Addai Over Benson?

The need for the Jets to find themselves once again this season is surely a number one priority following the locker room debacle and obvious play calling by the now departed Brian Schottenhiemer. The crys of 'Ground and Pound' have been reverberating from the front office since that painful day in Miami.

Shonn Green will once again start as the  number one back for the Jets, but I'm now overly convinced by Greens ability to get those big plays. You may point to the stats and say a 1000 yard season is more than acceptable, but it was dull, do you remember him getting to the edge, making a big play that inspired the offense, was he explosive out of the back field when receiving....No. Greene had two 100 plus yard games on the season (his first almost 12 months after his last one) with a long of 31 yards.

A solution presented itself to the Jets yesterday via the Pats as they released Joseph Addai. I know many of your prefer Cedric Benson as the back to compliment Greene, but hear me out.

With the retirement of LT the Jets need a receiving threat out of the back field and Addai is the perfect guy to replicate that. With 191 receptions for 1448 yards scoring 9 touchdowns, gaining 71 first downs with an average of 7.6 yards per reception in 71 games. Compare this to Benson who had 106 receptions for 736 yards scoring 1 touchdown, gaining 30 first downs with an average of 6.9 yards per reception from 91 games. Its clear that Addai not only has good hands, but also the ability to move the chains.

Onto the ground game, Benson has the edge when it comes to total yardage with 5769 yards from 1529 carries compared to Addai's 4453 from 1095 attempts, although Addai sneaks it when you look at average yards per carry and touchdowns with 4.1 yds (avg) 39 TD's to Benson's 3.8 yds (avg) 31 TD's. Its also clear that Addai takes better care of the football, with only 7 fumbles compared to Benson's 19.

The downside and yes there is one, is the lack of production over the last two years due to injury, resulting in Addai seeing action in only 20 games. On the flip side of the coin, Benson has three consecutive seasons of 1000+ yards rushing. My last pitch for Addai is that he has less miles on the clock (carries and age, a year younger than Benson) and he doesn't come along with the same on/off the field baggage that Benson does.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the addition of Benson to the team and would welcome the move, I personally feel that Addai would bring more weapons to the table. Who would you pick?

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