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	An emphasis on the running game could help Brett Favre and New York's offense get going.

Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson

The Jets are facing an identity crisis. Are they the power running team they set out to become in the offseason, or are they The Brett Favre Air Show?

New York paid big money for left guard Alan Faneca and guard-turned-right tackle Damien Woody, in hopes that the duo would help add a power element that was missing from their feeble offensive line last year. For good measure, fullback Tony Richardson and tight end Bubba Franks, proven complementary blockers, also were signed. The plan seemed clear: win now, and do it by wearing down opponents and controlling the tempo using a physical run game.

Then Favre unretired, drama ensued and the future Hall of Fame quarterback fell into the Jets' lap. He was too good to pass up, and his acquisition certainly dovetailed with the win-now theme. Favre, it was reasoned, would be the piece that would make New York's offense the total package. But it wouldn't be easy to get off the ground. Favre had a new offense to learn in a very short time, and that is difficult even for a veteran. And how would Favre's big-play flair complement or conflict with the Jets' newfound power principles?

So far, not so good. Favre wants to sling it, and though he executed a controlled West Coast passing scheme in Green Bay, he also got opportunities to mix in a few downfield bombs. In New York, Favre leads an offense that ranks eighth in pass attempts, but just 19th in yards per catch. He also leads the league in interceptions, with 11 through seven games. In other words, the Jets have imported all of the risk of the Favre package (turnovers) and none of the reward (a vertical passing element). Rhythm and balance are difficult to quantify, but it's safe to say the Jets have little of either at this point. And it's difficult to say exactly how much of the blame falls on the coaching staff and Favre's supporting cast.

When New York has needed a spark, the coaches have too often taken the ball out of the quarterback's hands. Instead of embracing who he is, the Jets have treated Favre more like a game manager than a playmaker. Then again, the coaches are dealing with some limitations. Woody doesn't protect the edge consistently enough, and the wide receivers are better suited to the precise short passing game of Chad Pennington. New York has no shortage of good players, but many are new to the team and/or are on the downside of their careers.

Can the offense be fixed? Sure. The Jets average 4.6 yards per rushing attempt, and the team spent a small fortune in the offseason to construct a line that specializes in run blocking. Use it. Pound the rock. And in doing so, New York at least can better position Favre for that occasional downfield strike off play-action. Moreover, a stronger emphasis on the run game would help further involve one of the NFL's most dangerous (and overlooked) playmakers: running back Leon Washington.

When considering what Washington might do for the Jets' offense, think Marshall Faulk Lite. He's a do-it-all guy who must be accounted for at all times. Washington could even line up outside and provide some of that short-passing-game magic Favre shared with his receivers in Green Bay. The same could be said for tight end Dustin Keller, a rookie first-rounder who can detach from the formation and attack a defense from multiple spots. Both have the kind of explosiveness the Jets aren't getting from their mainstays.

Favre surely will get more comfortable with his weapons (and vice versa) over time, but in the meantime the Jets need to play to their other strengths. The run game, and specifically Washington, could be the mortar that binds the offense.