He just runs people over when they get in his way. At 5-11, 226 Greene is a battering ram that regularly runs over linebackers and defensive backs. He runs low to the ground, which when combined with his strong lower body creates a lot of power on contact.

Greene averaged 5 yards per carry on 108 rushes in the regular season and really stepped up his game in the postseason averaging 5.6 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. Greene became the focal point of the Jets’ offense down the stretch and was a big reason for their postseason success.

Greene has excellent body lean and is always moving forward. He has better speed than you would expect for a back his size and hits the hole with authority.

This is what makes him so dangerous. He gets to the line so quickly that would-be tacklers are not in position when he gets there. As a result, he sees a lot of arm tackles, which he runs through with ease.

Greene gains a ton of yards after contact. In fact, according to stats-dont-lie.com he gained 64% of his yards after contact, which was among the highest in the league.

Thomas Jones, on the other hand, gained 50% after contact, which was the lowest in the league (among backs with at least 100 attempts). This stat is somewhat of a double-edged sword.

If your starting running back is gaining a lot of yards after contact it can really help your offense but it can also mean that your offensive line is not getting it done. In Greene’s case it is more a reflection of his running skills.

Since Jones was third in the league in rushing (1,402 yards), his 50% earned on his own tells us that much of his success was due to his offensive line. But the next question we must ask is - how many yards would the running game have had if Greene had all those carries?

There is no doubt Greene was the more effective runner down the stretch but would he have been as successful had he toted the rock 331 times like Jones? This is something we will be finding out soon since Greene should be taking over as the feature back next season.

This has not been made official of course but with Jones’ age (31) and uncertain contract status, it is hard imagine him remaining with the club.

There is no better conditioned back in the league than Jones. All you have to do is look at the guy to know how hard he works in the weight room.

He is incredibly durable and has not missed a game in over four years. As a Jet, he has averaged 310 carries over his three-year tenure.

He has definitely slowed down from all the wear and tear and unfortunately does not have much burst left. That is one of the reasons Greene has been so successful.

His speed is such a stark contrast from Jones’ that he catches defenses off guard when he enters the game. The question for Greene is – can he be as successful when he carries the full load?

No doubt all those extra carries will bring his average down but can he stay healthy and will he be as productive?

There is a big difference between 100 carries and 300 and Greene will have to show he can take the pounding. His physical running style suggests that he will need to work with another back in order to stay on the field.

Greene is a bull but will he break down without another back to spell him?

I would love to see the Jets bring Jones back. He is a tremendous leader and might be the most respected player in the locker room but the economics of his situation make his return unlikely.

Being among the top rushers in the league the last two years means he will expect a big payday but his production is as much a reflection of his offensive line as it is his own talent. His value to the team at this point is in a back up role.

Jones will be looking for more money than the Jets are willing to pay and with Greene carrying the load late in the season, the club knows Greene can take over as the starter. The Jets will bring Jones back but only at their price.

Jones is a very smart, patient runner. He sets up his blocks well and still shows great vision and balance when running the football but as indicated above, he does not get a lot of yards on his own and can be neutralized with an 8-man front.

One of Jones’ strengths throughout his career has been his ability to hit the cutback lanes and although he had some big runs this year doing just that (see the first Buffalo game) he did not hit these types of runs consistently enough.

There were too many times where he had a crease and did not exploit it. He no longer has the quickness or explosiveness to be a feature back.

I would not be surprised if the Jets draft another running back, particularly in the middle rounds, to back up Greene. 2009 might have been Jones’ last season in a Jets’ uniform.

Leon Washington’s injury was a crushing blow at the time but in hindsight, it allowed more carries for Greene and that turned out pretty well.

Having Leon back will bring another dimension to the offense. He is the team’s only bona fide playmaker and his presence makes the job of opposing defensive coordinators much harder.

Washington must be accounted for every time he steps onto the field. He is one of the best return men in the game and can break off a big play on offense as well.

But Washington’s injury was so serious that a return to full strength is not a given. He sustained a broken right fibula but it was a compound fracture, which makes his recovery less certain.

It has been reported that he is ahead of schedule with his rehab, which is a relief but we will not really know his prognosis until he starts off-season workouts. If he retains his burst and change of direction then we can count on him for the 2010 season.

Washington’s contract status is not good. He tried to get a new deal before last season but his agent probably overplayed his hand. He was looking for starters money despite being a role player.

Washington deserves to get paid, no doubt and I believe in the end he will work something out with the team but for now he will probably be tendered the maximum for a restricted free agent, a status he will have if the CBA is not renewed.

If the CBA is worked out, he will be a free agent but his injury status will cool interest from other teams. No contract situation on the Jets is as compelling as Washington’s and will certainly bear watching into March.

Tony Richardson is probably the most overlooked player on the Jets - such is the life of an NFL fullback.

Richardson has a thankless job – clearing the way for whichever back is in the game and getting not so much as a mention in the final stat sheet. But make no mistake, he was a key cog in the Jets’ running game and was as big a contributor to its success as any offensive lineman.

At 38, Richardson is a physical marvel. He works extremely hard at his conditioning and still has some good years left.

Richardson is a tremendous lead blocker and knows how to break down in space to hit a moving defender. Richardson’s most memorable block, although there were many to choose from, was a lead block he put on Keith Rivers in the season finale.

He literally blew Rivers right out of the hole and cleared the way for Shonn Greene on a key third down conversion. Richardson is invaluable to this offense and despite getting up there in years, should be brought back as an unrestricted free agent.

Danny Woodhead made a few key third down conversions this year but otherwise does not possess the kind of elusiveness and burst someone his size (5-7, 195) needs to survive in the NFL.

If Leon Washington returns to full health, Woodhead could be a roster casualty by opening day.

Overall, the running back position should be a team strength. Shonn Greene is one of the best young backs in the league and has already shown he can be the focal point of the offense.

But his physical running style demands that he share carries with another back. If Leon Washington is fully recovered from his broken leg, he will be that guy. If he is not, the Jets might look for another back in the draft since it is unlikely Thomas Jones will be back.