Backfield gives offense playmaking possibilities

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Robert Saleh looks at the New York Jets’ running backs and sees so many possibilities.

Speed. Power. Athleticism. Versatility.

Some — or all — of those descriptions can be applied to Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, La’Mical Perine, Josh Adams, Austin Walter and rookie Michael Carter.

“They all have a dynamic trait to them that could be pretty good in the system,” Saleh said, “especially with how the offensive line works and the way the zone scheme works, then working one gap at a time. So we’re excited about this group.”

Even if some outside the facility might have lower expectations.

“That’s an unknown group,” Saleh said. “People look at the names and they’ll assume there’s not much.”’

But the running backs have been a strength for the Jets throughout the early portion of training camp, with each seemingly ripping off a long run or making a nice run-andcatch play on a regular basis.

“Everybody’s got good skills,” said Coleman, in his first season with the Jets. “Everybody can catch the ball, everybody can run the ball. We just compete.”

The running backs will be an integral part of the offensive system coordinator Mike LaFleur is installing with rookie Zach Wilson at quarterback, a version of the offense he learned under Kyle Shanahan while he was an assistant in San Francisco. The zone blocking scheme has inside and outside zone runs to power the offense — and uses a mix-andmatch rotation of backs with motion and misdirection to make it effective.

“We get the ball all types of ways,” said Coleman, who played the last two seasons in San Francisco.

Coleman is the most easily recognized and experienced member of the Jets’ backfield bunch. He has 2,937 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns in six NFL seasons, the first four in Atlanta. Injuries limited him to a career-worst 53 yards in eight games last season.