This week’s mailbag talks about the Jets running game, with a focus on running back Shonn Greene. Greene  finds himself the subject of a fair amount of Twitter debate this morning, making this mailbag question especially interesting. I also talk about a trend in the NFL that seems to be here to stay.

Thanks for all the great feedback and mailbag questions, as always. I will continue with the off-season mailbags every other week until the start of training camp.

Do you see any of our backs getting 1000 yards this year? Or each guy getting around 800? (Greene and McKnight) @AnthoNYJetsFan

We all know that the Jets will be running the ball much more this season, and with an increased number of carries and (hopefully) an improved performance from the offensive line, the total yardage among all of the running backs will increase.

But what can we expect, statistically speaking, from these backs on an individual basis?

First and foremost, I am of the opinion that the Jets run game this year will be largely be a three-headed monster (even four-headed, if you count Tebow), and that while it will benefit the team, it will ultimately keep one player from posting the kind of numbers that Fantasy Football championships are made of.

I also happen to believe that Shonn Greene is not a real #1, bell-cow type of running back.  I’ve said as much for well over a year now, and while Greene has been servicable, and at times shown flashes of brilliance, he just isn’t elite. Evan Silva from Rotoworld went on an interesting rant on his TL this morning about Greene’s running ability, and I feel he outlines a lot of the issues I also have with Greene: lack of power, runs like he is stuck in the mud, takes too long to get going, doesn’t overpower or wear down opponents. » Continue reading “Monday Mailbag: Projecting The Running Backs And The Future of Defense In The NFL”