FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Chris Ivory hasn't been guaranteed that he will be the New York Jets' No. 1 running back, but he figures he has a better chance to make an impact here than he would have in New Orleans.

"I think it does give me a better opportunity," Ivory said. "It was just a tough situation over there. We all had our roles. It's just tough to fit four backs in a system."

Ivory averaged 5.1 yards per carry in limited action during his three-year career with the Saints. The 6-foot, 222-pound back is a physical presence who could replace Shonn Greene as Marty Mornhinweg installs his own offense in his first season as coordinator. The Jets still have Bilal Powell, who got an even amount of reps at times last season, as well as free agent Mike Goodson and Joe McKnight.

Ivory is still picking up Mornhinweg's playbook.

"It's a little different," Ivory said. "I was so used to being in one system and now it's a completely different system."

The knock on Ivory is that he isn't as good at catching the ball as he is at bulldozing his way across the line of scrimmage.

Ivory, who was rarely targeted as a receiver in New Orleans, looks forward to an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

"People say I can't catch," Ivory said. "But how many times have these people seen me receive a pass out the backfield?"