Michael Carter tops list of rookie running backs

[jayrad01]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-the-five-rookie-running-backs-who-will-be-most-productive-in-2021-jets-michael-carter-tops-list/

[Joe W. Namath]

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

[k-met57]

6 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

RB is a devalued position. Carter ran a 4.5, and he is 5'8 200lb, he does not project as an every down back esp if he wants to stick around for a bunch of years. So in todays NFL, a not every down back without any "special" skills, or production at the best college in the country goes in rounds 3 and 4.

 

 

 

[joewilly12]

22 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

JD nailed these picks. 

[Tranquilo]

I don't know if the rookies are going to pan out, but when's the last time we had young skill position players topping any list?

[jgb]

4 minutes ago, Tranquilo said:

I don't know if the rookies are going to pan out, but when's the last time we had young skill position players topping any list?

[slats]

12 minutes ago, k-met57 said:

RB is a devalued position. Carter ran a 4.5, and he is 5'8 200lb, he does not project as an every down back esp if he wants to stick around for a bunch of years. So in todays NFL, a not every down back without any "special" skills, or production at the best college in the country goes in rounds 3 and 4.

 

 

 

The article talks about the 49ers and the fact that Shanahan is all about the RB by committee approach. Jets will be the same. I figure they’ll be going with the hot hand much of the time, with Coleman handling obvious passing downs. Any back getting 20 carries will be a rarity. 

[IndianaJet]

Sneaky play for Offensive Rookie of the Year.  Grabbed him for some pizza money at 90-1.

[Ghost]

21 minutes ago, k-met57 said:

RB is a devalued position. Carter ran a 4.5, and he is 5'8 200lb, he does not project as an every down back esp if he wants to stick around for a bunch of years. So in todays NFL, a not every down back without any "special" skills, or production at the best college in the country goes in rounds 3 and 4.

 

 

 

What about MJD? He lacked size and a special skill coming out. 

[undertow]

I like Carter but if people are expecting him to be a 100 yard a game every down back I think they are gonna be disappointed....I see him as more of a Giovani Bernard type of guy. 400-600 yards rushing 400- 600 yards receiving.

[jgb]

9 minutes ago, Ghost said:

What about MJD? He lacked size and a special skill coming out. 

He was in the 98th percentile of RBs in the 40. Seems kinda special to me.

[Long Island Leprechaun]

2 minutes ago, jgb said:

He was in the 98th percentile of RBs in the 40.

The 40 is not very helpful in assessing running back quality. Perhaps the first split, which would be an indicator of acceleration, but the overall 40 is almost meaningless, as most running backs are within 1 to 2/10s of a second of each other.

[jgb]

Just now, Long Island Leprechaun said:

The 40 is not very helpful in assessing running back quality. Perhaps the first split, which would be an indicator of acceleration, but the overall 40 is almost meaningless, as most running backs are within 1 to 2/10s of a second of each other.

The comment was that MJD had no special skill coming out. Being faster than 98% of NFL RBs is pretty special.

[Paradis]

6 hours ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

Honestly, I think Moore should have gone 1st overall

[Claymation]

20 minutes ago, jgb said:

He was in the 98th percentile of RBs in the 40. Seems kinda special to me.

 

52 minutes ago, k-met57 said:

RB is a devalued position. Carter ran a 4.5, and he is 5'8 200lb, he does not project as an every down back esp if he wants to stick around for a bunch of years. So in todays NFL, a not every down back without any "special" skills, or production at the best college in the country goes in rounds 3 and 4.

 

 

 

Michael Carter’s short shuttle time of 3.98 seconds would have been the second-best time at last year’s combine, and his 3-cone time would have been tied for fourth-best. Just saying

[Patriot Killa]

1 hour ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

back to back 1,000 yards season & nearly averaged 8.0 yards per carry in a THREE BACK ROTATION!

Not to mention he fits our new scheme extremely well.

[Patriot Killa]

33 minutes ago, undertow said:

I like Carter but if people are expecting him to be a 100 yard a game every down back I think they are gonna be disappointed....I see him as more of a Giovani Bernard type of guy. 400-600 yards rushing 400- 600 yards receiving.

Nah. I see 800-1000 yards & 5-6 scores in his first year.
 

Book that.

[flgreen]

Ranking the five rookie running backs who will be most productive in 2021: Jets' Michael Carter tops list

Which running backs can make the biggest impact in their first NFL seasons?

 

By Chris Trapasso

 

4 hrs ago5 min read

 

 

 

 

The running back position has lost almost all its value, they say. Yet we had another draft with multiple running backs picked in the first round. Of course, the NFL has now become infatuated with passing the football, which means runners have to prove their worth as pass catchers too. Fortunately, the 2021 class boasted a nice collection of truly versatile running back prospects. 

Let's rank the top five backs strictly based on who'll be most productive in 2021. 

Other installments in this series -- tight ends, wide receivers 

5. Javonte Williams, Broncos

Williams was the finest pure runner in the 2021 class. He has a gigantic bag -- I'm borrowing that term from the NBA and will continue to use it -- making him completely scheme versatile and capable of winning through the second level in a variety of ways. 

But he will begin the year sharing touches with 28-year-old Melvin Gordon who averaged 4.6 yards per in his Denver debut season. The Broncos traded up near the top of the second round to get Williams. A clear indication they want to use him right away. Will Gordon be suddenly and completely phased out of the offense? Can't imagine that being the case. 

And the Broncos have Courtland Sutton returning alongside a young, fast, and fun pass-catching contingent featuring Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Noah Fant, and Albert Okwuegbunam. Williams will make noise as a rookie. He's far too talented not to. But there'll be other backs who have more volume over the course of the season. 

4. Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne was being cross-trained at receiver in rookie minicamp by new head coach Urban Meyer. And for as much as I initially thought it was crazy, it's not as though Etienne needs to learn which linemen to follow on certain run plays at this stage of his football-playing life. 

There are three main reasons the second running back off the board is so low on this list -- Trevor Lawrence, James Robinson, and the established offensive skill-position talent already residing on Jacksonville's roster. 

 

Lawrence is the offensive centerpiece of all offensive centerpieces. Meyer took the job because of him. While offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell does have a run-heavy history in Seattle, he has worked closely with Brett Favre and Matthew Stafford too. I have to imagine the Jaguars offense will run through Lawrence, not the ground game. And his weapons are alluring -- D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, and Tim Tebow. OK, I'm joking with Tebow. You get the picture though. 

And next to Etienne in the backfield is Robinson, who went from obscure Division II undrafted free agent to 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie. 

One other justification point on the explosive Etienne not erupting out of the gates as a rookie -- the Jaguars offensive line. Just a few weeks ago, Pro Football Focus ranked it as the 22nd-best unit in football, and second-round pick Walker Little is an enigma because we haven't seen him on the field since Week 1 of the 2019 season. 

Etienne is a fast, efficient runner. Dynamic in the screen game. He's not a bouncy, lateral-cut type. If the Jaguars blocking isn't above-average, it'll take time for the first-round pick to produce at a level most are expecting. We must not forget, though -- Meyer has worked wonders with gadgety, explosive-based types in the past, most namely Percy Harvin at Florida and Curtis Samuel at Ohio State. He'll know how to accentuate Etienne's array of skills. 

Craving even more NFL coverage focusing on previews, recaps, news and analysis? Listen below and follow the Pick Six podcast for a daily dose of everything you need to follow pro football.

3. Trey Sermon, 49ers

If you play running back for the Kyle Shanahan-led 49ers, you are going to produce. Point blank. Period. And GM John Lynch picked Sermon in the third round even with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson entrenched as the top two backs in San Francisco. 

But Wilson will be on the PUP list for at least the first six weeks of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. A luxurious opportunity awaits Sermon, even as Mostert's backup. 

Mostert's never had 20 carries in a single game with the 49ers (nor in his NFL career), proving Shanahan's reliance on a legitimate running back committee. And Sermon was born to run within Shanahan's wide-zone scheme. He showcased dazzling vision and subtle, one-cut ability in which he barely lost speed when changing directions during his ultra-productive 2020 season at Ohio State. 

Sermon's not a burner but defenders often glance off of his thick, chiseled frame. Sermon will be one of the most efficient backs -- not just rookies -- in 2021.

2. Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris was my RB1 in the 2021 draft class. And it wasn't particularly close. Despite Etienne initially earning consensus billing as the top receiving back in the class, as more people watched college film, that label went to Harris, who routinely demonstrated amazing comfort splitting into the slot, running intricate routes and tracking the football like a veteran wideout. His receiving skill is much more than being able to catch a screen pass.

And it's not surprising Pittsburgh zeroed in on Harris in Round 1. He's a clone of in-his-prime Le'Veon Bell physically, a tall bruiser of a back with the agility of a much smaller, skinnier runner.

Pittsburgh's offensive line is transitioning from being an established veteran-laden group to an inexperienced youthful one. That's slightly concerning. But some of the youthful pieces the Steelers have in the trenches are very talented -- like guard Kevin Dotson and rookie center Kendrick Green.

Harris is going to be high-volume in Pittsburgh's attack, and his size/athleticism/receiving ability blend will lead to a huge rookie season, even if it doesn't really take off until around October. The only reason he's not No. 1 -- the Steelers offensive line is replacing four starters from a season ago. 

1. Michael Carter, Jets 

The UNC backfield was absurd in 2020, the future second-round pick and top of the fourth-round selection did whatever they wanted on the ground in the ACC. Didn't matter the scheme nor the defenders they faced. 

Carter averaged 8.0 yards per carry -- yes, eight -- with nine scores on just 156 carries, demonstrating a fine combination of burst upon eluding a would-be tackler and balance needed to absorb contact without immediately falling to the artificial turf. 

And there's La'Michal Perine, Tevin Coleman, and Ty Johnson as the veterans in front of him to start camp. Not precisely the 1927 Yankees batting order. Carter also caught 20-plus passes in each of his final three seasons with the Tar Heels and has the short stature needed to hide behind blockers on a screen before exploding down the field. 

Carter is absolutely going to be a fixture of the Jets offense during Zach Wilson's rookie season with the Jets. New York's offensive line is still a work in progress, but the left side featuring Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker will be a formidable one. 

[Beerfish]

18 minutes ago, Paradis said:

Honestly, I think Moore should have gone 1st overall

 

[flgreen]

DAng didn't see other thread.  Please merge. 

[Greenseed4]

6 minutes ago, flgreen said:

DAng didn't see other thread.  Please merge. 

I like yours better, it's not so crowded.  

 

[Integrity28]

1 hour ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

Hire the same detectives looking into the "Denzel Mims in round 2" mystery.

[addage]

I am not much for "homer" optimism so I worry about saying this.

We may have the best draft class in Jets history.

Wilson: drafting QB's is a crapshoot.  So who knows?  He has great credentials, but so did Darnold and Sanchez.  You have to wait to see it on the field.  But the OTA's were as good as they could be and the vibes are all positive.

Once past Zach, the class looks outstanding.  Vera-Tucker, Moore and Carter look like great value picks who will be Jets for years.  And a slew of the lower round picks/UDFA's look like they have the potential to become starters over time.

If this draft class produces 5-6 starters and 1-2 All Pros, it will change the character of the franchise.  This is JD's first real draft with his personnel team in place.  Future looks bright.

Can you believe it?

[Mike135]

1 hour ago, Tranquilo said:

I don't know if the rookies are going to pan out, but when's the last time we had young skill position players topping any list?

 

[SouthernJet]

1 hour ago, slats said:

The article talks about the 49ers and the fact that Shanahan is all about the RB by committee approach. Jets will be the same. I figure they’ll be going with the hot hand much of the time, with Coleman handling obvious passing downs. Any back getting 20 carries will be a rarity. 

he wont get 20 carries but he will get 8-12 carries and 4-8 targets a game

[SouthernJet]

1 hour ago, Long Island Leprechaun said:

The 40 is not very helpful in assessing running back quality. Perhaps the first split, which would be an indicator of acceleration, but the overall 40 is almost meaningless, as most running backs are within 1 to 2/10s of a second of each other.

it helps with the flare pass out of backfield if QB leads RB it allows RB to run at high rate..Sam was horrid as this as our rBs always had to slow down or ball was behind them

[Maynard13]

2 hours ago, Tranquilo said:

I don't know if the rookies are going to pan out, but when's the last time we had young skill position players topping any list?

6/25/21

[Jetsfan80]

1 hour ago, Paradis said:

Honestly, I think Moore should have gone 1st overall

# 2, after Pitts, you mean. 

[Jetsfan80]

1 hour ago, Greenseed4 said:

I like yours better, it's not so crowded.  

@The Crusher posting a bunch in that one?

[SouthernJet]

I expect a big year for Carter IF Jets OL allows the run game to get some space and give Zach enough time.

Carter played basically same scheme at UNC, to point he even played in a committee system.

If Zach is completing downfield passes (15+) then that means Carter will have monster year.

Reason: It means OL giving Zach time so LB/CBs cant cheat up in box. Carter so damn hard to see behing the huge OL and he will have room. BUT mainly he will have a ton of dumpffs (especially early as Zach 'feels his way' as a RB can be a QBs best friend as a safety valve. Carter is unreal with YAC and the sky the limit for this kid. Play action to Carter and Moore zooming down the sideline. Oh ya baby!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SouthernJet]

11 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said:

@The Crusher posting a bunch in that one?

I been gone awhile,,does the Crusher still get a chubby when great food is talked about?

[SouthernJet]

12 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said:

@The Crusher posting a bunch in that one?

how do you CC a poster?? with @ in front of name? some other symbol? Thanks

[32EBoozer]

3 hours ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

Divine Intervention! The sacrificing of MacDaddy & Adam Gase has brought about forgiveness and a new day has dawned.... one of blessing!

In the biblical law, once in seven years (Smitah), debts would be forgiven so people who have gotten themselves in over their head in debt would be able to make a new start once every seven years.

[Jet2020]

4 hours ago, Joe W. Namath said:

There needs to be an investigation on how we got this kid in the 4th round.  Right after they complete the investigation on how we got Elijah Moore in round 2.

 

Thank you Joe Douglas.  Thank you!!

Probably the reason the all world Leonard Williams fell in our lap. 

[k-met57]

4 hours ago, Ghost said:

What about MJD? He lacked size and a special skill coming out. 

You clearly dont remember how MJD was built…its not a comp.

BTW with this amount of mass, he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine, which is universally accepted as being harder to run fast then the pro-day...which is where Carter ran a 4.5...and he was still a 60th pick.