With the beginning of training camp less than two weeks away, it’s time to take a closer look at the makeup of the Jets’ roster entering the 2020 season.
New York’s rushing attack was nearly non-existent last season despite adding Le’Veon Bell to the backfield. Bell seldom had holes to run through due to putrid offensive line play. As a result, he turned in one of the worst seasons of his decorated career. Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery did not contribute much in complementary roles, either.
As training camp and the beginning of the regular season inch closer, Jets Wire will be providing a look at each of New York’s position groups and what could be in store for the unit in 2020. Let’s breakdown the running back room at One Jets Drive.
The starter
Le’Veon Bell is back for his second season as the Jets’ bell-cow back, which should take some of the load off Sam Darnold assuming Gang Green’s offensive line gives the three-time Pro Bowler holes to run through on a consistent basis.
Bell is due for a bounce-back 2020 campaign. He is simply too talented of a rusher to endure another underwhelming season. As long as New York’s offensive line does its job, Bell should be able to get back to producing at the level he did when he was considered one of the best running backs in football with the Steelers.
Depth
New York’s running back room is in a better place than it was at this time last year thanks to an offseason spent addressing the position.
Veteran Frank Gore is in as the No. 2 running back, giving the Jets a durable, hard-nosed rusher they can turn to in an effort to lighten Bell’s load. Fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine will also bolster New York’s depth in the backfield, as the fourth-round pick has a diverse skillset that will net him some occasional playing time as a rookie.
Josh Adams, Trenton Cannon and Kenneth Dixon round out the Jets’ running back depth chart. All three will have to fight to make New York’s 53-man roster, as Bell, Gore and Perine will take up the bulk of the playing time in the backfield. Cannon has the best chance to break camp with the team as a return man.
Outlook
There should be high hopes for the Jets’ rushing attack entering 2020. New York’s offensive line is not loaded with elite run blockers, but the unit has taken a major step forward from where it was last season. This bodes well for Bell’s chances of rebounding.
Even if Bell struggles a bit, his ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield makes him an integral part of Adam Gase’s offense. Gore will also see the field with regularity and Perine will likely factor into the equation at some point during the year. That will allow Gase to keep Bell fresh and use the Jets’ depth at the position to his advantage.
Bell might not get back to being a 1,000-yard rusher in 2020, but odds are he will not be a non-factor as he was a year ago. If New York’s ground game is producing in 2020, its offense has the potential to operate at an entirely new level. If not, Darnold is going to have to figure out how to pick apart defenses with seven or eight defenders dropped back into coverage.
See more from Jets Wire’s Position Previews series: