Jamal Lewis - in best shape in 2 years

[LukeW9027]

Lewis is finished. Everybody always says how great they feel and blah blah blah, he hasnt done anything the last two years and is getting to old to be the guy he used to be.

[Dr. Duran Duran]

That's funny, here's an excerpt from an article dated from October of last year, read into it what you will.

For the first time this season, RB Jamal Lewis talked inclusively about the problems with the team's running game. As spunky as ever, he cited having to adjust to playing without a fullback and to playing with a proven quarterback for the first time. "I've had to make an adjustment. I've had to run with one less person leading the way, and one more person in the way," Lewis said. "I'm not a 13- to 15-carry back. You know that, I know that and the Ravens know that," Lewis said. "I have no injuries, and I feel good. "I'm the type of back that has to carry the ball about 25 to 30 times a game".

That's exactly what I was thinking of when I wrote my rant about him earlier in this thread. Same story, different team and a year older. There's no reason to believe he's going to get any better than last season now that he's in Cleveland. As for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. Yeah, good luck with that. The last time a Browns running back ran for 1,300 yards was Jim Brown in 1965, so don't hold your breath.

[TheDiplomats]

Don't sleep on Jamal. The Baltimore offensive line has been horrendous the past 2 seasons and it did seem like Lewis lost a step..however, playing at 255 pounds and having bone spurs in your ankle will do that to you. He's trimmed down to 235 and says he's completely healthy for the first time in a while. This is Jamal's real do or die year. I do think defenses will key on him and playing in a tough division with a brutal schedule will hamper his numbers, but don't be surprised if he turns out to be a good #2 RB for your fantasy squad.

[aaawall91]

im lookin forward to 1,300 12 td's this year from jamal.. go browns

haha

The real haha here is that northcutt is on the Brownies anymore.

[dgan]

Remember when he had nothing better to do in jail but work out and be in the best shape of his life? How'd that work out?

Has been, unfortunately. He'll be a carry machine, but anything better than 4 ypc will be considered a success.

[Dawinner127]

im lookin forward to 1,300 12 td's this year from jamal.. go browns

haha

[deluxe_247]

Remember when he had nothing better to do in jail but work out and be in the best shape of his life? How'd that work out?

to be fair...he actually never said that that year (2 seasons ago). he was actually rehabilitating ankle surgery when he was in jail, and he probably shouldnt have come back to play as early as he did that year. last year he did say that though.

j-lew is my boy, but he has never been the same since the ankle injury. i think he can still be a beast, but he needs good blocking and holes in the line (sometihng we didnt give him very often). he seems to have lost a lot of his cutting ability and is a almost pure downhill runner now. if he gets momentum.... he is a force. i honestly see his production being a bit better than last year, but still not super great on that team as he will be keyed on if the passing game fails. still...a solid RB3.

[Azrael]

To be fair to Lewis he is going to have a pretty good O-line now. Browns should get Bentley back and have added Steinbach and Thomas (major upgrades).

2 years ago Droughns rushed for 1,200yds.

Lewis will be atleast a solid flex position player, and if you can get that in the 5th round, that's darn good value. He's disappointed the last 2 years. Now that his value is as low as it has been since he tore his ACL, it's a great year to draft him considering where you can get him.

Heck, even as bad as he was running the ball last year, he still had 1,100yds and 9 TDs. Sorry, 27, 28 is not that old either. Alot of running backs have their most productive years in their late 20's.

[Kilroy]

To be fair to Lewis he is going to have a pretty good O-line now. Browns should get Bentley back and have added Steinbach and Thomas (major upgrades).

2 years ago Droughns rushed for 1,200yds.

Lewis will be atleast a solid flex position player, and if you can get that in the 5th round, that's darn good value. He's disappointed the last 2 years. Now that his value is as low as it has been since he tore his ACL, it's a great year to draft him considering where you can get him.

Heck, even as bad as he was running the ball last year, he still had 1,100yds and 9 TDs. Sorry, 27, 28 is not that old either. Alot of running backs have their most productive years in their late 20's.

Bentley is set to have knee surgery (again) on June 4th and will miss at least another season, if he ever plays again.



That said, Steinbach and Thomas are significant upgrades, and even without Bentley the Line should be decent in '07. I'd have no problem drafting J-Lew as a RB3, and wouldn't be surprised to see him put up RB2 numbers, especially if Cleveland can get any kind of consistent play from the QB spot.

[dgan]

Yeah, don't get me wrong. He'll get enough carries to get solid numbers and could be a serviceable #2 and an even better guy to bring off your bench in favorable matchups. But this thread began with "Big numbers" which, depending on your definition I guess, I am not buying at all.