida in March ... April ... May ... and ... here he comes.After skipping the voluntary workout phase, during which time he ignored the pleas of past and present teammate Steve McLendon and subjected himself to criticism from a new fan base, Bell is expected to report Tuesday to the Jets' mandatory minicamp. Because of his season-long contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, this will be his first football practice in 17 months, raising the curiosity level to an unprecedented high for a June workout.

"Of course he will be in great shape," Pete Bommarito said Friday in a phone interview.

"I know once we hit training camp, he'll be ready to go." Jets coach Adam Gase on running back Le'Veon Bell

Bommarito, the president of Bommarito Performance Systems, is Bell's personal trainer, which means he has spent more time with the star running back than Jets coach Adam Gase. Bommarito is the mastermind behind Bell's offseason program -- a comprehensive, scientific regimen that includes everything from 40-yard sprints to Pilates to banded TKEs (terminal knee extensions) for quadriceps development. Bell also has access to a nutritionist, a massage therapist and an acupuncturist; if he wants to grab a meal, there's an in-house chef ready to prepare his order.

Think: Pumping iron at the Ritz.

Bell has been training with Bommarito in North Miami, Florida, since he came out of Michigan State in 2013, and the running back didn't want to disrupt his routine after signing a four-year, $52 million contract with the Jets. Bell has caught some flak for skipping practice with his new teammates, but it's not like he is wasting time by taking leisurely jogs along Ocean Drive in South Beach.He spends up to five hours a day, sometimes five days a week, at Bommarito's facility. Each day begins with an appointment in the medical room, where his joint alignment is checked out. Based on the results, Bommarito can adjust his daily script for Bell, who currently is in the high-specificity phase of his training cycle -- drills that include a lot of running back-style motion.

if they love me or they hate me it don’t make no difference ??? @iamcardib @djkhaled ??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️

 

Bell always shows up wearing his game face, according to Bommarito.

"He's highly intelligent and he definitely knows what we're doing," said Bommarito, who has trained running backs such as Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Forte and Frank Gore. "He knows my philosophy, and he has bought into the approach that we sold him. That's what makes him great. He's got the talent, but he's so serious about how he takes care of his body. That's what makes him elite."It isn't about work ethic; anyone can work themselves into the ground. It's about the focus on the little things during the high-intensity training, understanding that everything counts. Le'Veon is so focused that a bomb could go off and he wouldn't even notice."Gase claimed he doesn't mind that Bell has been away from the team, saying he figured that would be the case based on his recent history. In his next breath, Gase acknowledged it's easier to disseminate information to players and correct their mistakes when they're at practice and in the classroom. Bell watches practice video on his computer tablet, which is fine, but he can't interact with his coaches and teammates.

"I know he feels comfortable with [Bommarito], which I'm good with because I know once we hit training camp, he'll be ready to go," Gase said.

McLendon, a defensive tackle who played with Bell from 2013 to 2015, called him recently to say he was needed at practice. In particular, McLendon stressed the importance of building chemistry with second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, whose development is paramount to the organization."I told him, 'You understand, this place is different than Pittsburgh. You need to get back here and understand your quarterback and the situation,'" McLendon said.McLendon's appeal didn't work. He said he respected Bell's decision, knowing the kind of impact Bell can make once he does arrive."I know what I've seen in the past from him," McLendon said. "I understand he sat out a year, but for a running back, that's good, especially with all the hits they take. I can say this: He's still going to be fast; he's still going to be shifty. I'm excited for him to come back."

Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said Bell "always came to camp in phenomenal shape, 218 or 219 pounds." Haley doesn't expect that to change now. If anything, he suspects Bell will be more motivated than ever."He's a highly competitive guy and an extremely hard worker," Haley said. "Besides AB [Antonio Brown], nobody came in and looked in better condition, and he did most of it on his own because I don't know if he was ever there for much of the offseason except his rookie year. He'll have a chip on his shoulder, and he's very talented. It'll be interesting in New York. It'll be fun to watch."If you watch Bell's Instagram stories, you can see some of his on-field workouts. A couple of weeks ago, he did speed training with 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-yard sprints. A lot of players say they never run 40s once they get into the NFL; Bommarito believes running backs need an extra gear once they get to the second level. Last week, Bell focused on resistance running (a band attached to his waist) and a jump-cut drill that simulated a typical running play.

"It's not like we have to teach him how to cut -- he's already got that pattern down -- but it's a great training mechanism for the muscles across the ankle joint, the joint to the feet and the joint to the knee," said Bommarito, who has a master's degree in exercise science with a specialization in sports biomechanics. "You have to get those stabilizing muscles strong if you're going to withstand and sustain a whole season."That type of threshold training works very well with NFL running backs, especially taller running backs like Le'Veon. They respond well to that because, even though he's tall [6-foot-1], he plays low. The feet angles and the ankle angles are at such a great angle that you have to make sure those muscles surrounding those joints are strong."

Bell will break his routine to take a trip up to New Jersey for three days of minicamp practice. Finally, football.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/80081/inside-leveon-bells-offseason-joint-alignment-biomechanics-and-sweat

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The New York Jets added a dynamic weapon in running back Le’Veon Bell, and his new teammates are already raving about what he brings to the team.

Le’Veon Bell has only spent one day in uniform and on the practice field for the Jets, but he’s already made a significant impression on his new teammates.

The team’s mandatory minicamp kicked off Tuesday, and fellow Jets are raving about what be brings to the table, both on and off the field. Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa has already been impressed by Bell’s playmaking ability, and believes the star running back’s track record speaks for itself (via team senior reporter Eric Allen):

It’s a guy who’s been doing it for years. Proven that he can do it over and over again. Even though we didn’t have pads on and we didn’t take a lot of reps, you could kind of see what he’s able to do with the ball in his hands. He had one play where he kind of had a few jukes in there. Like I said, it’s not pads, but you can at least see that he has those moves in him.

Second-year quarterback Sam Darnold was impressed with Bell’s eagerness to learn the team’s new offensive scheme under new head coach Adam Gase:

I would communicate the play to him and he would kind of run it in his head even if he wasn’t out there. It was very good communication in terms of that, so it was very good to kind of have him back there and us communicating with him. He’s very eager to learn, which is really good, and we’re excited to have him out there.

After sitting out the entire 2018 season due to a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell has plenty to prove. He opted to train on his own throughout the offseason, skipping the Jets’ voluntary workouts.While many criticized him for not getting valuable reps with his new teammates, it appears clear that Bell is wasting little time getting acclimated to his new surroundings. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if he hits the ground running once the games start this season.

>   https://thejetpress.com/2019/06/05/jets-players-rave-new-teammate-leveon-bell/

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Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

RB Bilal Powell, who is reuniting with the Jets, is a scheme fit because of his versatility. Coach Adam Gase likes running backs who can run and catch — ie Le'Veon Bell and Ty Montgomery. Powell will compete with Montgomery, Eli McGuire and Trenton Cannon for RB2 and RB3. Powell is not a big contributor on special teams, which could work against him. This will be a popular move in the locker room. Powell, 30, is well respected among teammates.

>    https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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Most of the focus surrounding Le’Veon Bell this past week had to do with current events.

The Jets’ new running back faced plenty of questions about why he skipped OTAs. And there was plenty of attention honed in on his small share of practice reps.Understandably, people want to know what Bell is up to; he’s a high-priced stud who’s been missing from public view for more than a year.But for the Jets, what really matters is what Bell will provide come September and how he can help them win games.That much is obvious. So, too, is the fact that having one of the game’s best running backs should provide a huge spark to the Jets’ offense.But what is it exactly about Bell that makes him so dangerous?

“The defense isn’t sure if he’s going to be in the gun, offset, strong, weak," Jets coach Adam Gase said. "Is he going to be under center? Is he going to be split out wide? Is he going to be the single receiver? Is he going to be the empty? Is he going to be in the slot? There’s five different spots he can be in if we went in empty.“If you’ve got a guy that can do all of those different types of things and he’s good at it and he’s able to catch the ball and run the routes like that, it makes it very difficult for the defense to defend. You start seeing coverages where they simplify it because you’re moving so many pieces around.”

In other words, when opposing defenses see Bell trot onto the field, they have no idea where he’s going to be. And that creates chaos.

“That’s what helps the other guys as well,” Gase said. “Because they’re focused on (Bell) so much.”

Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa has already mentioned that Bell could help him and the Jets’ other wide receivers become more available. And Gase also believes Bell’s presence alone will make it easier for Darnold to get a pre-snap read because of those simplified coverages that are easier to predict.Then, it’s just a matter of recognizing the holes in the defense and executing to pick them apart.“When you have that kind of flexibility it puts a lot of pressure on the defense, it’s hard to cover everything,” Gase said.

>     https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/06/want-to-understand-why-jets-leveon-bell-is-so-dangerous-heres-why-opposing-defenses-should-be-nervous.html

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Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

RB Bilal Powell, speaking to reporters after his second practice since re-signing with the Jets, said he's "pretty excited" to get started in Adam Gase's offense. Powell declined to discuss his neck injury from last season, which required surgery and appeared to be career threatening. He acknowledged he's "not in tip-top shape, but I'm in good enough shape to run around in individual (drills) and get in and out of my cuts. I just have to keep grinding and show up in better shape in training camp." Powell will compete with Ty Montgomery for RB2, assuming he's healthy.

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Jets running back Le’Veon Bell is capable of doing things on the gridiron that few others can.

Bell’s running style is unique, but that is not what sets him apart. Plenty of tailbacks are solid pass catchers out of the backfield and can occasionally line up as a wide receiver. Very few have mastered that skill as effectively as Bell, though.Bell’s versatility makes him a dangerous weapon that Adam Gase will use in a variety of ways. Come September, Bell will be used in a variety of packages to keep opposing defenses off balance and constantly guessing what is to come out of New York’s offense.

“The defense isn’t sure if he’s going to be in the gun, offset, strong, weak,” Gase told reporters. “Is he going to be under center? Is he going to be split out wide? Is he going to be the single receiver? Is he going to be the empty? Is he going to be in the slot? There’s five different spots he can be in if we went in empty.“If you’ve got a guy that can do all of those different types of things and he’s good at it and he’s able to catch the ball and run the routes like that, it makes it very difficult for the defense to defend. You start seeing coverages where they simplify it because you’re moving so many pieces around.”

Simplified coverages open up Gase’s playbook and his ability to get creative calling plays. It will also make life easier on Sam Darnold and his wide receivers, as defenses will be forced to account for Bell at all times.

Bell can create chaos by simply stepping on the field. You cannot say that about many players at his position. Gase is well aware of this and if Bell returns to elite form in 2019, there’s no telling how good New York’s offense could be next season.“When you have that kind of flexibility it puts a lot of pressure on the defense,” Gase said. “It’s hard to cover everything.”

>     https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/12/jets-rb-leveon-bell-has-ability-to-create-chaos-in-adam-gases-offense/

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-- Le'Veon Bell was mostly invisible in the offseason, skipping voluntary workouts, but he will be omnipresent once the season starts. He will be here, there and everywhere for the New York Jets: A running back. A slot receiver. A wide receiver. A workhorse. A decoy at times.

A game-changer for the offense -- or so they hope.

Jets coach Adam Gase has a chessboard in his mind, and he envisions Bell, 27, as the one player he can move anywhere on the board. How they integrate his unique skill set into the offense will be one of the season's most compelling storylines. Even though they had him in the spring for only two minicamp practices, the Jets are thinking big.

Let's take a closer look at the potential Le'Veon Bell effect, through the eyes of Gase, his assistants and other key players on offense:

Sam Darnold, quarterback

Darnold played his rookie season without a consistent threat in the backfield. In fact, the Jets had a 100-yard rusher in only two games (Isaiah Crowell both times). Not coincidentally, Darnold enjoyed two of his most efficient performances in those games. As a passer, he should benefit from Bell's ability as a receiver. Darnold's completion percentage when throwing to running backs -- tied for the league low at 68.0 -- should spike.

Darnold: "When he's out there in the huddle, the defensive coordinator doesn't know where he's going to line up. He doesn't know what's coming his way. With Le'Veon out there, we've become a little more unpredictable, just because he's such a great route runner. He's not just running a 'smoke,' and he's not just running 5-yard routes. He could run deep on you. He could run a slant ... and score. There are a lot of different things he can do."

Bell's versatility will help Darnold make pre-snap reads, according to Gase. How? If they split him out as a receiver, it should be easier for Darnold to determine if the defense is playing man or zone. For instance: If the defense doesn't shift, it's zone. If a safety drops down to cover him, it's man. Gase believes Bell makes them multidimensional.

Gase: "Is he going to be in the gun? Strong? Offset? Weak? Is he going to be under center [in the Wildcat]? Is he going to be split out wide? Is he going to be the single receiver? Is he going to be in empty? Is he going to be in the slot? There are five different spots he can go if we go empty. If you have a guy who can do all those different type of things and he's good at it, it makes it very difficult to defend. You start seeing coverages where they simplify it because you're moving so many pieces around. When you have that kind of flexibility, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. It's hard to cover everything, so they simplify the defense. That's what helps the other guys, as well, because they're focused on [Bell] so much."

Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, wide receivers

Both players were frustrated in their roles last season under former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. Enunwa felt he was pigeonholed as a screen receiver. In fact, he averaged only 7.3 air yards per target (AY/T), 60th out of 64 wide receivers with at least 60 targets, per NFL Next Gen Stats research. Anderson's issue was that he was used too much on deep balls. His AY/T was 16.5, which ranked second among wideouts. They both believe Bell's presence will add more balance and variety to the passing game.

Enunwa: "It allows us to put us in different spots. It makes the defense guess. He can play outside, inside, in the backfield. It moves us into different spots as well. Everybody at the receiver position is able to play multiple spots. You can put a running back out there, or a tight end, and make it really hard on defenses."

Anderson: "Sky's the limit. He can open things up for me and help us put points on the board and make more big plays. He's one of the best, if not the best at his position in the league. He's very versatile."

Kelechi Osemele, left guard

Bell's unique running style could be a challenge for Osemele and the rest of the offensive line. If he doesn't see immediate daylight, Bell will stay behind the line of scrimmage, waiting for a crease. In 2017, his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he averaged 3.09 seconds behind the line per carry, longest in the league among running backs (minimum: 100 carries).

Osemele: "He'll dance a little bit and then just tear through a hole. ... It'll be unexpected at first, until we feel it out and get used to him. I think we'll do some damage when we get that going. ... We'll know more when we get the pads on and get some reps, but players that are like that, that are patient, obviously, you have to stay on your block and you have to stay engaged. We'll see if he's the type of runner who will tap your hip as he's going by or what he does. That will come as we get used to each other."

Frank Pollack, offensive line coach

In Pittsburgh, Bell didn't have to deal with a lot of eight-man fronts because of the talent on the perimeter. In 2017, he faced an eight-man box on only 19.9% of his carries, 20th among 26 running backs with at least 100 attempts. In case you haven't noticed, the Jets don't have wideout Antonio Brown, which means opponents can overplay Bell and crowd the line of scrimmage.

Pollack: "As a line coach, I don't think I'd be doing my job if I didn't anticipate eight- and nine-man boxes. I'm used to that everywhere I've been in the league. I mean, he's a talented back. They're going to load the box to stop him. If they do or they don't, you have to execute up front. In this league, it shouldn't have any bearing what we do up front and what we teach. You just need schemes to account for that. I take it as a compliment if they load the box."

Where's Le'Veon Bell on the field?

How the Steelers deployed the running back in 2017 (his last season):

Outcome Backfield Left Wide Right Wide Left Slot Right Slot
Source: NFL Next Gen Stats
Snaps 783 22 22 32 31
Catches 68 2 3 9 3
Yards 536 24 20 52 23
TDs 1 1 0 0 0

Adam Gase, playcaller

In 2017, Bell lined up in the backfield on 783 snaps (88%). He lined up as a slot receiver for only 63 plays (7%) and as a wide receiver for just 44 plays (5%). The majority of his receptions (68 out of 85) came out of the backfield, many of them on checkdowns with his back to the defense. Look for Gase to add more variety to Bell's game.

Gase: "I'm going to really lean on what he does well. I can watch as much film as possible from Pittsburgh and say, 'This is what he's done; this can be my starting point.' That is kind of our starting point. Really, it's going to be the communication, him saying, 'I've never tried this before, can I try this? Can I do these routes?' ... For me, to get used to what he likes, it's communication, that constant communication in person that helps a playcaller."

Kelvin Beachum, left tackle

Beachum knows Bell better than anyone on offense because they were teammates with the Steelers from 2013 to 2015. Beachum said his appreciation for Bell goes beyond blocking schemes and formation versatility. It's about a mindset.

Beachum: "He makes people tap out. He makes the defense tap out. I can allude to a number of games where he literally wore the defense out. We kept running the same play over and over and over. They knew it was coming, we knew it was coming and he made somebody miss and he just wore the defense out."

>    https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/80191/leveon-bell-effect-how-the-jets-star-can-impact-everyone-around-him

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The Jets already had a star running back when Ty Montgomery signed in April, but the veteran is hoping he can provide both depth and versatility.

For the past two months, Montgomery has enjoyed learning a new offense under Adam Gase, in which he has seen a particular role carved out for himself.“I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, but I’m excited for what lies ahead,” Montgomery told the team website. “I love being on this team, I love the guys on the team. We have a lot of fun every day, talking a lot of noise. Real, real competitive atmosphere, so it’s a lot of fun.”Throughout OTAs in the spring, Montgomery received the majority of first-team reps with Le’Veon Bell spending his time training in Florida. The Jets plan on using Montgomery as a multipurpose weapon to help complement Bell in the backfield.

“You have to be smart,” he said of the running back position. “You have to be able to catch the ball and you have to be able to run the ball. You can’t have an imbalance and be at running back in this offense. It’s actually pretty cool, it’s challenging. I think it suits my abilities and I’m loving it.”With a year off, Bell may need a competent veteran handcuff, which is why having someone of Montgomery’s skill set is so critical for New York.The 2018 season was a rather forgettable one for Montgomery. He had the worst statistical year of his career while splitting time between the Packers and Ravens.

Now in New York, he’s hoping a fresh start will lead to better results.

>      https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/19/ty-montgomery-adam-gase-new-york-jets-offense/

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The summer has barely begun and running back Ty Montgomery has already bought into the New York Jets.

Montgomery joined the Jets on a one-year deal after spending last season with the Packers and Ravens. While he has only been in New York for a few short months, Montgomery already feels like it’s home.“That’s just what I’m expecting from myself, just to enjoy each moment as long as I’m here,” Montgomery told reporters, “and hopefully I can be here for a long time.”The 26-year-old dual-threat back is entering his sixth season out of Stanford. He spent three and a half seasons with the Packers before finishing out the 2018 season with the Ravens. For his career, Montgomery has 932 rushing yards and 892 receiving yards to go along with 10 total touchdowns.

Montgomery is expected to be the No. 2 running back behind Le’Veon Bell. He’s a similar type of player to Bell, as both can be used in the backfield or lined up as a wide receiver. He’ll have some competition though with Elijah McGuire and Bilal Powell also on the roster. But more likely than not, the Jets will cut down on the number of running backs they have.It’s great to hear a brand new player already saying he wants to stay with the team. Clearly, he knows the Jets have something going right now and he wants to play a role in it, both now and in the future.

> https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/20/jets-rb-ty-montgomery-hopefully-i-can-be-here-a-long-time/

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  • 2 weeks later...

Le'Veon Bell and Curtis Martin have so much in common, it's eerie, and we don't mean that big lake north of Pittsburgh.Although come to think of it, Bell and Martin do have that Steel City connection. Martin grew up there, Bell was raised near there and starred there.And each is a fan of the other, Bell of Martin when he was growing up, Martin of Bell after he retired.Nothing would cement this connection more than Bell, the Jets' new bellcow back, snapping up a few of Martin's Green & White records. Nothing of the career kind yet, but perhaps of the season variety. Such as Martin's franchise-record 1,942 yards from scrimmage in his last, best, season of 2004.

Can Bell surpass that mark as a Jet, perhaps as soon as 2019? To quote the Magic 8 Ball, signs point to yes.

Consider that Le'Veon as a Steeler has already surpassed Curtis' best season figure — twice. In his second NFL season, Bell cruised to 2,215 yards in 2014, the league's second-best total in the last five seasons. He also reached 1,946 yards in 15 games in his last season, 2017.In fact, Bell has averaged 129.0 yards from scrimmage/game in his career, which over a 16-game season would give him 2,063 yards.Those numbers are one reason that Bell, at 27 years of age, considers himself one of the NFL's best backs, even after sitting out last season. "Once I play my first game," he said, "people will be reminded."

Martin doesn't have to be reminded. “There’s not anything that the guy can’t do," Martin told the Post's Steve Serby in March. "He’s one of the best running back receivers in the league, he’s one of the best runners in the league. So you got the cream of the crop.”If Bell is all that, then why shouldn't he reach 2,000 YFS again, just as 40 other backs have done a combined 66 other times in NFL history?Of course, there are some reasons he might not clear that hurdle this season. One is injury. He's been durable for most of his five seasons, and his offseason work is designed to make him as indestructible as possible. But he did lose 10 games to a right knee injury in 2015. Injuries can strike anywhere in football and particularly at RB at any time. Bell must have the I-gods on his side to set more personal, team and league marks.

He's also conceded he could be a little rusty after his year away, and head coach Adam Gase and the Jets seem determined to optimize his output. If the Sam Darnold-led offense shows an aptitude of moving the ball when not handing it or passing it to Bell, there will be a desire not to expose him to 27-plus touches a game, which is what he averaged his last two seasons in Pittsburgh. Fewer touches = fewer yards.But Bell wants the rock, he wants the pressure, and he wants to win.

"I want to go out there and put everything I can on the line," he said at the Jets' June minicamp. "I feel I'm a good enough player to go out there and win games." When he's done that, the numbers have come naturally. And from here the odds look good for Le'Veon Bell to become the first Jet to hang 2,000 scrimmage yards on the board in a season.

>     https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/can-le-veon-bell-break-curtis-martin-s-jets-yfs-record

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  • 2 weeks later...

When last we saw running back Le'Veon Bell, he generated more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage in 15 regular-season games with the Steelers. But that was in 2017; he skipped all of the 2018 season in lieu of playing under the franchise tag for a second straight year.So now he a new team and a new contract (even if it’s not nearly as much as he expected to get). The real question is whether he’ll do in New York the same things he did in five seasons with the Steelers.

Although he escaped a year of wear and tear by sitting out, Bell has taken plenty of contact during his career, with 1,541 regular-season touches — an average of 308.2 per year. Now 27, there’s a chance that Father Time will catch up with him sooner than expected, even if he can pick up where he left off more than 18 months after he left off.The Jets didn’t hesitate to assume that Bell will be the same guy, even if they were the only ones to offer him a contract in the range of $13 million per year. He won’t have the same supporting cast he had in Pittsburgh, which means that we’ll quickly find out whether the team was good because of him or whether he was good because of the team.

If he’s still the guy that he was. That’s still the real question. Whether Bell will continue to be special, different, unique after a year out of the sport. Whether that stutter step before blasting through the hole happens like it once did. Whether the yardage continues to pile up. And, most importantly for the Jets, whether the wins will follow.

>   https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/07/13/pft-2019-storyline-no-11-after-a-year-off-what-will-leveon-bell-do/

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In our countdown of 2019 storylines, topic No. 11 focuses on the performance of Jets running back Le'Veon Bell after a year away from football. A quote regarding Bell from another countdown series suggests that maybe Bell won’t be used to the extent he was in the past.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is looking at the most important players on the Jets’ roster. At No. 4 landed Bell.The article includes this quote from coach Adam Gase regarding Bell’s expected workload: “I’ve always felt like I have a good feel of when a guy is either fatigued or we’re heading in a direction of maybe we’re wearing him down. I think we’ll start early to where he’ll get a certain amount of reps that we use. I mean, he is a veteran running back, he plays a position that’s very physical. You can wear a guy out with too many rushes, too many touches, too many snaps, too many practice snaps. We’ll keep an eye on that.”

While there’s nothing specific in that response, the general sense is that Bell won’t be thrown to the wolves, with no regard to whether and to what extent he is or could be fatigued, especially after missing a full year. Which means that Bell may not be averaging nearly 20 touches per game, like he did throughout his five years with the Steelers.Of course, when a guy gets paid more than $13 million per year, it makes sense to use him. Then again, that investment needs to be protected.

It’s a balance that Gase seems confident he can strike, and ultimately it may come down to Gase’s gut-level assessment of whether Bell needs more, or less, rest.

>    https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/07/16/will-the-jets-limit-leveon-bells-touches/

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With Le’Veon Bell, the Jets have an unusual situation on their hands.

Bell, 27, is a top talent at the running back position, but he has had a full-year off from contact. He admittedly fell out of football-shape during his time away, so the Jets are going to be cautious with his usage this summer and during the season.“I’ve always felt like I have a good feel of when a guy is either fatigued or we’re heading in a direction of maybe we’re wearing him down,” Adam Gase said, per the New York Daily News. “I think we’ll start early to where he’ll get a certain amount of reps that we use. I mean, he is a veteran running back, he plays a position that’s very physical. You can wear a guy out with too many rushes, too many touches, too many snaps, too many practice snaps. We’ll keep an eye on that.”

Back in 2017, Bell had a career-high 321 touches. It is unlikely that he will reach that number again and the Jets, specifically Gase, have made it clear that they won’t wear him out. That is why they signed Ty Montgomery and brought back Bilal Powell. Both are multipurpose backs that can be just as effective as pass-catchers.New York has not outright said that it will limit Bell’s carries. That decision will be made once the team can determine where he is at physically. Bell has only made an appearance at the team facility for mandatory OTAs; other than that, he has been training in Florida.

He doesn’t seem worried about getting in game shape.“I’ll have plenty of time to knock all the rust off going into the season,” Bell said. “When things actually count, I’ll be ready for that.”

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/18/leveon-bell-usage-adam-gase-new-york-jets/

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Rich Cimini    ESPN Staff Writer 

One of the storylines throughout Jets camp will be Le'Veon Bell's workload. On Wednesday, Adam Gase said Bell, who worked out on his own for nearly the entire offseason, is in "good shape." But it sure sounds like they will be careful not to overwork him. "We'll be smart," Gase said. "He's not going to walk out of this camp with the most reps he's ever had. We'll find that line, find what the balance is." Bell has to learn the offense, chip off a year's worth of rust and build chemistry with his O-line — all tough to do with limited reps.

>    https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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The one-year, $895,000 deal Ty Montgomery signed with the Jets this offseason is the second-cheapest contract on the team, but that could turn into one of the biggest steals of the summer if Montgomery continues to impress.

The Jets are only a few days into training camp, but Montgomery is already turning heads with his ability to make plays all over the field.

“You guys saw me today,” he said after practice, “Lining up out at the receiver position and running a few routes as well as running up the middle and outside, being able to do everything all over the field.”Montgomery converted to running back while with the Packers in 2017 when Green Bay’s top rushers went down with injuries, but he kept his No. 88 jersey he wore when the Packers drafted him as a wide receiver out of Stanford in 2015. “The 88 is part of my brand,” Montgomery said. “The 88 speaks to what I can do as a true hybrid.”

Over the course of his career, Montgomery tallied 192 career rushes and 107 career receptions. He can even return kicks, (Montgomery has 35 career returns for 794 yards) though a fumbled kickoff is what ultimately cost him his job in Green Bay. Two days after his fumble resulted directly in a Packers loss, the team traded him to the Ravens midway through the 2018 season.Now with the Jets, Montgomery should be a perfect complement to Le’Veon Bell in Adam Gase’s offense. Multi-faceted running backs are a huge part of Gase’s offensive game plan, and now he’ll have two proven pass-catching tailbacks to work with in New York. In his previous stops, Gase always used running backs in his passing attack. All of his starting running backs saw at least 30 targets a season. That won’t change in New York, especially with a young quarterback like Sam Darnold running the show.

Bell is obviously the team’s feature back, but Montgomery already is proving he deserves more looks on offense. He and Bell are comparable sizes (Bell is an inch taller at 6-foot-1 about nine pounds heavier) and have similar skillsets, so the playcalling won’t need much tweaking depending on who is in the backfield. Montgomery continues to see a lot of time in first-team packages, which could be a sign of things to come in 2019.There is still a lot of time left before the season begins, but Montgomery is already making a name for himself with the Jets. In an offense built around speed and versatility, he has already separated himself from the rest of the running back group behind Bell. If Montgomery can keep it up, he should be in line for a sizeable role this upcoming season.

>    https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/28/jets-rb-ty-montgomery-calls-himself-a-true-hybrid-out-of-the-backfield/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-latest-news

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Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

Adam Gase sounds conflicted on whether to play Le'Veon Bell in the PS opener. Advice to Gase: Don't. Wait until PS2 and PS3 to give him a few reps. "It's a fine line with him," Gase said. "He hasn't played in a year. At the same time, when is the right time? Is it this game? The next game?" Let's look at his last few preseasons in Pittsburgh: 2017 and 2018 — didn't play (contract disputes); 2016 — 20 plays, eight touches; 2015 — 32 plays, 13 touches; 2014 — 48 plays, 20 touches.

>   https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

Le'Veon Bell didn't play for the second straight week, and there's a chance he could sit again next week against the Saints. Adam Gase was non-committal, hinting he could do the same if Bell has another good week of practice. Said Gase: "I like where he is right now. I love how he's working." He decided to sit Bell tonight because he "got a ton of reps this week" in practice. My take: Give him a few touches just so he can experience game speed. He hasn't played in 19 months.

>    https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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He didn’t play at all in 2018. In 2017, he showed up after the preseason ended. This year, in his first season with the Jets, running back Le'Veon Bell may make zero preseason appearances.

He hasn’t played yet, with two of four games in the can. Based on Friday’s comments from Jets coach Adam Gase, don’t expect to see Bell until Week One of the regular season.“I just liked his week of practice,” Gase said regarding the decision to keep Bell out of Thursday’s game against the Falcons, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “He got a ton of reps this week. We’ll kind of see how next week goes. He’s played a lot of football. And I like where he’s at right now. I love how he’s working. If I feel like there’s a need to play him next week, we will. If he has a good week of practice and it’s not worth it for us to get him out there, then we won’t.”

It’s a delicate balance, getting Bell ready on one hand and protecting him from undue risk of injury on the other. If he doesn’t need preseason reps to be ready for the games that count, why chance it? And it appears Bell doesn’t need them. By all accounts, he’s performing at practice as the same guy he always was, with vision, explosion, burst, and speed. Throw in a budding franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold and an underrated defense, and the Jets may have new prospects to match their new uniforms.

>        https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/08/16/leveon-bell-may-not-play-in-the-preseason/

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