DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Jamal Lewis and his potential

The popular sentiment is that Jamal is a one year stop gap. Not expecting a lot out of him. Lots of carries. 1000+ yards. That's the popular opinion. And I tend to agree with it. But there's another part of me that says to myself this guy was coming off of a jail sentence, Baltimore's O-Line wasn't what it used to be (see Ben Grubbs being drafted), and Jamal is only 27, 28 come opening week. So I ask myself if there's any chance he could give us a year or two of pro-bowl caliber play. And I think there is. We'll just have to see. What do you guys think?

I think it is a very real possibility that Jamal could once again be a premier running back.At least for a few more years.

I agree Toad... I'm not quite sure what to expect results-wise from Jamal. However, I will add that he has a 1-year contract and fairly good-sized chip on his shoulder. He's got something to prove. Whatever happens, he'll be giving it everything he has to offer for this one season.

I think Lewis can miss 3 games and still get 1200 yards behind the Browns new offensive line. With a healthy Bentley, Lewis would get 1500 plus easy.

I still think the Browns are still one WR away from having a complete balance attack. Having Winslow help out alot in the passing game considering Jurevicious is not a starting WR and neither is Cribbs or Wilson. Not to change the direction of this thread, but the WR unit is going to be hurtin if Edwards or JJ goes down. I still feel that Antonio Bryant would help out this team alot in having a balanced offense. We need Wilson to step up to take some heat off of Edwards from the opposite side. Bryant can step in right now and do that.

I believe (off the top of my head) that the average "lifespan" for a RB is 4 years. Considering this, and considering that many of the yards he has ran for have been hard pounding yards.....I still have no idea.

I think it's 50/50....he could run for 1800 yards....or he could run for 180. (I know, I'm really going out on a limb there...but, who knows?)

Quote:

---

I think it's 50/50....he could run for 1800 yards....or he could run for 180. (I know, I'm really going out on a limb there...but, who knows?)

---

And that's why we need to find a better backup RB than Wright. Lewis has the potential to be even worse this season than last (which he picked up in the end of). He could get injured and that's a major problem too. That's why i appreciate those 1-2 attacks, two RBs is a premium. But i'm just looking for a backup that can pick up +100 yards in a game. I just don't see Wright doing that

I would think that with the new line and his improved health that we can reasonably expect a decent 1000+ yd. season or two. The question in my mind is will he give us 1400-1600 with a bunch of TDs. As has been pointed out he has a lot of miles on him, but if we're lucky, perhaps a renewed sense of determination, a decent line and a healthy body gets us 2-3 good years. If he can stay healthy and keep the chip on his shoulder anything goes. But you're right, we'll just have to see.

I believe this is THE BIG QUESTION going into this season, and ALOT depends on the outcome.

If Jamal can even have a comparable season to what he did two yrs. ago the Browns have a chance to be a legit team this yr, possibley 8-8 or dare I say it.......9-7? .

But that ONLY happens if Jamal can regain some of his old form. Some factors in his favor are:
-improved health and conditioning from last yr. Jamal was coming off of a jail sentaence and I beleive he didn't really get into "football" shape untill mid-season. That, coupled with his nagging injuries lead to a pretty slow start for him alst yr.

-a improved O-line. We don't really know if that is the case or not but I am banking on Thomas and Stienbach really making our lines one of the top half in the league. I know I am taking a chance here but I don't think it's to big of a stretch to go out there. Plus, as Toad said, I don't think Baltimore's line is what it used to be and it's really beginning to show up on the field.

-Lewis is fighting hard for what is more than likely going to be his last respectable contract. He is on a one yr. contract and he is trying to prove to teams that he could have a few more good yr.s left, wether that is back with cleveland or some other team. I don't think he really cares.

Can Lewis be the back he once was?

I don't know, but I do know that both Lewis and the Browns are putting ALOT on it.

JMHO

I am not a Lewis fan : But I think he will be a very pleasant surprise to some !

Quote:

---

I have to admit............I'm still looking at Lewis in a Browns uniform and it's not sinking in. Just wanted to throw that in, hehe.

---

No kidding.

Thi guy could make or break our season.

Let's hope he stays healthy.

Heck of a question,,,,

From the beginning when we signed him, I kinda had the impression that the one year contract was more something that Lewis wanted.. Maybe because the Browns weren't willing to shell out major bucks until they know what they actually have and how much is left in the tank.

While Lewis is still pretty young, he's carried the rock a bunch... that's what really wears a guy out more than anything..he's carried a lot.

In 8 years, he's carried 1802 times (please consider that he missed an entire year due to injury so it's really 7 years) That's 257 times per year on average. The most he ever carried in one year was 387 in 2003... that was the year he broke 2000 yards.

As an example, OJ Simpson, one of the other RB's that have run for 2000 yards in a season, ran the ball 2404 times over 11 years for an average of 218.5 times a year..

So Jamal has really shouldered the load for the 7 years he's played...

If he can show he's still the real deal, I bet Savage puts up the big bucks for him next season, if he doesn't show it, then he goes out and gets a guy in the draft or another FA...

That's kinda the way I see it anyway.... JMO however

I honestly don't understand why he's here instead of droughns. Droughns is a better receiver and blocker. Phil must believe that Lewis has his old form back, which is speed. He's much faster than droughns is, if he's still got it. as has been mentioned, he's got a lot of carries.

If our line is really improved, he'll do well. but so would droughns. and so would wright. So honestly, I don't think we're relying on him as much as has been said. If the line opens holes and protects the QB, we'll score.

Droughns can't block worth a damn

he's here because he's quick enough to run both inside and out...

droughns couldn't get outside, as he wasen't fast enough....

not to mention probably about 420 of his carries were against us....and if he was getting tackled, it was by the likes of earl little and our corners....

bottom line is, if we can open some holes he'll be fine as he's hitting smaller guys....

I don't know that we would sign him to a big contract. Even if he has a big year he's still only got another couple of years in the tank. Then again that's what everyone said about Bettis so who knows.

I would have loved to have had both him and Droughns on our team. They're the same style of runner, but it'd still be a better option for our team to have two bruisers to keep each other fresh. But it would have been kinda dumb to keep both of them from a cap standpoint. I refuse to believe there's not a backup somewhere that's worth looking at. Bring Willie Green or Lee Suggs back for all I care. Something. I just really don't like the idea of going the entire season with Wright and Harrison as our backups. Heck Suggs would probably be able to do some stuff now that we have an OL.

And I agree Toad. It's very hard to see Jamal Lewis being the running back for the Cleveland Browns. We'll get used to it soon enough I guess.

I've read a lot on this and I've heard many differing opinions and it all comes down to the fact that we really don't know what we have at the moment.

We're not totally sure of how his body is doing after all the punishment it's been through so on that, he could be good to go or he could be too gone to be good.

At the same time, that whole "chip on his shoulder" thing, IMO, only helps for a couple games at the most. I think that he probably got that chip when he first started hearing about stuff, probably increased his workouts or whatever, and that's the extent that he'll take it.

I don't know the guy, so like everyone else, I'll have to wait and see. But I have a more promising opinion of some of our other backs, one in particular, than I've noticed most others do not.

I think Jason Wright could be a very good change of pace back and that IS just my opinion, but I'll try to throw some observations in there.

IMO, I think Jason's speed and quickness along with his tough outlook make him an above average change of pace back for us. I noticed that last year he was able to carry a lot of the load and break away for some good runs even behind our crappy O-Line.

I thought his vision was pretty good as well seeings how he was able to find the holes that Reuben just could never find or couldn't hit.

IMO, if we put a punishing back in there like Jamal and let him do his thing (and hope that he's back or close to where he once was) that Jason could definately get some real good yards being that change of pace back.

I have no idea about Harrison so I won't even try to think about his potential. I saw some good things and bad things during pre-season and the games he played in, but not enough to make any kind of determination.

I just have a lot of faith in Jason and what he could do. As a RB he showed to me some things that some good RB's do. His cutback ability, vision, toughness, and quickness all make him a promising back.

Quote:

---

He's not as dynamic as Droughns, in that he's purely a runner. He doesn't block well for a man his size, and as a receiver..........he catches like a fullback, hehe. But as a runner, he's punishing and will get in the end-zone because we actually have blocking for once.

---

He's a hell of alot better runner than RD, and that's why he's here and RD is backing up the kid in NY. It's not even close when it comes to who the better runner is...........he's faster, has better vision, more agility..........you name it and he's better than Droughns. Granted, RD is the better blocker (but Lewis isn't a liability like you made it sound), and Droughns has alot better hands, but I'll take a RB who actually has the skill set to be a "running" back...lol...anyday.

The problem is I agree with the sentiments of the board...........how much does he have in the tank??? At worst I think he puts up RD numbers of 1200yds, but he does have the potential to get 1500-1800 yds if he can get that step back. It's just impossible to know how much of JL's problems have been him losing it or as you stated their OL on the decline. IF (and that's a big if bro) he could be a 1500 yd back again imo you give him a 3 year deal and let's see if he can keep it up while we develop a prospect from next years draft. I would much rather do that than spend major $$$ on Turner next year. I just hope it comes to fruition.

The one thing I will say is that Wright did have a couple of nice runs here and there behind our crappy OL. And just like it's not entirely fair to evaluate the likes of Tim Couch, William Green, Lee Suggs, etc. It's not entirely fair to evaluate how good of a back he is behind that same crappy OL. So we'll see. I'm rooting for him. But I would still like to bring in someone.

JL is/was what many here have been clamoring for from a running back for years. A very talented, big, fast, punishing RB who can move the chains and put the ball in the end zone... JL in the past was a threat to score from anywhere on the field... We'll have to see if he is that same RB here in Cleveland after the amount of carries and yards he's produced... Love to see him stick it to the Rats while in Brown and Orange... I see a very good possibility of JL becoming the Browns "Mack" truck... What is Mack's mascot?

I see Jamal getting somewhere around 220 carries this season... Barring injury or unless his head and health are back to 2003 form... It's hard for RB's to turn back the clock and return to form from the type of injuries JL has had... He'll share time with Vickers, Harrison and Brown... IMO

I believe this was a very solid move for the Browns and Jamal. Acquiring JL is one of the biggest most important moves this off season. JMO. The Browns have an offensive identity now, finally. They are showing everyone that they are going to run the football... With the 0-Line moves and adding JL, the picture is crystal clear... The running game seems to have been greatly upgraded. JMHO.

The D has got to be stoked!!!

This thread just made me want Sep. 9th to come quicker!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see Jamal in action.

general reply to all....


what the heck is everyone so worried about...running back isn't the issue....its can our oline run block....

how many backup running backs have ran all over us? quite a few....and why? then had holes to run thru....

we'll be fine with who we have....and even better next year when we draft a rb, and some big fattys for the d line....

Jamal Lewis will make or break our season. Period.

If he runs well, we'll win more ballgames than we think we will. If not, we'll lose more. It's that simple.

Completely agree with ya there. I don't think people are counting how much a RB can help a team. Now i know that Denver's O-Line sets any RB up to be successful, but while our O-Line is certainly talented, they haven't played together for a period of time. I don't think our O-Line is neccessarily gonna be that great, just certainly better than it has in the past.

So how good our RB is definitely affects how well we run the ball. Better the back better the runs and TDs. I hope it works in our favor

I don't disagree.

I don't think he has to run for 1500 yards or anything, but he does have to offer a threat and a guy who can grind out 3 yards.

I will say I think the NFL has changed....I think the passing game sets up the run. If we don't establish the ability to pass outside of 10 yards, we will never run when teams dedicate 8-9 players inside that 10 yard box.

In a normal situation you are working 5 blockers on 7 defenders. When it starts to become 8-9 defenders, forget it, you aren't running the ball.

Hopefully those bone chips are all gone, and Lewis can return to form. It would be great to get a couple of 1000+ years out of him, maybe 3. Hopefully he could stick around longer, and perform a role like Jerome Bettis did, Battering Ram!!! That would be sweet.

I don't like the guy, he's from a division rival, he's a former criminal, and I hope he falls flat on his ass while someone else WE raised from childhood gets 1,000 + behind this new O-Line.

NRTU..

You all keep mentioning he has 1800+ carries in his career, but your forgetting that 25% of those are against Cleveland where we didn't tackle him, so they were just sprints. So he really only has 1300+ carries on him that actually took any beating.

In lieu of:
Eric Rhett
Travis Prentice
James Jackson
William Green
Suggs
Rueben

being our toters of the rock...I think Lewis can be nothing but a fresh breath of air as long as he is on the field healthy. On his worst day he's so much more than Rueben our most successful RB on that list.

How much gas is in his tank.
Shep that stat of NFL life is skewed as there simply are many James Jacksons in that equation that come n go primarily due to better talent coming into the league or talent not progressing rather than INJURY or wear n tear.

Knee surgeries are key and he seemed to have recovered well in the past and surgeries on the knee in 2000 like anything else is more advanced and successful than prior. So hard to evaluate with a 5-7 year data base.

If I remember though he's had a problem holding onto the ball - not as bad as RD the last two seasons.

I just hope Paul McGuire will announce one of our games so his before nauseating admiration of Lewis' feet will be taken in with a different light

Possibly: Best case scenario we sign him up for 3 more years. This will not prevent us from investing in a RB via the draft 1st day if need be. More than one stud RB is needed in this day n age.

But like everything with the OFFENSE...a lot will be determined with how well our OL progresses.

JMHO