New York Jets: Team effort on the ground crucial to success

For the New York Jets to succeed in 2018, their running game will have to be a major factor, but it must be a team effort on the ground.

When you look at the landscape of the NFL, things have shifted drastically toward the passing game. However, that doesn’t mean running backs aren’t as much a factor in the success of a team as they always have been. Teams need balance to be successful, and that includes the New York Jets.

The Jets could have three-headed monster at running back if they play their cards right. The have two running backs who’ve averaged over four yards per carry in their careers in Bilal Powell (4.4) and Isaiah Crowell (4.2).

According to Zack Braziller of the New York Post, running back coach Stump Mitchell compared Elijah McGuire to LaDainian Tomlinson — high praise indeed:

"“He has the skill set to be a LaDainian Tomlinson, if he was given that opportunity. He can catch, he can run as a running back and he can run routes as a receiver.”"

It’s too early to tell if McGuire can live up to that, but that’s what he did in college.

As far as just running the football, Crowell had a career high in carries in 2017 with 206. Powell did also with 178. For 2018, though, it’s not going to be like Pittsburgh or Dallas, where they have a true feature running back. It’s going to take a team effort from all three guys for the Jets running game to be successful.

When you look at the 1968 Jets team, even they — in an era where you typically had a bell cow — didn’t have what can be defined as a true feature back. Matt Snell finished the season with 306 more yards than Emerson Boozer, but he only had 56 more carries (which amounts to only four more per game) and one more touchdown.

Next: NFL 2018: 20 RBs with best chance at 2,000 yards

It going to be up to first-year coordinator Jeremy Bates to figure out the right formula. If he can do that, this team will be well on their way to a great season.