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**RoyWilliams** · 08-10-2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

One year ago, the Jets' backfield was in chaos. Their fullback (B.J. Askew) longed to be a running back and their prized running back (Curtis Martin) was trying to rehab a knee injury that would eventually end his career. They went into the season with Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and Leon Washington, not exactly the Four Horsemen.

Tonight, that mess becomes a distant memory.

The Jets open the preseason at the Meadowlands and will unveil their Thomas Jones-Darian Barnes backfield against the Falcons, who will stage their own unveiling - Joey Harrington at quarterback for the exiled Michael Vick.

For the Jets, Jones and Barnes provide hope of stability and new possibilities in Brian Schottenheimer's offense. Jones, who rushed for 2,545 yards over the last two seasons with the Bears, has nothing to prove. For him, the preseason is all about getting comfortable in the Jets' system. At the same time, it's a chance for the coaches to find out what he does best, figuring out a balance between Jones and Washington, the only holdover from last year's motley crew of runners.

Eric Mangini has raved about Jones' intangibles, calling him "a guy you really want in your locker room," but the Jets didn't give him a four-year, $20 million contract to win personality contests. They made the trade with Chicago because they needed an experienced every-down, every-game back to fill the Martin void and reduce the pressure on Chad Pennington.

As the Jets' biggest offseason acquisition, Jones is being hailed as the missing ingredient, the answer to their rushing woes. Finally, after two weeks of training camp, he will make his Broadway debut, although the unassuming Jones doesn't want to be known as a savior.

"The Jets are a great organization - they won last year and made the playoffs - and I'm just trying to add to that," said Jones, the first 1,000-yard rusher to go from a Super Bowl team to a new club the next year.

As much as he likes Jones, Mangini was quick to note that the running game won't be a solo act, claiming that Washington will share the load. As a rookie, Washington led the Jets with 650 yards, offering glimpses of big play potential.

"That will evolve because there will be some weeks where Leon will get more carries and that will fluctuate, week-in and week-out," Mangini said. "What you want to be able to do is have the flexibility to adjust to whatever you're seeing."

The Jets have big plans for Jones, whom they believe will flourish in their multi-dimensional scheme. They would like to utilize him as a receiver and they are curious to see how he runs from the spread formation. In Chicago, only 19% of his rushes last season came with three or more receivers on the field, but he averaged 5.7 yards on those attempts, according to Stats, LLC. It's an intriguing option for Schottenheimer.

"I think he's going to do well, with the way the Jets run their schemes," Bears GM Jerry Angelo said. "They do so much with formations. He's a good receiver and a real bright kid. They can do a lot of things from a scheme standpoint."

When they go to a traditional two-back set, the Jets finally may have a legitimate blocking back. Barnes, a blocker the last two seasons with the Dolphins, is a 240-pound hammer. He will alternate with Stacy Tutt, but when the Jets need tough yards on the ground, Barnes will act as a personal escort for Jones and Washington.

"He really does add a tempo-changing element to the offense," Mangini said of Barnes.

A year ago, it was too much changing, and not enough tempo.

**Serrated Shadow** · 08-10-2007, 01:32 PM

With that line developing..Jones has a good opportunity to be a monster this year IMO.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-10-2007, 01:50 PM

I hope he explodes.

**Professor** · 08-10-2007, 01:59 PM

I have said it for awhile even with grunt disagreeing the whole way. I know he and I are going to be watching the Bills and Jets a bit closer, if possible

**Professor** · 08-10-2007, 02:22 PM

FORMER BEAR JONES HAPPY TO HELP JETS

NO LOOKING BACKFIELD | By DAN MARTIN | New York Jets

excerpt:

August 8, 2007 -- Thomas Jones has played with some shaky quarterbacks in his six-year career, including last season in Chicago with wildly inconsistent Rex Grossman, who had a 0.0 quarterback rating in the season finale and later said he wasn't fully prepared for the game.

The new Jets running back doesn't think he'll have the same issues with Chad Pennington.

"We have really good chemistry," Jones said after the morning practice yesterday at Hofstra. "Chad makes the right reads and he hits the open guy. He's smart. He knows the offense really well and he does a good job putting the ball in the right position."

Jones caught 36 passes for 154 yards a year ago with the Bears, but plans on doing more this season. Asked what it's like playing with Pennington as opposed to Grossman, Jones was diplomatic.

"Everybody's different," said Jones, who offered a terse "No comment" regarding former backfield mate Cedric Benson and spoke glowingly of Jets RB Leon Washington. "Chad's a great quarterback. He's been around as long as I have and seen about every defense. He's been through a lot of situations and overcome them."

Jones did some of that himself, after starting six games in his first two NFL seasons in Arizona. That's part of the reason he's taken special interest in some of the younger backs in camp, including rookie free agent Alvin Banks.

"He's smart and has great athletic ability," Jones said of the James Madison alum. "He's a tough player. Being an older running back, I've tried to help [Banks] as much as possible."

It's paying off for Banks, who has had some impressive flashes.

"I don't know how I'm doing, I'm just trying to limit my mistakes," Banks said. "I think I have a different mentality coming from a smaller school. Everyone says that players from bigger schools have an advantage, but I don't necessarily believe that."

Banks was given a seemingly better chance of catching on with the Jets when Cedric Houston, who was the leading candidate for the third slot behind Jones and Washington, left the team earlier in camp.

Despite the apparent boon to Banks' prospects, he doesn't seem to have been affected by Houston's absence, or anyone else's.

"I had confidence as soon as I got here, even though I was not drafted and I'm from a smaller school, regardless of who is in front of me," Banks said. "People say I have more to overcome because of the school that I went to, but I don't think it matters where you played, as long as you show that you can do it."

It helps having someone like Jones around to lean on.

"We want the young guys to be like sponges and absorb as much as possible," Eric Mangini said.

One thing they can pick up from Jones is how to be versatile.

"We can use him all three downs and all our packages," Mangini said of Jones. "I've seen him interact with the whole team, helping that way."

That is fine with Jones.

**Serrated Shadow** · 08-11-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professorellisdtrails

I have said it for awhile even with grunt disagreeing the whole way. I know he and I are going to be watching the Bills and Jets a bit closer, if possible

Yes, and i can't wait to see this every sunday:

(Losman throws an INT)

Prof: HA!

(Losman throws TD)

Grunt: AHA!

(Losman fumbles)

Prof: AHA HA!

(Losman breaks leg)

Grunt:

Prof: