SPEED THRILLS
Powell, looking faster than before, vows to help any way he can
Bilal Powell could only watch as the Jets’ season went down the tubes last year. The running back, who had become a crucial piece of the offense, sat out the season finale in Buffalo with an injured ankle.
The Jets lost 22-17 and were knocked out of the playoffs. It fuels Powell seven months later.
“Just knowing that it was so close. It hurts worse when you can smell it,” Powell said Wednesday. “We were knocking on the door. You use it as motivation. I did everything I could to get back healthy and come back in the best shape I can to help this team win.” So far, so good. Powell has been one of the most impressive players in training camp. Now in his sixth year, Powell seems to be getting faster and is making a case for a bigger role.
Jets coach Todd Bowles, who throws around compliments like they weigh two tons, practically gushes when Powell’s name comes up.
“He’s been healthy, he’s been quick, he looks a lot quicker than he did last year,” Bowles said last week. “He’s always smart, he’s always talking, he’s steady. What you see is what you get all the time from him. I’m happy about that.”
How has Powell gotten quicker I guess he works in the offseason, I don’t know. He looks quicker,” Bowles said. “He does a good job training. He keeps his mouth shut, he’s very smart, he’s very studious and he’s very attentive.”
Powell laughs when told he looks faster.
“Everybody keeps telling me I’m faster, but I’m just having fun,” Powell said. “It’s Year 6. I’m blessed to see Year 6 right now. I’m trying to fly around as long as possible and have fun doing it.”
The 27-year-old has outlasted a lot of teammates. Powell and Muhammad Wilkerson are the only players left from the Jets’ 2011 draft class. The fourth-round pick out of Louisville came in without many expectations but seems to make an impact every year.
Last season, he had 70 rushes for 313 yards and a touchdown while also catching 47 passes for 388 yards and two more scores. The 47 catches were third on the team behind Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Powell was at his best when the Jets went on their f ive-game winning streak late in the season.
While people want to point to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s interceptions in Buffalo or Darrelle Revis’ struggles against Sammy Watkins, Powell’s absence that day was a huge factor in the loss to the Bills.
“We wish we could have that one game back to get in the playoffs,” Powell said. “That’s something you can just strive off of and use as motivation for this training camp. Guys are coming out with fire lit. Everybody’s buying in.”
Powell had the chance to leave the Jets in March as a free agent. The Patriots and Broncos both expressed i nterest in s i gning Powell, but he decided to stick with the Jets, signing a threeyear, $11.25 million deal.
Besides his contributions on the f ield, Powell is also a quiet leader in the running backs room. He played with LaDainian Tomlinson as a rookie in 2011 and never forgot how much time Tomlinson spent helping him.
“I tell a lot of people I had the opportunity to play under LaDainian and he did nothing but open his arms and share his wisdom,” Powell said. “I was a sponge at that time. I was just t r yi ng to soak up everything possible from him.
“I always told myself that after a couple of years getting established that if I had the opportunity to help a young man, I will. That’s just my personality. That’s one of my passions is to help the next person and just be selfless. I know everybody can’t stay but you want to get guys prepared and if they can’t make it here, hopeful ly t hey ge t a chance somewhere else.”
Powell is expected to s pl i t carries with Matt Forte, who replaces Chris Ivory in the backfield. The coaches have not let on ?“how much of a split it will be, but Powell is not worried about his role right now.
“I have no idea [what my role will be],” Powell said. “I just want to help this team win and get a chance to get to the playoffs and see how far this talented team can go.”