Jets Are Showing Signs of Renewed Vigor

In time, the celebrated rookie from Penn State may emerge as the leading man. Certainly, Blair Thomas has the credentials to suggest an eventual starring role with the Jets. He also has a contract commensurate with such a major undertaking.

For the moment, however, he is part of an ensemble, a strong cast of running backs whose performance on a day of introduction for head coach Bruce Coslet was strictly first-rate. The reward was sustained applause at Giants Stadium, a sound unfamiliar to veterans of recent vintage, and a belief that the new production will play in New York.

By defeating the Browns, 24-21, in their home opener Sunday, the Jets equaled their total of victories achieved at the Meadowlands in 1989. They also provided evidence of a renewed vigor and rebirth of spirit. Mostly, they demonstrated a depth of talent in the backfield that is likely to leave many opponents green with envy.

While the focus in Coslet’s first training camp shone on the quarterbacks and the redesigned passing attack, the runners had their problems. Thomas, the second pick in the college draft, didn’t report until two weeks before the season because of drawn-out contract negotiations. Johnny Hector, who replaced Freeman McNeil as the team’s primary ball carrier in the course of last season, was sidelined by a knee injury and missed all four exhibition games. Roger Vick, the starting fullback in 1989, was traded to Philadelphia for undisclosed draft choices. And McNeil -- with more than 7,000 yards of National Football League wear and tear -- was placed on waivers in the final cutdown, only to be recalled when he went unclaimed.

At one stage this summer, there were so few healthy backs that Coslet, 44, volunteered his services in practice. And his playing position had been tight end. From such humble beginnings, however, a potent running attack has emerged.

Consider that the Jets ran the ball more frequently Sunday (40 carries) than they had in any single game a year ago and that they gained 170 yards on the ground against a strong Cleveland defense. Not only did running backs score all three touchdowns, they accounted for 144 of the 192 receiving yards.

“We wanted to feature the run today,” Coslet said. They succeeded admirably.

Thomas, still rounding into shape, was credited with 46 yards on six carries and ran 55 yards with a short Ken O’Brien pass. Not to be outdone by the 22-year-old rookie, the 31-year-old McNeil gained 62 yards on 13 carries and added 80 yards on three receptions, including a 59-yard dazzler. Brad Baxter, the large, young fullback whose development made Vick expendable, banged ahead for 47 yards and Hector, in his first carry of the season after recovering from a scope, knifed six yards for a touchdown. “It’s a nice situation,” said McNeil, who once carried the Jets on his back. “He rotates us and keeps us fresh.”

Coslet’s philosophy is not to place the burden on a single back. He also must deal with Thomas’ tender hamstring and the strained ribs that sidelined him for the second half, as well as monitor Hector’s return. But there was reason to believe that the rotation system is well-suited to this team.

“Blair is going to be great,” center Jim Sweeney decided. “Freeman already is great. Brad will knock your block off. And Johnny Hector, when he’s healthy, is as good as any back in the league. If we give our backs any room, they’re going to get yards.”

McNeil and Thomas jump-started the Jets’ offense on their first possession, after Eric Metcalf stunned the home team by running back the opening kickoff for a Cleveland lead. Two rushes by McNeil picked up a first down and then Thomas took a pass over the middle and darted to the Browns’ 2, from where McNeil scored.

The latter was seen carrying the same ball an hour after the game . It was a present for his son, Luca. A year ago, McNeil appeared to be running for twilight and there was sentiment that the man might have scored his last NFL touchdown.

“If I didn’t believe in myself,” he said, “I don’t think I would even have tried to continue. I don’t feel I’m finished playing ball yet. I’m going to give it 100 percent whenever I have a chance.”

His 100 percent was worth the price of admission Sunday. “Freeman looked like he was a rookie,” Sweeney marveled. “He was unbelievably fast.” It was a proud afternoon for a running back in his 10th NFL season, for a player who was the Jets’ oldest starter on either side of the line, for a man who was confused by management’s decision to waive him two weeks ago.

The surplus of talent surrounding him in the backfield even inspired O’Brien, rarely praised for his quickness. In the final minute, as the Jets attempted to run out the clock, the quarterback sought to hand off to McNeil, who had lined up in a different formation. “I couldn’t find him back there,” the quarterback said. Uh oh!

It was just the kind of situation that might have doomed the team in the past. In fact, when Bernie Kosar guided the Browns to a touchdown with 1:59 remaining, Sweeney was reminded of the frustrating 1986 playoff game in Cleveland when the Jets surrendered a 10-point lead in the last two minutes of regulation and lost in two overtimes. “It was the same scenario,” he said.

Fortunately for the Jets, O’Brien scrambled eight yards for the first down that sealed the victory. “That was a designed quarterback draw,” deadpanned Coslet, drawing a laugh. The coach was unaware that O’Brien did run a designed quarterback draw in that infamous playoff game and it cost the Jets dearly.

But this is another season, a new regime. Even O’Brien can run in this offense.