'LJ' Looking Good in Jets' Camp
May 2, 2001
JORDAN GETS EARLY THUMBS UP
Courtesy New York Jets
It was near the end of Saturday's afternoon practice, during this past weekend's mini camp, and rookie running back Lamont Jordan took a handoff, took a step to his right and burst through the hole between right guard and right tackle. He ran down the field untouched, showing his new Jets teammates what he can bring to the table.
"He's a powerful man," said head coach Herman Edwards. "We don't even have pads on right now, and guys are getting out of his way when he runs up in the hole."
Like Edwards says, the pads aren't even on yet, but Jordan, at 234 pounds, casts an imposing shadow from his spot in the backfield, and the coach can see the 2nd-round pick out of Maryland adding an interesting twist to the Jets offense.
"He runs low," says Edwards. "He's a big imposing guy when he comes through the hole. He has no fear when he runs it up in there. I think he brings a little something different."
The Jets went into the draft looking for a possible backup to Curtis Martin, the team's two-time MVP who has put together three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, the first back in Jets history to do so. Despite his success, the new Jets regime feels that having a capable backup for Martin will save him some wear and tear during the season and keep him stronger for a stretch run to the playoffs, something they feel has been missing in recent seasons.
Jordan will battle for the spot with rookie free agent Reggie White,a standout at Oklahoma State, and 1st-year player Marlion Jackson, a 240-pound back who spent time on the Jets practice squad last year.
"The running backs who have been real successful in the NFL, the majority of them have the same frame," said Edwards of Jordans size. "And one thing they all have is that when they decide to run north-south, they have that great first step to accelerate in the hole and punish the tackler."
Jordan, who had a stellar junior season for the Terps, gaining over 1,600 yards on the ground, but struggled a bit as a senior, has been punished with the underachiever tag this year. He fell into academic trouble, forcing him to miss spring practice and the beginning of fall practice while getting his grades up. But Edwards liked what he saw in his first look at Jordan, even in the classroom.
"He was impressive," Edwards said. "He was very articulate and very good in the classroom. He was focused every day."
That same kind of focus was behind the Jets' selection of Jordan. While it was reported that the team was looking for an offensive lineman at that point in the draft, general manager Terry Bradway feels this worked out best for the Jets.
"As it turned out, we got the running back there and the tackle (Penn State's Kareem McKenzie) in the next round," said Bradway. "The way it worked out was best for us. If we had taken a tackle, we wouldn't have gotten this caliber a running back in the next round."
