The Jets running game will live or die with RB Shonn Greene, who enters his second season as the featured back. For the first time in his career, he's the most accomplished runner on the team.
Greene, a notoriously slow starter, averaged 74 yards and 4.4 per carry over the final 12 games last season, but he needs that kind of production over the full season. Greene is a one-speed back who doesn't make enough yards on his own. This is a contract year, so he'll be plenty motivated.
Some players on the team believe RB Joe McKnight will be the break-out player on offense. He'll get the opportunity, that's for sure. He'll back up Greene and replace LaDainian Tomlinson as the third-down back, the first time in his young career that he'll have a legitimate role on offense.
Both backs could be hurt, to some extent, by the news Tim Tebow will be a factor in the red zone. However Mark Sanchez could be the real loser here, as his stat line was padded by 6 rushing TDs in 2011. Greene can be had with a 6th round pick in an average draft. We suggest waiting on him longer in the draft, and targeting him as a buy low candidate after a brutal early schedule.
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