Jets RB Chris Ivory sure looks the part of a 300-carry featured back, but that hasn't been his role. In '13 he and Bilal Powell split the carries almost down the middle, and last season he and Chris Johnson divvied up the touches. He was asked how he's being used this camp and if, despite the backfield company of Powell, Daryl Richardson, Zac Stacy and eventually Stevan Ridley, he can be the proverbial bellcow back in '15.
"Right now I'm doing pretty much everything. I'm just trying to make them feel comfortable with me in there with everything they have me doing," he said. "I'm not sure how that's going to work out, but I'm just looking forward to going in and when my number's called, just performing and making things happen."
Ivory was asked if the "everything" the coaches have had him doing include a greater presence in the passing game. "That could be the case," he said. "I'm ready for that challenge."
Ivory's receiving dimension has been a slow-developing picture. In his first three seasons with New Orleans, he had a total of four passes thrown to him and caught three. In 2013 he had eight targets, caught two and dropped three. Last year things picked up: 18 receptions for a 6.8-yard average, the first receiving TD of his career at Miami, and just one drop.
Chris Johnson is out, Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy are in, but it doesn’t seem to matter to Ivory, who seems primed to lead the Jets’ backfield in touches in 2015. Ridley is probably his biggest competition, but he’s recovering from a knee injury, so Ivory’s lead seems to be large. Ivory is a career 4.7 YPC runner, and has averaged 4.4 YPC in two seasons with the Jets. Ivory is shaping up to be a nice middle round value, especially in standard leagues. His PPR value would get a boost if they continue to expand his role in the passing game.
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