For Perine, the future is now
Jets’ running back to see more action with the release of Bell
La’mical Perine was drafted in April to be the New York Jets’ running back of the future.
Well, that might be right now. And a bit sooner than many probably expected.
“I’m excited,” Perine said this week. “I’m not going to sit here and lie like I’m not excited. I don’t want to get too excited. … I just want to keep my composure and be able to go out there and focus and play hard.”
The Jets’ jammed-up backfield got a little less crowded Tuesday night when Le’veon Bell was released after a disappointing stint that lasted just 19 months. So, New York now has Perine, a fourth-round pick out of Florida; 37-year-old Frank Gore; and Ty Johnson on the active roster, with Josh Adams also on the practice squad.
But, the carries might start to shift more toward Perine when the 0-5 Jets take on the AFC East-rival Dolphins in Miami on Sunday.
“Perine is definitely going to get a bigger role,” coach Adam Gase said. “Frank, you’re not going to lean on him as heavy a load because of where he’s at in his career. He knows exactly how many touches is the right amount for him. I feel like we have a really good idea how many touches is the right amount for him.
“But getting Perine really involved is going to be critical for us.”
Perine hasn’t been much of a
factor yet. He saw no snaps on offense against Arizona last Sunday, and has just 15 carries for 56 yards and two catches for minus-1 yard through five games.
Gase also acknowledged as recently as Monday — a day before the move with Bell — that the Jets didn’t “want to put too much on his plate too fast and kind of really stunt his growth at all.” Whether they truly believe Perine is suddenly ready now or it’s just by necessity, the Jets are handing off a big chance to the 22-year-old running back.
“I’m here for a reason,” Perine said. “I always tell myself that.”
Giants: Andrew Thomas has faced some of the NFL’S top pass rushers in his first five games with the winless New York Giants, and he has quickly learned playing left tackle at this level isn’t easy. The fourth pick overall in the draft, Thomas has been responsible for at least four sacks by Giants opponents as he’s faced the likes of Demarcus Ware of the Cowboys, Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn of the Bears and Bud Dupree of the Steelers. The task will get no easier Sunday when Thomas will likely face No. 2 overall draft pick Chase Young of Washington (1-4) at Metlife Stadium. “I think I see progression, but there are definitely things that I definitely need to get better at,” Thomas said Friday. “Things that I’ve been working on, just focusing on, because it’s every week in the NFL. There are no days off, there are no plays off. I’m just trying to cut down my negative plays as much as possible.” The play that might stand out to many was the strip-sack of quarterback Daniel Jones that Ware had last weekend. It was returned for a touchdown by Cowboys defensive back Anthony Brown. On the play, Thomas said he didn’t hit his landmark and Ware was able to beat him to the edge. The second mistake was he allowed the defensive end to deflect his punch and Ware quickly scooted past him for the sack and strip. Offensive line coach Marc Colombo said Thomas’ biggest issue is consistency. However, he added the talent that he has faced will make him a better player.