As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.
No. 9: Chris Ivory
Last year’s ranking: 9
Position: Running back
Age: 26
How acquired:Â Traded a fourth-round pick to the Saints for him on April 26, 2013
Years left on contract: 2
2014 salary cap figure: $1.8 million
Looking back at 2013: The Jets picked up Ivory during the draft last year in a trade to bolster their running game. He battled hamstring injuries during training camp and early in the season.
Jets fans got to see what Ivory was capable of during the second half. His bruising running style was fun to watch and helped the Jets win some of their bigger games (Patriots, Saints). He finished the year with 833 yards and three touchdowns on 182 carries.
Ivory was a non-factor in the passing game, a liability in his game. He struggles to catch the ball and was rarely on the field on passing downs.
Outlook for 2014: How the Jets split the carries among their running backs is going to be one of the biggest stories of the early season. They signed Chris Johnson in April and have said they will use a committee approach with Ivory, Johnson and Bilal Powell. But what happens if Johnson shows his old form? Will they really take him off the field?
Ivory showed what he could do when healthy last year, but the Jets have questions about his durability. That was one of the reasons they set out to upgrade the running back position this offseason.
The most likely scenario is Ivory gets a decent number of carries, but not as many as he did last year. If Johnson is running effectively, Ivory’s carries really could drop. Most teams need a few running backs to get through a season, though, and Ivory should get his share of work.
If Johnson does become a workhorse back and Ivory’s carries dwindle, it will be interesting to see how he reacts. One of the reasons he was unhappy in New Orleans was he was part of a crowded backfield and did not feel he was being used enough. Will he bite his tongue if he is riding the bench? It is one of the best subplots of this Jets season.