Frank Gore’s legendary career will roll on for at least another year after he signed with the Jets on Tuesday. His role remains unclear given he’ll turn 37 on May 14, but it’s hard to imagine Adam Gase will give Gore a large share of touches behind Le’Veon Bell and even rookie La’Mical Perine.
Gore gives the Jets plenty of value, though, as he enters his 16th season in the NFL. He’ll be a foundational player with various skillsets, a mentor for the Jets’ backfield and a stabilizing force as an uncertain season approaches.
The idea that Gore will see a significant snap share is absurd. Bell should remain a workhorse back for the Jets after he averaged 52 snaps per game in 2019 and played in at least 80 percent of the offensive snaps in 11 of 15 games.
Gore could see quality snaps early in the season, though, much like he did in 2019 with the Bills when he played in at least 50 percent of offensive snaps in four of the first six games. He averaged 33.5 snaps over that span for 83.2 total yards. Those numbers dwindled as the season progressed, though, likely because of the emergence of rookie Devin Singletary and seasonal fatigue for Gore. He averaged 16.3 snaps per game in the final 10 games of the season and averaged 8.8 touches for 21.7 total yards over that span.
That mimics the role Bilal Powell played for the Jets in 2019. His snaps fluctuated depending on the matchup or health of Bell. Powell saw 10-15 snaps per game at various moments in the season but saw his biggest uptick in snaps from Weeks 9-13 when Bell’s load was lightened.
Gore won’t be Bell’s primary backup for long, though. Similarly to his season with the Bills, Gore should play the role of mentor for Perine as the Jets slowly ease the fourth-round rookie into a bigger role on the offense. Gore mentored rushers like Carlos Hyde, Marlon Mack, Kenyan Drake and Devin Singletary throughout his career. He possesses a wealth of knowledge to pass along to the rest of the Jets’ offense, including Bell and Sam Darnold.
Take away the stats and the numbers and here’s the reality: Gore offers a sense of security for the Jets as a backup running back because of his age and experience that no one running back on the roster possesses. Signing Gore is even more meaningful considering the uncertainty of when or if the season will start because of the coronavirus pandemic. This, perhaps, is where Gore will be most valuable.
Perine will develop into Bell’s backup as the season progresses, but he’s a rookie who might not practice with his teammates until the pandemic is over. Gore will be a stabilizing force at the position for the beginning of the season, much like he did for the Bills in 2019, in a year where the Jets don’t know what they have in Perine yet.
Gore understands Gase’s offense as well – he played for Gase in Miami in 2018 – and fits the bill as a perfect back for this system. He’s a great pass-blocker after allowing only two pressures in 37 pass-sets with the Bills. In short-yardage situations he averaged 2.2 yards per rush on plays with three or fewer yards-to-go.
Even in a limited role, Gore has a place in the Jets’ offense. He won’t rush for 1,000 yards again, but he’s clearly capable of contributing either in big or small capacities. Gore still has the drive to succeed, too. He told NFL.com after he signed with the Jets that his tape doesn’t show his age.
“You will never be that young guy again, but when I looked at myself on film last year in Buffalo, you couldn’t tell my age,” Gore said. “I’m talking about when I was playing a lot in the first half of the season. Before the bye week [Week 6], I was pushing for 1,000 yards.”
You can’t find more players like that in free agency. Regardless of his role on the offense, Gore is a quality person to add to the Jets for a season in which they will look to take a leap.