New York Jets: How big of a role will Bilal Powell have?
The New York Jets allowed 1,000-yard rusher Chris Ivory to join the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, because they signed a more versatile running back in former Chicago Bears franchise icon Matt Forte.
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Forte’s work on all three downs has been lauded throughout his career, but the New York Jets have a lesser-name RB on their roster with an impressive passing-down resume of his own. Second-string running back Bilal Powell was once an afterthought in the Jets offense who earned 176 carries in 2013 out of necessity, but he’s become a valuable role player.
Powell carried the rock just 70 times in the 2015 season, because thanks to Chan Gailey’s guidance as the offensive coordinator, the Jets finally rode Ivory as a workhorse back. Ivory notably delivered, but Powell’s work in the passing game was nearly as good.
A real spark for the Jets offense, Powell caught 47 passes for 388 yards, with two of those receptions going for scores. Previously, Powell had never caught a touchdown pass in his entire career, though he did have 36 receptions in 2013.
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Gailey harnessed Powell’s hands and juice after the catch, and it sounds like he is looking forward to tapping into that resource on offense again in 2016, even if a different quarterback starts.
The New York Post’s Brian Costello wrote a glowing article on Powell’s importance in the Jets offense, opining that fans can “count on” a big workload from the 2011 fourth-round pick out of Louisville.
Since coming into the league in 2008, Forte has never carried the ball less than 200 times in a single season or caught fewer than 40 passes. The man is the definition of an every-down player, and while Powell is another third-down back, it appears Gailey will find some way to utilize both to a significant degree.
It would be a wise decision, too. Even though the Jets added another talented back this offseason in Khiry Robinson, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2014, the former New Orleans Saint isn’t much of a pass-catching threat.
Powell is, and he should have much more spring in his step. Although Forte is still going strong at the age of 30, Powell is in the prime of his career at 27 and is still fresh after years of minimal workloads. Make no mistake, Forte is the best back on the roster and might be the most reliable pass-catching back in the game, but Powell may have even more to offer.
Additionally, Powell ran the ball efficiently in his 70 rushing attempts last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The Jets can use him as a change-of-pace option, especially if he can effectively bounce the ball to the outside. 11 of Powell’s carries last season went for at least ten yards, which represented slightly over 15% of his rushes.
Yeah, that sounds like someone who deserves his fair share of touches.
The Jets gave Powell the ball 10.7 times per game, but most of his opportunities in the passing game came at the end of the season. That’s when the Jets realized they had a secret weapon on their hands, as Powell would close out the campaign with a streak of four straight games with at least five receptions, including both of his career touchdown catches.
Seeing as how Ivory had 247 carries and 30 receptions last season, Powell could still average ten touches per game, pending how much the Jets feature Robinson. Forte will command more receptions than Ivory did, but he could command less carries. Those plays in the running game will likely be shifted over to Robinson, who is 6’0″ and 220 pounds, but Powell will have a place.
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The best evidence of that? Contracts. Forte signed a three-year, $12 million deal with $8 million in guaranteed money, but Powell, who was signed by the Jets one day later, is getting $11.25 million over three years with $6 million guaranteed. Though Forte has the pedigree, he isn’t making that much more money than Powell, which is a reminder that their workloads won’t be as different as the average fan may be led to believe.