Green Lantern: Hey, Anyone Remember Shonn?

By Jeff Capellini, CBSNewYork.com

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Long before the Thomas Jones-LaDainian Tomlinson debate took hold of Jets Nation, the team already had a pretty darn good running back.

Now the Jets might have the best backfield combination in the NFL.

Just make sure you don't forget who the featured guy really is.

Shonn Greene, the second-year wrecking ball out of Iowa, has quietly gone about his business up in Cortland, probably because he knows he will be the Jets' workhorse back in 2010. And judging by what he accomplished last season, there is no reason to think he won't live up to every expectation.

Greene's bulldozing style and youth hastened Jones' departure. Regardless of the fact that many want to believe the Jets chose Tomlinson over Jones, the truth is Greene earned the right to be the man. Among other things, signing Tomlinson was every bit a move to get Greene a true mentor. That's not a slap at Jones. He performed admirably for three seasons in green, but at the end of the day who would you want instructing your supposed next great thing, a guy who's had a nice career and is also an aspiring hip hop mogul or a guy who's had a Hall of Fame career and knows nothing but the right way to play football?

On the field, Greene and Tomlinson couldn't be more different. One is a pinball with a John Riggins chaser, while the other has been nothing but grace with a side order of Barry Sanders for a decade. But together they could be magic, especially running behind this line with a true professional like fullback Tony Richardson paving the way (or John Conner depending on the situation) and a trio of stud receivers running interference.

Greene is simply a beast. if you haven't penciled him at the top of your fantasy wish list, what in the name of God are you waiting for? I realize we are in an age of two-headed monster running games in the NFL, but, as far as the Jets circa 2010 are concerned, Greene is going to touch the ball 20 times a game. And considering he averaged 5.0 yards per carry during the regular season last year and then another 5.6 a pop in the playoffs the Jets really may have something special here.

Flash back to the AFC championship game in Indianapolis. Everyone likes to say that Peyton Manning torched the Jets, and to a degree he did. But an often overlooked fact is the Jets were forced to move away from their running game and put the ball in the hands of then-rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez because Greene went down with a rib injury early in the third quarter with the game still up for grabs. Sanchez ended up attempting 30 passes that day. He only cracked 30 throws three times in the regular season and had only 38 passing attempts combined in the Jets' first two playoff wins.

So it would be fair to say the game did a 180 when Greene departed. Jones looked slow and showed he was no match for the Colts' speed.

Greene is healthy again and at 5-foot-10, 225 pounds is an absolute load to try to take down. He is also deceptively quick. Just ask new teammate Antonio Cromartie. Greene basically ran over him and the rest of the Chargers on that 53-yard scoring jaunt that put the Jets on cruise control  to a spot in the conference title game. Greene even did an LT touchdown impersonation after crossing the goal line.

The boy may be soft spoken, but he's sure got some moxie to go along with his skills.

So what about Greene's stats in 2010 you ask? I wouldn't worry about his touchdowns. I think Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will turn to Tomlinson inside the 5 a lot, mostly because, short of Marcus Allen or Emmitt Smith, depending on your preference, there's never been a better goal line back than LT. That said though, the Jets will need Greene to call the areas between the 20s his home. Please don't forget that even though the Jets now seem to have more offensive stars than they can use, game are still won with ball control and defense. If the Jets move the chains and control the clock they'll be much better off than trying to air things out just because they have the tools to do so.

If nothing else, a year older and wiser Sanchez, gifted Santonio Holmes and the bearded one Braylon Edwards should become a compliment to Greene, not the other way around.

When all is said and done this season, barring injury, Greene should crack 1,000 yards. That's not earth shattering you say? Well, think of it this way: the days of one guy challenging for 1,750 to 2,000 yards and 20 TDs in this league are quickly coming to an end. In other words, LT in his prime will be hard to come by, and that opinion pertains to every team, even those who have Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson.

If there is one aspect of Greene's game the fans should worry about a little it's his occasional bouts with fumbleitis. But, then again, that's another reason why Tomlinson will be the ultimate mentor. What's not to like about a guy who rarely, if ever, fumbles teaching the young and impressionable the correct way to protect the pigskin?

Greene has all the ability and makeup to be a special player in the NFL for a long, long time. If No. 23 does nothing else in 2010, he will make the fans forget about Jones once and for all. He's that good.

And with Tomlinson showing him the ropes and also getting the ball in short yardage and as a receiver out of the backfield, there's no reason why the Jets won't be a more refined version of the smashmouth football team the fans fell in love with in 2009.

The Jets' offense may be hinged on Sanchez's development, but without Greene doing his thing the conversation will end before it truly begins.

(Jeff Capellini is a senior editorial editor for CBSNewYork.com. He also writes under the moniker "The Green Lantern" on the Jets, Yankees, Islanders and many other things Gotham sports. Please follow him on Twitter at @greenlanternjet)