New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has seen the importance of offenses using a by-committee approach to their running back rooms.
As an assistant with the New Orleans Saints, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram were one of the top duos in the league, helping the team continue their status as an NFC power. In Detroit, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were the top pairing of 2024.
A by-committee approach to the running back room has worked across NFL history. It’s why the Jets believe they have all the tools necessary to get the most out of their own trio of backs.
Jets’ Running Room Takes Shape
The trio of Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis struggled to make a positive impact on the Jets during their first season together in 2024. A big part of that, though, was the team’s refusal to use the running game as an asset throughout the year.
Under Glenn, and starting quarterback Justin Fields, New York is expected to be much better on the ground in 2025. Despite the shock of even opening the position to a “committee approach” after seeing Hall lead the way for a few years, the Jets believe they have a perfect blend with their three runners.
“When it comes to our guys, the skill set is different for the most part, and when a defense has to be able to plan for those skill sets,” Glenn said following Saturday’s practice.
On Saturday morning, New York’s Green and White scrimmage saw the Jets’ offense struggle through the air for most of the day. Their running game, though, was a thing of beauty.
Whether it was Hall or Davis, the Jets running game busted out major gains throughout practice.
It was a sign that all three players bring something unique to the group and can turn around their once-struggling side in the game, even if they have Hall taking control in a number of different ways.
“You could do a lot with Breece,” Glenn said. “We are going to open this game up quite a bit, and I’ve said this before, he’s the type of guy that you can split out wide and let him run the route tree, because he can run it like a receiver.
“And I like that matchup with him against a safety or a linebacker, too.”
It wasn’t that long ago when Hall finished in the top five of total yards from scrimmage recorded over a full season. However, after an injury-filled 2024 campaign and with an expiring contract, analysts believe the Iowa State product may be in his final year with the Jets.
The same cannot be said for their second-year running backs in Allen and Davis. Both players have different builds, but skill sets that can make an impact on the Jets in 2025.
“With Braelon… I mean, he’s a 240 pound man that’s going to be hard to bring down,” Glenn explained. “That’s two different dynamics that you have to get ready for when it comes to a defense getting ready to play against those guys.”
Not to be outdone, Davis put forth his best practice of camp to this point on Saturday. On top of the several running plays he broke off for huge gains, the South Dakota State product also made a deep completion on a wheel route.
It was the kind of practice that showed Davis is more than capable of playing a role in New York’s offense.
“He is a guy that we have to make sure we get him on the field as much as possible also,” Glenn stated. “Pass protection, his ability to run, his route tree, he’s a very, very smart player.
“He’s tough, he’s aggressive, and the thing is, he’s a guy that plays on every special teams that we have.”
Hall, Allen, and Davis all bring different skill sets to New York’s offense. If the Jets can find a way to use those skills into an offensive plan, the offense will be far more formidable than initially expected.
There’s a long way to go before the team hits the field for Week 1 of the NFL season, but there’s a way that the Jets can be better than people realize.
The only way that happens, though, is if they run the ball as much as humanly possible with their trio of backs.