The Jet Press » bilal powell

Who is the More Effective Jets Running Back?

Alan Schechter — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:00:22 +0000

Dec 9, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) moves past Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey (94) in the fourth quarter of their game at EverBank Field. The New York Jets beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 9, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) gets by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Austen Lane (92) in the fourth quarter of their game at EverBank Field. The New York Jets beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets running attack has been vastly improved in recent weeks. The improvement can be traced to when the Jets starting dividing the carries equally between Bilal Powell and Shonn Greene. It was not going well early when Shonn Greene was getting the bulk of the carries, clearly showing that he is not the bell-cow, 25 carry per game guy. But together, Powell and Greene have been a more than effective one-two punch to lead the running game through a resurgence. But, have they got a guy that can lead the way? Who has been the more effective running back, Shonn Greene or Bilal Powell? It’s something that admitedly is hard to quantify, but the guys at footballoutsiders.com have done just that. They have come up with a stat called “Defense-adjusted Value Over Average”. Check out their site for a detailed explanation of how the stat works, but in a nutshell, it represents the running back’s value, per play, above an average back under the same situations. It is adjusted based on the value of the opponents they are playing against, and gives us a player’s value, without taking into account whether they are the backup or the starter. Compare Shonn Greene’s Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, or “DVOA”, to Bilal Powell’s, and the difference is huge:

Shonn Greene: -4.9%

Bilal Powell: 15.7%

That is a huge difference. Based on this figure, Powell is hugely more effective than Greene is. Also, take a look at Powell’s number again, and compare it to some of the great backs in this league

The Emergence of Bilal Powell

Alan Schechter — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:48 +0000

Over the last several games, the Jets running attack has come back to the forefront of the Jets game. The “Ground and Pound” hasn’t been great, but it has been markedly better than it was over the first part of the season, so much so they are able to use it to win games now. It has been no coincidence that the running attack has improved as the Jets moved to a “RBBC(Running Back By Committee)” system. More specifically, the game has stepped up with the emergence of Bilal Powell.

Yesterday, Bilal had a career high in carries with 19, and led the way with 78 yards and a TD. Jets fans have been calling for more carries for Powell for months, after watching how slow Shonn Greene can be as the lone ball carrier. Well, the Jets have answered the call of the fans, and the result has been improved play by Greene, and the emergence of Powell. Over the last four games, Powell has recorded 54 carries for 218 yards, a 4.03 yards per carry average, to go along with 4 TDs. If you project that over a 16 game schedule, here is what you get:

216 carries, 872 yards, 16 TDs.

Obviously, that’s a high TD number and I wouldn’t expect that. But imagine if he put up those numbers for carries and yards, and put up 6-10 TDs? Maybe that is not feature back numbers, but certainly the numbers of a guy that can be a complimentary back in the “Ground of Pound” system. Shonn Greene does a good job late after the defense is worn down. With Bilal’s speed, this could be an excellent one-two punch going forward.

Shonn Greene has not ever been dominant when he was the only guy. The Jets running attack has always been at its best when Greene has had someone with him, either Thomas Jones, or LaDainian Tomlinson. Could the Jets have found the guy to fill this role as they move forward? Time will tell, but all signs appear positive.

Jets vs. Jaguars: Earning Their Wings

Sydney — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:46:04 +0000

Bilal Powell: Again? Yes, again. On this team we need a little consistency and Powell has been a beacon of light at the end of a seemingly long tunnel. He’s quick and he’s fast but most importantly, he’s smart. He spots a tiny hole and pushes himself through it for the extra yardage–he averaged 4.1 ypc in this game alone and for a long time we weren’t seeing the yards per carry numbers even come close to breaking 3, let alone 4. He moves guys with him as opposed to just slamming into them. Shout of approval also goes to Shonn Greene, who is steadily improving every week but not to the level that I think Powell is showing us in a weekly basis. I think the progression of Powell is ultimately helping Greene, because the Jets are finally seeing what they can do with both backs and how efficient the run game is when they’re used properly. It only took more than half the season, but we’ll take what we can get at this point and just have to hope that it continues. If both guys are back next season (I’d say Greene is doubtful at this point), then the Jets may just have the Ground and Pound, or at least the start to it, that Rex has been envisioning and touting. Again, it’s taken awhile, but I won’t go there just yet.

Muhammad Wilkerson: Consistency, consistency, consistency. He’s having a Pro Bowl year and there is no doubt about that. If he’s not voted onto a plane to Hawaii in the next month then there’s either even less people watching Jets games than I originally thought or there’s a glitch in the voting system. We’ll blame Florida if that happens but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He’s dominant and he’s imposing. He’s also intimidating to the point that teams have to play more than one guy on him. In today’s game we saw him tally 3 QB hits and a sack. On a line that has had lackluster attempts at getting to the QB, Big Mo is a breath of very needed fresh air. Tannenbaum has made several mistakes as GM of this team and I want nothing more than to see someone else sitting in that big chair for the 2013 season, but some of the younger guys now on the team are showing up in a big way and I suppose Tannenbaum deserves a modicum of credit for finding them. Or at least listening to whomever did.

Bart Scott: He’s not the youngest guy out there but as I said the last time I gave him wings, I think he is absolutely important on the field and in the locker room. He is a straight shooter and is playing through an injury that takes guys much younger than him off the field and onto the trainer’s table, or at least keeps them on the sidelines as opposed to playing through it. If you don’t know what Turf Toe is look it up. Then understand that Bart’s giving everything he can so when we see him put a beast hit on a player or, better yet, come up with an interception after one of his cohorts puts a beast hit on a QB, then we are seeing a guy who’s fighting for that stat. A RZ interception is a stat that’s something we’re used to seeing happening TO our team not for the benefit of. We’ll take it.

Mark Sanchez wasn’t overly impressive but battled through an early fumble to manage the game and an important downfield throw later on.

Honorable mentions:
The entire Jets Defense: For the second game straight they’ve held down the fort and held the opposing offense to small numbers. There are areas where improvement is needed but it’s hard not to see the promise and take note that they’re simply a few key pieces away from being a very viable threat if they’re kept together. Antonio Cromartie needs to be on that plane with Wilkerson to Hawaii. He’s a soldier the league need to recognize.
Robert Malone: How about some love for the punter? He’s done a great job this season and may be one of the few good moves Tannenbaum made once training camp ended.
LaRon Landry: He’s a beast. And we need him next year.

✈ Sydney
Find me on Twitter at @SydneyKira1; email: confessionsofajetsfan@gmail.com