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He can't be saying that because Musa will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
That means he'll be running the ball 19-29 times per game, because his career average is less than 2 catches per game (and he only has 4 receptions so far this season). So far this season he's averaging 16 touches a game. He may well get up towards 20, but not much higher. Unless they want to see him on the IR in a hurry. I see no evidence that Jamal Lewis is going to be able to handle a load (much less perform) like he did in 2000.
I see no reason why he can't handle the load. The guy is healthy for the first time in a long time, he's only 27 years old, he's 245lbs! Handling the load is not the issue with Jamal. His problem is that he is not running with any degree of decisiveness or confidence. This guy used to make 1 cut and hit the hole with authority. If there was no hole after 1 cut he'd make one by lowering his pads and smashing into someone on the other side of the ball. If you've watched him run this season (I own him and have Sunday ticket so I have) you'll notice he is not hitting holes with any authority. He either isn't seeing the holes or does not trust his OL. Watch his feet when he approaches the line of scrimmage. He takes a bunch of short choppy steps as though he's not sure where to go. By the time he finds the crease it's too late, defenders in the NFL are too fast and too smart. They find the holes quickly and fill them. IMO Lewis is not done yet. I'm skeptical about his ability to turn it around this season but I think when he develops more trust in his OL and he regains his confidence he has a couple 1000 yard seasons left in him.
Just say no.
I'm not sure I see "the math"
He's not running with any degree of deciveness or confidence because he's not healthy- at least not in the same physical state he was when he could run effectively. Watch tapes of Jamal running in 2003 compared to now- don't look at the play, look at his lower body. He's indecisive because he doesnt have the same power and quickness- he doesnt have a firm plant (root) which is where all the power originates. Anybody would look indecisive if they knew they couldnt run people over or avoid the brunt of the hit like they used to. Lewis was never a very versatile back, without power he doesnt have anything to pull out of the hat, it all revolved around getting to the point of attack with the greatest momentum. If he cant do that he cant perform, and he cant do that anymore. His lower body is not right- it could be his knees but i suspect its his ankle that threw his whole running style off kilter. Those big legs are useless if he cant drive off them. Not to mention that favoring one foot puts a strain on a lot of places all over the lower body.I'm not sure I see "the math"
I understand your point but I disagree. I don't think his problem is physical as much as it is mental. He just doesn't seem to have his head in the game. With all the distractions he's faced lately it's not suprising. Listen to him, he's asking for more carries, saying he needs more touches to be the back he used to be. No one is commenting on his physical condition. It's not a concern for Billick, the media, Lewis, etc. This is not a "Carson Palmer is afraid to plant his foot on a throw" issue its a "Lewis has too many non football distractions and has lost his focus" issue - IMO.He's not running with any degree of deciveness or confidence because he's not healthy- at least not in the same physical state he was when he could run effectively. Watch tapes of Jamal running in 2003 compared to now- don't look at the play, look at his lower body. He's indecisive because he doesnt have the same power and quickness- he doesnt have a firm plant (root) which is where all the power originates. Anybody would look indecisive if they knew they couldnt run people over or avoid the brunt of the hit like they used to. Lewis was never a very versatile back, without power he doesnt have anything to pull out of the hat, it all revolved around getting to the point of attack with the greatest momentum. If he cant do that he cant perform, and he cant do that anymore. His lower body is not right- it could be his knees but i suspect its his ankle that threw his whole running style off kilter. Those big legs are useless if he cant drive off them. Not to mention that favoring one foot puts a strain on a lot of places all over the lower body.I'm not sure I see "the math"
