Forgotten man in Jets Backfield Could Still Make Impact in 2021

[JetNation]

The 2020 NFL season was a tough one for anyone residing at 1 Jets Drive as the club found the end zone about as often as its two previous General Managers found a quality football player.  The NFL’s worst offense was led by running back Frank Gore who carried the football 187 times, averaging 3.49 YPC before calling it a career in week 15.  Perhaps a tribute to his 18.7 second 40 time?

Meanwhile, little-known and less used backup Ty Johnson made the most of his few opportunities, running the ball 54 times for 254 yards (4.7 YPC) on the season.  It was a week 5 meeting between the Jets and Dolphins when Johnson saw his first carry of the season, running for an 8-yard gain.  Hardly the thing dreams are made of, but it was about as good as anything the Jets had seen from a running back on offense up to that point.  Then on the very next play, Johnson exploded for a 34-yard gain.  It may as well have been a 99-yard TD run for the worst offense in the NFL.  Did the Jets finally have a player on the roster who was capable of hitting a hole, outrunning defenders and making a difference?  Jets fans wanted to know.  Sadly, Jets coaches weren’t interested.

Over the course of the next five weeks, Johnson would carry the ball 3, 0, 3, 0, 0 and 2 times respectively.  Just eight carries over five games.  Then in week 12, the Jets had no choice but to turn to Johnson when Gore went down with an injury.  And behind the same offensive line that made Frank Gore look like a Walking Dead extra, Johnson ran the ball 22 times for 104 yards (4.73 YPC) and a touchdown.  That was it.  Surely it would mean Johnson would be a big part of the offense moving forward, right?  Wrong.  As the season wound down to a close and Gore returned to the lineup, Johnson’s carries over the final 4 weeks of the season were 8, 3, 2 and 11.

Now after going out and signing running back Tevin Coleman just before drafting North Carolina running back Michael Carter with the 107th pick in the NFL draft, some may think that closes the book on Johnson having any chance to contribute in 2021, but that may not be the case at all.  In looking at how the San Francisco 49ers utilized their running backs in recent years with Jets coordinator Mike LaFleur taking notes, Johnson may still have a place on the roster.

The Niners tended to load up a backs with high-end speed and acceleration, then spread carries out to avoid getting them too beat up.  Over the past two seasons in San Francisco, their top 6 backs have combined for 708 carries without a single runner carrying the ball 140 times in a season.  Some of this was a product of injury, but even in 2019 when their top 3 backs appeared in no fewer than 13 games, each had at least 100 carries with Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert seeing 137 apiece and Matt Brieda picking up 123 of his own.

Should LaFleur take a similar approach, Johnson could more than double his carries from 2020 to 2021, giving the former Maryland Speedster a chance to show far more than he was able to under the previous coaching staff.  The Jets running back room may not boast the same level of talent as the wide receiver group, but with Coleman, Carter and Johnson, they have a capable group who can take advantage of what should be a much improved offensive line, leading to more trips to the end zone.

 

The post Forgotten man in Jets Backfield Could Still Make Impact in 2021 appeared first on JetNation.com (NY Jets Blog & Forum).

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[JohnnyLV]

I hope he gets his chance. Gase stubborness in regards to Gore was bewildering and completely incompetent. It was if the only thing Gase cared about was getting Gore 16,000 yards/

[Warfish]

They'll ALL get a chance in camp.  There is no incumbent #1 RB.

Let the best players show it, win the job and get the carries.

Perform, stay.  Don't, gone.

[Adoni Beast]

Absolutely criminal that Ty Johnson and Denzel Mims didn’t get more targets last year.

This is why firing Gase early in the season was necessary. 

[Joe W. Namath]

I think Perine will be the 1A and Carter will be the 1B.

They will pretty much split carries 50/50.

[varjet]

1 hour ago, Adoni Beast said:

Absolutely criminal that Ty Johnson and Denzel Mims didn’t get more targets last year.

This is why firing Gase early in the season was necessary. 

I think once the Jets realized what they had with Gase, Darnold, the WRs, the OL and Covid, they concluded that keeping Gase, trading Adams and losing as many games as possible was the right move.

I think they were right. 

[Adoni Beast]

4 minutes ago, varjet said:

I think once the Jets realized what they had with Gase, Darnold, the WRs, the OL and Covid, they concluded that keeping Gase, trading Adams and losing as many games as possible was the right move.

I think they were right. 

If they were truly tanking:

• Sam never would have come back after injury.

• Bechton would not have been playing against Denver after getting hurt.

They were trying to win games and salvage Sam.

[jetstream23]

Carter, Johnson and Coleman look like the best fits for this outside zone running scheme.  Coleman has a lot of familiarity with it.  Johnson and Carter seem to have the athletic profiles for it.

At this point, Perine seems like the odd man out.  Wouldn't be shocked if he ends up on the PS.

[jetstream23]

16 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

If they were truly tanking:

• Sam never would have come back after injury.

• Bechton would not have been playing against Denver after getting hurt.

They were trying to win games and salvage Sam.

Yup. Gase was trying to win and save his job.  He wasn't thinking about the 2021 season for a single second.  It's why Gore got tons of carries and Clark and Morgan never saw the field, not even for....a..... single.... snap.

Imagine, a 2-14 team that was losing by multiple scores late in the 4th quarter and you don't even put in your rookie QB for one single series just to touch a football in a real NFL game.

[Savage69]

1 hour ago, johnnysd said:

I hope he gets his chance. Gase stubborness in regards to Gore was bewildering and completely incompetent. It was if the only thing Gase cared about was getting Gore 16,000 yards/

Yes Gase helped Gore compile his yds but it's been done before in the late 90's and 2000-2004 

[joewilly12]

Ty Johnson 1000 yard rusher 2021 NFL Season 

[Defense Wins Championships]

It doesn't matter who our featured back is because 

A.) Adam Gase is fired. 

B.) We'll actually run... LEFT a lot behind Becton and Vera-Tucker. 

I'm hoping for a 1-2 punch featuring an ACC/SEC 1-2 punch of Carter and Perine. 

The way Gase used the rookie RB last year and hurried him behind Gore was criminal and if you're to judge him due to his rookie season you're just as stupid as the idiot Gase. 

[Butterfield]

All four of Coleman, Johnson, Perine and Carter will make the team and contribute.  I think all four will have 80-120 carries.  Load management.  

[Icer]

I'd bet Ty Johnson has the most carries by the end of the year. Coleman is almost a lock to be on IR at some point and unless he's an instant star they won't have Carter get the bulk load of carries as a 5'8 rookie. Perine doesn't look like a fit in this scheme either

[AFJF]

18 minutes ago, Icer said:

I'd bet Ty Johnson has the most carries by the end of the year. Coleman is almost a lock to be on IR at some point and unless he's an instant star they won't have Carter get the bulk load of carries as a 5'8 rookie. Perine doesn't look like a fit in this scheme either

Why is he "a lock" to go on IR?  Never missed significant time in his career until last season.

[Barry McCockinner]

Am I the only one who's reflex reaction to any story referencing last year is to want to Mike Tyson upper cut Adam Gase?

[Bronx]

43 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

Ty Johnson 1000 yard rusher 2021 NFL Season 

Zach Wilson 5,000 yard QB 2021 NFL season

[BettyBoop]

Gaze play-calling: Darnold to Gore

[Icer]

2 hours ago, AFJF said:

Why is he "a lock" to go on IR?  Never missed significant time in his career until last season.

https://sportsinjurypredictor.com/player/tevin-coleman/7256

28 year old RB coming off an injury plagued last two seasons, I don't think he will last but who knows

[Tranquilo]

When I opened this thread I didn't know what RB to expect!

[Jet Nut]

3 hours ago, Savage69 said:

Yes Gase helped Gore compile his yds but it's been done before in the late 90's and 2000-2004 

Only to those who dont know squat about football, think that giving your best WR the ball is compiling.

 

[Jetsfan80]

3 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

Carter, Johnson and Coleman look like the best fits for this outside zone running scheme.  Coleman has a lot of familiarity with it.  Johnson and Carter seem to have the athletic profiles for it.

At this point, Perine seems like the odd man out.  Wouldn't be shocked if he ends up on the PS.

Me neither.  It's hard to imagine a 4th round pick from just last year not making the roster, but at the same time, he really isn't a guy I expect to thrive, even in this system. 

He was the only Douglas pick so far that I can say with little doubt was a bad pick.  The process by which they concluded he was a pick to make was flawed as is the prospect himself.  I know we're a one-cut system, but you still need a guy with some burst after he makes that one cut.  Perine just isn't that guy.  He's not athletic, and his ceiling is a poor man's Bilal Powell. 

Perine falling behind Ty Johnson on the depth chart last season, plus the additions of Carter and Coleman, are all evidence of the idea that Douglas is already moving on.  RB is a plug-n-play position, even in a complex zone blocking scheme, so you know what you have with RB's pretty quickly. 

Even a team with a full committee approach really only is going to use 3 RB's at most (unless one gets hurt), and if a 4th guy makes the team, he HAS to be a special teams contributor.  I just don't see him playing much of a role on the team next year or going forward.  

At least Douglas seemingly is willing to quickly admit his mistakes and move on quickly.  You need that out of a GM.

[Jetsfan80]

3 hours ago, AFJF said:

Why is he "a lock" to go on IR?  Never missed significant time in his career until last season.

Yep.  Coleman's problem isn't a lack of injuries.  It's tumbling down the depth chart and either not playing much or at all on gamedays.

At least he's in the only scheme that will be able to get the most or anything out of him.

[jetsons]

6 hours ago, Adoni Beast said:

Absolutely criminal that Ty Johnson and Denzel Mims didn’t get more targets last year.

This is why firing Gase early in the season was necessary. 

Add to that Clark not even getting a taste of the field... gase was Truly Terrible. ?

[Adoni Beast]

40 minutes ago, jetsons said:

Add to that Clark not even getting a taste of the field... gase was Truly Terrible. ?

I’m actually going to put that one more on Clark, and I hate Gase more than anyone.

He must have been pretty bad in a short covid camp for that to happen. That’s the only way you can sell that to your GM and owner, especially if you’re desperately trying to save your job.

[Joe W. Namath]

1 hour ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Me neither.  It's hard to imagine a 4th round pick from just last year not making the roster, but at the same time, he really isn't a guy I expect to thrive, even in this system. 

He was the only Douglas pick so far that I can say with little doubt was a bad pick.  The process by which they concluded he was a pick to make was flawed as is the prospect himself.  I know we're a one-cut system, but you still need a guy with some burst after he makes that one cut.  Perine just isn't that guy.  He's not athletic, and his ceiling is a poor man's Bilal Powell. 

Perine falling behind Ty Johnson on the depth chart last season, plus the additions of Carter and Coleman, are all evidence of the idea that Douglas is already moving on.  RB is a plug-n-play position, even in a complex zone blocking scheme, so you know what you have with RB's pretty quickly. 

Even a team with a full committee approach really only is going to use 3 RB's at most (unless one gets hurt), and if a 4th guy makes the team, he HAS to be a special teams contributor.  I just don't see him playing much of a role on the team next year or going forward.  

At least Douglas seemingly is willing to quickly admit his mistakes and move on quickly.  You need that out of a GM.

Perine was hurt all of last year.  he was never 100%.  He was the most explosive guy on the team last year in training camp before the injury..

Im not sure who started this "Perine is not a scheme fit" narrative and why everyone is running with it but its total garbage.  Perine will lead this team in carries and yards rushing this year.

Perine is 1A and Carter is 1B.

Look at this beast:

 

[UntouchableCrew]

2 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Perine falling behind Ty Johnson on the depth chart last season, plus the additions of Carter and Coleman, are all evidence of the idea that Douglas is already moving on.  

Completely agree. The offseason approach was clearly that we needed to upgrade the position. I think Perine is a goner.

[derp]

7 hours ago, jetstream23 said:

Carter, Johnson and Coleman look like the best fits for this outside zone running scheme.  Coleman has a lot of familiarity with it.  Johnson and Carter seem to have the athletic profiles for it.

At this point, Perine seems like the odd man out.  Wouldn't be shocked if he ends up on the PS.

One thing Perine has going for him is his potential role on specials. I think he was drafted to be a #3 back who plays specials for four years. Boring but useful.

6 hours ago, Defense Wins Championships said:

It doesn't matter who our featured back is because 

A.) Adam Gase is fired. 

B.) We'll actually run... LEFT a lot behind Becton and Vera-Tucker. 

I'm hoping for a 1-2 punch featuring an ACC/SEC 1-2 punch of Carter and Perine. 

The way Gase used the rookie RB last year and hurried him behind Gore was criminal and if you're to judge him due to his rookie season you're just as stupid as the idiot Gase. 

Forget who but somebody pointed out with that left side they’ll be able to just collapse that side of the line on runs right and open up some cutbacks too.

[Jet Nut]

3 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Perine falling behind Ty Johnson on the depth chart last season, plus the additions of Carter and Coleman, are all evidence of the idea that Douglas is already moving on. 

Its evidence of nothing.   Who says Perine is behind Ty Johnson on anyones depth chart?  Because the started over Perine, possibly due to injury, last year?  The depth chart is going to look different at a few positions under this staff

[jetstream23]

6 hours ago, derp said:

One thing Perine has going for him is his potential role on specials. I think he was drafted to be a #3 back who plays specials for four years. Boring but useful.

Forget who but somebody pointed out with that left side they’ll be able to just collapse that side of the line on runs right and open up some cutbacks too.

Just to be clear, I am in no way giving up on Perine after one season where he entered the league as a 4th round pick, had some injuries and suffered through the ineptitude of Gase and the Jets offense.  Completely unfair.  He gets as much of a mulligan as guys like Clark and Morgan should get.  In fact, Perine actually has a legit NFL touchdown on his stat sheet.

I think you nailed it.  He's probably a RB3 and maybe has some unknown upside to become a RB2 at some point in the right system, and he has ST value.  The challenge right now though is two-fold for him.  1) He doesn't seem to have the right athletic/scheme profile for the outside/zone rushing offense the Jets wants to run under LaFleur.  2) The coaches on this staff were "in the room" when JD both signed a veteran RB in Coleman and drafted a RB in Carter.  Those are two guys who are immediately ahead of Perine on the depth chart.  However, what Perine does have going for him is that he was drafted by JD and he's still on a cheap 4th round rookie contract.  If I had to bet I'd guess he's one of the last cuts and ends up on the the Jets practice squad.  Maybe if the Jets keep 4 RBs he sticks along with Coleman, Carter and Ty Johnson (who I think is a GREAT fit for this scheme).

 

[jetstream23]

12 hours ago, Bronx said:

Zach Wilson 5,000 yard QB 2021 NFL season

[k-met57]

15 hours ago, Joe W. Namath said:

Perine was hurt all of last year.  he was never 100%.  He was the most explosive guy on the team last year in training camp before the injury..

Im not sure who started this "Perine is not a scheme fit" narrative and why everyone is running with it but its total garbage.  Perine will lead this team in carries and yards rushing this year.

Perine is 1A and Carter is 1B.

Look at this beast:

 

i am bullish on Perine. I think he was underrated coming out and could def contribute in a committee. 

[More Cowbell]

22 hours ago, Joe W. Namath said:

I think Perine will be the 1A and Carter will be the 1B.

They will pretty much split carries 50/50.

Lol. Right, let Coleman, the most experienced  back on the team rot on the bench. If anything it is Coleman starting and whoever wins the third down job be it Carter, Johnson, or Perrine.  Perrine sucked last season so he has a lot to prove to get carries

[FidelioJet]

14 hours ago, Jet Nut said:

Its evidence of nothing.   Who says Perine is behind Ty Johnson on anyones depth chart?  Because the started over Perine, possibly due to injury, last year?  The depth chart is going to look different at a few positions under this staff

Perinne looked as slow as Gore.

He's just too slow to be an effective back.

[Jet Nut]

7 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Perinne looked as slow as Gore.

He's just too slow to be an effective back.

Once again, people should learn to stop making definitive blanket statements about players off of their rookie seasons.

A RB thinking about the play, trying to find the hole and where his blocks are isnt going to be as quick to that hole as he will be with experience.  I dont think its fair to decide hes too slow to be an effective back