The Jets entered the regular season without a clear answer at running back. With Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson all worthy of touches, Mike LaFleur opted to go with the hot hand approach rather than anoint a bell-cow back.
New York’s backfield didn’t approach so much as a sweaty palm in the season opener against the Panthers, but that was far from the case against the Patriots in Week 2. LaFleur’s three-man committee racked up 133 yards against a solid New England front seven, with two backs taking charge and leading the way.
Coleman took a back seat to Carter and Johnson after the Jets’ inability to run the ball in Week 1. Johnson paced New York’s backfield with 12 carries for 50 yards, while Carter was a bit more explosive with 11 carries for 59 yards and two catches for 29 yards. Carter utilized his speed to rush for more than five yards per carry, frequently beating Patriots defenders to the edge and making plays after the catch in space.
Coleman, meanwhile, ran just five times for 24 yards.
“Michael Carter was running his tail off yesterday,” Robert Saleh said Monday. “Ty Johnson ran his butt off too. This system has always been about giving it to the hot hand and letting it roll. Even though Tevin had a couple of really cool runs and established himself early, you get into the passing game and stuff, it’s all in regards to the way the game flows. All three backs showed up to play, but hats off to Michael. He was electric yesterday I thought.”
Coleman and Johnson will see their fair share of touches as the season progresses, but Sunday indicated that Carter has the most potential to see a heavy workload in 2021. The rookie is still learning and improving, but he has the highest upside among New York’s running backs — a big reason why Saleh and Joe Douglas were so bullish when he was still available in the fourth round of the draft.
Carter and the rest of Gang Green’s backfield will face another stiff test when they take on the Broncos in Week 3. It’s tough to ask the trio to turn in another 100-plus yard performance against a defense as stout as Denver’s, but it might be a necessity for LaFleur’s offense to have any chance at succeeding in 2021.
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