RUNNING SCARED
Crowell says Gang Green must commit more to ground attack
THE 3-8 Jets have many problems. Some self-inflicted.
In a way, the Jets’ coaching staff has done a good job of stopping the Jets’ running game.
The Jets have scored all of 56 points the past five games, losing all those games, and in last Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Patriots, they ran the ball just 15 times.
In those losses, they have not run the ball more than 24 times.
That is a major problem and running back Isaiah Crowell, in a calm voice, let his frustration be known Friday after practice.
“I just feel like we gotta commit more to the run and I feel like we’d be doing better if we committed more to the run,’’ Crowell said as he stood in front of his locker. “We got a lot of guys who can make plays, that’s the way I see it right now.’’
Crowell is right. The Jets are too pass-heavy under offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.
On Thursday, when Bates was asked about the differential between passes and runs — last Sunday Josh McCown threw the ball 45 times — he said: “You want to be balanced throughout the game. Establishing the run is about an attitude and we came into the game wanting to establish the run like we always do. I think we had six runs of 13 yards in the first half. I need to call more runs, I need to call better runs and we need to establish the run better.’’
On the surface, Bates agrees with the criticism. The Jets started off the first game of the season rushing for 169 yards in a win at Detroit, their only road win of the year. Four weeks later, they ran the Broncos out of MetLife Stadium, gaining 323 yards on the ground with Crowell rushing for 219 yards. “Every game is not going to be like the Denver game,’’ Crowell said. “There are games it’s going to be tough and you are going to have to fight for hard yards, it’s not going to be that easy as it was but I just feel, like I said, commit to it.’’ Asked if he has made his points clear to the coaching staff, Crowell said, “All the coaches understand.’’ When asked by The Post why don’t they commit to the run, Crowell answered: “To be completely honest, I don’t know. I really don’t know. I’m just trying to do my job, what I can do to help us win a football game. “It’s frustrating but we got to do what we got to do to make plays and I guess encourage them to call more runs.’’
The Jets travel to Nashville, Tenn., to play the Titans on Sunday. How desperate are the Jets for a win?
“It would be big, losing is never good,’’ Crowell said. “I feel like a win would bring the swag and the toughness back.’’
Toughness comes with success in the running game.
“When the running game is going everybody is lifted up,’’ Crowell said. “It’s like just smash-mouth football. It helps the defense also because we stay on the field more so I feel like it gives the offensive line more confidence. Also the quarterback doesn’t have to do so much because we are running the ball good.
“I feel like it just helps everybody so I feel we do have to get that back going.’’
Josh McCown is likely to start Sunday over Sam Darnold (foot).
“I feel like both of our quarterbacks can make plays,’’ Crowell said.
When I interjected, “and they can both hand off,’’ Crowell smiled and said, “Yeah.’’
Crowell said he makes his feelings known during a game but “after the game I really probably don’t say too much. I’m not really a vocal person, I feel like everybody knows what we should be doing. So whether I say something or I don’t say something it really don’t matter because I don’t have any control.’’
Have the Jets lost that smash-mouth identity as a football team? “I feel like we have,’’ Crowell said. There is only one way to get it back. Noted Crowell, “You have to commit do it and just do it.’’
Smash-mouth.