The Jets have signed Thomas Rawls to a three-year contract, and I like what they’re doing at the position – collecting a bunch of guys with some potential to contribute.
They already have Bilal Powell, and he’s got some ability. He’s a good pass catcher, and he averaged 5.5 yards per carry two years ago. Last season he scored on 75- and 57-yard touchdown runs. Over 5 percent of his runs, in fact, went for over 20 yards, the 2nd-best big-play rate in the league.
Powell isn’t big enough, durable enough or good enough to be a full-time back, but he’s a contributor. Probably will play plenty and be their third-down back.
In the not-too-distant past, they signed Isaiah Crowell to a three year deal worth $12 million (which is about what they’re paying Powell). Crowell had his moments with the Browns, averaging 4.8 and 4.1 yards per carry the last two years for teams that weren’t very good. He runs hard, and he’s had runs over 50 yards three years in a row.
Crowell could be their starter – probably will be their No. 1 back.
And now they add Rawls into the mix. He’s been pretty terrible the last two years, averaging only 3.2 and 2.7 yards per attempt. He’s had problems with injuries, and Seattle’s offensive line has been awful at times.
But Rawls at times during his three years in the league has looked like a big-time back. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a rookie, outplaying Marshawn Lynch. While he generally struggled the next season, he had a couple of huge games in there. He went over 100 yards in about a half of a game against Carolina on a Sunday night, and he ran for 161 yards in a playoff win over Detroit. Give him some blocking and he’ll hit the holes hard.
Rawls has had some injuries, and I’m not sure he’ll ever get back to being the back he was in 2015 and for a couple of brief bursts in 2016, but I think it’s a smart move to bring him to training camp for a look
Jets also have Elijah McGuire, who looked pretty capable as a rookie. He’ll probably get on the field as well.
Ultimately, only 18 running backs have averaged at least 4.8 yards per carry in a season in the last three years. (And I’m looking here only at backs with at least 100 attempts). The Jets now hold the rights to three of those 18 players.
| AVERAGING 4.8 YARDS PER ATTEMPT SINCE 2015 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.07 | 8 |
| 2016 | Mike Gillislee, Buff. | 101 | 577 | 5.71 | 8 |
| 2015 | Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 147 | 830 | 5.65 | 4 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 131 | 722 | 5.51 | 3 |
| 2016 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 234 | 1,267 | 5.41 | 13 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 252 | 1,313 | 5.21 | 6 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 205 | 1,043 | 5.09 | 6 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 322 | 1,631 | 5.07 | 15 |
| 2015 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 107 | 539 | 5.04 | 6 |
| 2017 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 4.98 | 6 |
| 2015 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 107 | 529 | 4.94 | 0 |
| 2015 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 113 | 556 | 4.92 | 3 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1,124 | 4.89 | 12 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1,327 | 4.88 | 8 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 261 | 1,272 | 4.87 | 8 |
| 2015 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 288 | 1,402 | 4.87 | 6 |
| 2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 261 | 1,268 | 4.86 | 7 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.84 | 3 |
| 2015 | Todd Gurley, St.L. | 229 | 1,106 | 4.83 | 10 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 198 | 952 | 4.81 | 7 |
Both Rawls and Crowell, by the way, are running backs who could be affected by the new rule that the league shocked everyone with on Wednesday. That rule, which showed up with no warning, indicates that a 15-yard penalty will be assessed to “any player lowering his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent.”
The league hasn’t spelled out which plays it has in mind, but it will presumably include battering-ram running backs who slam into defenders rhino style, trying to run them over. Crowell and (especially) Rawls are those kind of runners. Devonta Freeman, Chris Ivory and Leonard Fournette come to mind. These kinds of backs might be forced to adjust their running styles.
If you look at the top few career runs of Earl Campbell and Walter Payton, I don’t think those kind of runs are going to be allowed anymore.
—Ian Allan