Jets should focus offense on rushing attack

Dec 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

As the New York Jets prepare for the upcoming regular season, they should focus their offense primarily on their new and potent rushing attack.

Make no mistake about it, the New York Jets will be just fine heading into 2016. Yes, they have one huge question mark when it comes to their quarterback situation, but it won’t truly matter who is under center in the grand scheme of things.

Related Story: Matt Forte is key to offensive consistency on Jets

This offseason, the Jets spent top dollar on upgrading their running back corps after running back Chris Ivory bolted via free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jets wisely replaced him with running back Matt Forte and also added added Khiry Robinson for quality depth.

Throw in the versatile Bilal Powell and the Jets have an incredible three-headed monster in their backfield capable of running the football and being receiving options. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey will undoubtedly incorporate all these terrific running backs into his game planning but should focus primarily on establishing the run.

For years the Jets have always been known as a true ground-and-pound offense. It’s a philosophy that changed a bit last year when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was putting up a career year through the air.

More from The Jet Press

Of course, any offensive coordinator would keep the fire burning if it’s working to keep those chains moving but when it mattered most in their season finale against the Buffalo Bills last season, the Jets fell flat.

They gave up on the run early on in that Week 17 match-up as Ivory looked like his usual late-season self in that he was completely out of gas and ineffective in a game where everything was on the line.

The Jets lost that game against the Bills in a “win and get in” scenario and if one looks back at the tape, if Gang Green had established and stuck with the run, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Regardless, what’s done is done as all the Jets can do is continue to build off the momentum they generated last season. Lesson learned, they’re built to run the football and should stick with what will ultimately work.

Even though they missed the NFL Playoffs, they ended the year at 10-6 with lots of optimism in the air heading into the upcoming season. It really shouldn’t matter who is under center for the Jets since their two main strengths will be their rushing attack and stout defense.

More jets: It's time to give Ryan Fitzpatrick a deadline

Overall, the Jets would be best advised to stick with the run all throughout the upcoming season and use it to not only wear down opposing defenses but own the time of possession battle. The Jets can be quite successful if they launch a potent ground game and let their defense do what they do best in order to not only win plenty of football games but hopefully punch a ticket to the postseason at the end of it all.

Schedule