To win games in the NFL, it’s integral to establish a consistent and reliable running game. Unfortunately for the Jets, they haven't been able to do that for much of the season.
“But that’s football,” running back Thomas Jones said Friday. “It’s hard. It’s not an easy game.”
That’s why Jones will be looking to punch the throttle this afternoon against the Steelers defense.
Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator, is in his ninth season with the Steelers and his 35th as an NFL coach. This season, LeBeau has commanded his unit comfortably atop the league in four major categories, including allowing just 72.0 rushing yards per game.
The Steelers haven’t faced slouch running backs, either. LeBeau’s boys held Baltimore’s Willis McGahee to 50 yards, San Fran’s Frank Gore to 39 yards and former rushing champ Shaun Alexander of Seattle to just 25 yards. Another former rushing champ, Jamal Lewis, now with Cleveland, got 70 yards against the Steelers — but that was in two combined games.
But the Jets' 5’10”, 215-pound tailback isn’t intimidated by mere statistics.
“We’re confident,” Jones stated. “We had a great week of practice. We got some really good things done during the bye week as far as making corrections as a team, and we are excited about the opportunity to play them.”
One person in the Jets locker room, while equally excited, offered well-deserved respect to the Steelers. Even after eight seasons in the league, Laveranues Coles was at a loss for words as to how to attack this stalwart defense.
“When you approach a game like this, you kind of sit back, scratch your head and tell your coordinator good luck,” the wide receiver said.
“It's challenging whenever you face defenses like this," head coach Eric Mangini said, "because there are multiple looks in terms of what type of front they play, what type of coverage they play, what type of pressure package they're going to bring because they have a lot of different pressure packages."
Those physical figures opposite the Jets offense have been led by a front seven that have mastered the 3-4 defense. Linebackers James Harrison and James Farrior have combined for 92 tackles and 11 sacks on the year, while the front three of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel have 51 combined tackles and collectively weigh in at over 900 pounds.
“They are a physical team and you have to be physical with them for four quarters," Jones said. "We'll see how it goes.”
The physical aspect has never been a problem for Jones, and this weekend – even against the smashmouth Steelers defense - it shouldn’t be a problem.
“As far as being a physical back, I like to run hard and I don’t really shy away from contact,” Jones said. “They have a physical defense and it is going to be a physical game. Four quarters of football is what I’m expecting."
With the exception of smashing through a few tackles and driving would-be tacklers for a free stiffarm ride downfield, Jones hasn’t been his typical self in his first nine contests as a member of the Jets. For instance, he has yet to score his first touchdown in Green & White.
One local NFL expert has his own thoughts on the matter.
“When you are just struggling as a team and you're not shocking the world in the passing game, people are going to say: 'You are not going to run against us,’ ” former Jets running back Curtis Martin said at Weeb Ewbank Hall during the week. “No matter how good of a back you are, you are not going to do what you are capable of doing. It's hard because from the public eye it looks like you're not worth it.”
But Martin, who will be honored at halftime ceremonies during the Jets-Steelers game, will be one of Jones' biggest supporters during the game.
“He’s a very talented back and once everything gets moving in the right way, you'll see his talent more," Martin said.
Today will hopefully mark the day when fans can see Jones break out his touchdown dance on this New York metro area stage.
“You keep digging and doing everything you can to get into the end zone and win football games,” Jones said. “The ultimate goal is to win a game, so I’m not really thinking about scoring a touchdown but about taking advantage of every opportunity I have in making the best out of a play.”
“Thomas is a great competitor. He works hard,” said offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. “Thomas wants to help us win and he can help us win, but again I don’t think it’s just about the number of carries and it’s not just about the running game. It is any way he can help us win, he wants to win. And that’s the type of pro he is and that’s the type of player he is.”
