"I'm doing the exact same thing I was doing last year," Jones said yesterday.

The difference for the running back, however, is that this year, he is productive.

"The offensive line coming in here has made a huge difference," Jones said. "Those guys are skilled; they know who to block. They come over here and they work hard and they have experience. So that's a big difference, and the fact we're able to throw the ball, that's helped."

Jones, a big-name free agent signed before last season, had a miserable 2007 along with the rest of his teammates. Jones averaged only 3.6 yards per carry in rushing for 1,119 yards and a career-worst one touchdown.

But this season Jones has erupted. He enters Sunday's game at Tennessee with an AFC-best 854 rushing yards. He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and already has matched his career high with nine TDs. His one TD reception gives him a team-best 10.

In his last two games against the Rams and Patriots, Jones rushed for 149 and 104 yards, respectively, the first time he's recorded back-to-back 100-yard games since 2006 - when he was with the Bears and, coincidentally, did it against the Giants and Jets. But Jones is nonchalant about his numbers.

"Individually, I've never been one of those people that works for individual statistics," Jones said. "I go out there and play as hard as I can, I work hard during the week to make sure I'm prepared for the game and I let the chips fall where they may. I'm blessed to be having a good year this year, but the main thing is we're winning Football games. and that's what's motivating me."

While Jones may downplay his statistics, those blocking for him, including fullback Tony Richardson, do not. They see Jones' achievements as theirs, to a degree.

"Those type of things, if you look at the end of the season and you're able to have the best guy , then that's something for us - as a fullback and linemen - that you can take pride in," Richardson said. "But right now, the biggest thing is we're being productive and that helps our team."

Center Nick Mangold had a similar take.

"I think that's fantastic," he said. "That's a testament to the way Thomas runs the ball, and you know when our skill guys are able to do good things, that's a positive for us."

Richardson said the offensive line's inconsistency early in the season wasn't surprising, given its new additions in left guard Alan Faneca and right tackle Damien Woody.

"The running game is really that last thing that comes along because - you can ask all the offensive linemen this - there's a certain chemistry ," Richardson said. "Myself as a fullback, TJ and Leon as running backs, we have to learn the offensive line's body language and which guy pulls this way . . . all that kind of stuff."

Said Mangold: "Everybody can study a playbook and know exactly what everyone's doing, but to know what the guy next to you is thinking while you're out there is a huge benefit."

The offensive line will get its toughest test of the season Sunday against a powerful Titans defense that is the most difficult to score against (13.1 points per game) in the league and features 6-6, 320-pound tackle Albert Haynesworth, a candidate for the NFL defensive player of the year award. The Titans rank sixth in total defense (281.8 yards per game), including 10th against the run (95.1).

"A lot of people haven't had too much success against them," Jones said.

But as the phrase "measuring stick" has made its way around the locker room this week, it's become clear the challenge is one everyone is looking forward to.

"Things seem to be going well," Mangold said of the offensive line's play. "Going against the best should be a good test for us."

Gaining Ground

Thomas Jones has picked up the pace after getting off to a slow start this season:

Carries Yds. Avg. Long Rush TDs

First 5 games 84 319 3.8 16 3

Last 5 games 106 535 5.0 31 6

Totals 190 854 4.5 - 9