CORTLAND — As the Jets lined up for a 9-on-7 running drill yesterday, one of their running backs was on a side field, doing agility drills with a trainer. Another stood off to the side without pads. And another was nowhere to be found.
Welcome to the 2013 Jets rushing attack, which should have a “work in progress” sign on it.
Since training camp began, the Jets have been forced to deal with not having several key backfield pieces they thought they would. Chris Ivory has not practiced fully, due to hamstring tightness. Joe McKnight has been in and out of practice, and is now sidelined with a head injury. Then there is Mike Goodson, who still remains mysteriously absent from training camp.
That has left the bulk of the practice carries to third-year back Bilal Powell, who is having a strong training camp, with Chad Spann and John Griffin also seeing some time.
“You can only evaluate the ones that are here and the ones that are here are doing an outstanding job,” running backs coach Anthony Lynn said. “They come out every day giving everything they got.”
Powell has taken advantage of the extra carries and added exposure. He was the star of Saturday night’s intrasquad scrimmage, breaking off a run of 24 yards and making a nice move on a screen pass. He had another strong practice yesterday, at one point breaking through the line for a 20-yard gain.
Powell, who rushed for 437 yards and four touchdowns last season as Shonn Greene’s primary backup, has caught the attention of the Jets coaches and his teammates.
“I think Bilal is probably one of the most underrated players in the league,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s just coming into his own, just starting to get comfortable and he’s really lighting this camp on fire.”
The Jets’ plan certainly was not for Powell to be their lead running back. After general manager John Idzik let Greene leave as a free agent, he signed Goodson to a three-year, $6.9 million contract and made a draft-day trade with the Saints for Ivory to shore up the backfield. But Goodson was arrested in May and then failed to show up for training camp, excused by the team for personal reasons.
Ivory is here, but has been unable to practice. His reputation with the Saints was he was effective when he played, but was injury prone.
“You’re kind of frustrated a little bit because you want to see big Chris get it going,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “But hey, he’s had a hamstring. When the trainers clear him, he’ll be ready to roll. He’s champing at the bit to get out there. He’s working extremely hard.”
In the meantime, Powell is getting most of the work. So much so that Lynn said he might have to cut back on how many practice reps Powell is getting. Powell said he welcomed the challenge when the Jets brought in Ivory and Goodson.
“It’s a competitive league,” he said. “I’m not afraid to compete. That’s out of my control. Both those guys are good running backs. I’m trying to take advantage of every opportunity I’m given and go hard and just stay focused.”
Another back that has impressed in recent days is Spann, whom the Jets signed on the second day of training camp. He spent rookie minicamp with the team in May but there was not room on the roster for him. He returned home to Chicago and worked out with Bears running back Matt Forte waiting for another chance.
“It’s definitely great,” Spann said of his opportunity. “It’s bad to see guys go down, but you’ve got to step up and take advantage of the opportunity. I’ve been trying to attack it every day and make plays.”
Last week, Ryan called Spann Maurice Jones-Drew because he is only 5-foot-8 and Ryan didn’t know his name. With the way Spann has been playing, Ryan should not have that problem much longer.
GO FOURTH: With three running backs out of action in Jets training camp, Bilal Powell is taking advantage of his opportunity. (AP)
GO FOURTH: With three running backs out of action in Jets training camp, Bilal Powell is taking advantage of his opportunity. (
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