Jets hope to stop Texans' Foster, NFL's top runner
Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes in the first half against the San Diego Chargers. (Nov. 7, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
There's no need to have a safe to stash the Jets' defensive blueprint, the one that details how to take down any running back trying to top the triple-digit plateau against them.
"It's written in invisible ink," linebacker Bart Scott said. "We don't have to talk about it."
Perhaps an old-school Captain Midnight decoder ring is in order, then, because the Jets have yet to allow an individual to crack the 100-yard mark this season. In fact, no one has done so in more than a year; Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 123 yards against the Jets on Nov. 15, 2009.
Next in line for the Jets' fifth-ranked rush defense: Arian Foster. The Houston running back leads the league in rushing with 920 yards and in touchdowns with 10.
The 6-1, 227-pounder brings his act to New Meadowlands Stadium with the Texans (4-5) Sunday, seeking his sixth game of at least 100 yards on the ground and trying to bounce back from his second-lowest output of the season - 56 yards in Houston's crushing loss to the Jaguars on Mike Thomas' 50-yard Hail Mary reception as time expired.
Foster, 24, an undrafted free agent who played for the University of Tennessee, has burst on to the scene seemingly out of nowhere, beginning with his season-opening 231-yard performance against the Colts. He's become much more than a blip on the NFL's rushing landscape in a little more than a year after his signing from the Texans' practice squad to their active roster. He posted 216 yards and three touchdowns in their final three games last season.
"He's a young player that all of a sudden stepped up and become a hell of a player," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He got a little bit of an opportunity last year, took advantage of that and then had a great offseason, which has kind of escalated him into this year. He's been full speed ahead ever since he got his opportunity last year."
Foster is flourishing in the Texans' running scheme and is averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. Don't sleep on his receiving skills, either. He was dubbed the AFC's offensive player of the month in September after becoming only the third player in NFL history to have more than 500 rushing yards and at least 100 yards receiving through the first four games of the season. He's caught 33 passes for 319 yards, proving he's the true definition of a combo back.
"He's a really tough, big and strong running back who is perfect for that system, that zone system - one cut and get upfield," safety Jim Leonhard said. "He's having a huge year. His yards per carry is ridiculous."
"He brings that home run-hitter ability," linebacker Calvin Pace said. "He's breaking long runs and not a lot of people are catching him from behind. He's a good screen back, taking screen passes pretty far. He's got it all. He's in a groove where he's comfortable. He's pretty much . . . I'm not going to say he's carrying them, but he's a big part of their offense."
Despite downplaying it, the Jets are looking to keep Foster below the century mark and preventing him from becoming the 20th player since 2000 to bust loose for 100 yards against a defense Rex Ryan has worked with.
"As long as we win, we'll settle for it," Ryan said.
"I remember Cincinnati, one time, when I was in Baltimore, we'd gone 50 straight games without giving up a 100-yard rusher and Corey Dillon had 120 yards. I remember seeing some of their coaches at the end of that game and they were walking around like they had won the game and I'm like, 'We just shut you out, like 24-0,' and the guy had like 120 yards rushing."
